UK Credit Scores Explained: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion

There is no single UK credit score. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each hold their own file on you and publish their own score: Experian on a new 0–1,250 scale, Equifax on 0–1,000 and TransUnion on a new 0–999 scale from late September 2026. Lenders see your file, not these scores, and apply their own scoring. This guide explains the bands, what card issuers actually check and how to strengthen your file before you apply.

What are the UK credit score ranges?

Each credit reference agency uses its own scale and its own band names, and two of the three have changed recently. Experian began rolling out a 0–1,250 score in autumn 2025, and TransUnion announced in August 2026 that it is replacing its 0–710 score with a 0–999 score, phased in from late September 2026 to June 2027.

You may still see the older Experian score out of 999 in some banking apps. On that scale, Experian treats 881–960 as good and 721–880 as fair. During TransUnion's rollout, some apps will show the old 0–710 number and others the new 0–999 one, so always check which scale you are looking at before comparing.

Why are my Experian, Equifax and TransUnion scores different?

Your scores differ because each agency holds slightly different data and scores it with its own model. Not every lender reports to all three agencies, so an account may appear on one file and not another. The scales are also different lengths, so a number on one cannot be converted to another. Compare the band, not the number: "good" with Experian and "fair" with Equifax is not unusual, and it does not mean one of them is wrong.

What do credit card issuers actually look at?

Issuers look at the detail in your credit file, combined with what you tell them on the application, and run it through their own scorecard. The headline number from a free app is only a guide. The main factors are:

• Electoral roll registration at your current address, which helps lenders confirm your identity. MoneyHelper says not being on the roll lowers your score.
• Payment history. Late payments and defaults stay on your file for six years, even after you clear the debt.
• Credit utilisation, meaning your card balances as a share of your limits. MoneyHelper notes that the agencies recommend keeping it under 25%.
• Recent hard searches. Each full application leaves a search other lenders can see, and most stay on your report for 12 months. Several in a short period can suggest you are relying on credit.
• Address history and financial links. Frequent moves and joint accounts with someone who has a poor record can both count against you.
• Income and affordability. Lenders must assess whether you can afford the credit, using what you declare and sometimes your bank account data.

Do eligibility checkers affect your credit score?

No. Eligibility checkers use a soft search, which only you can see on your report, so it has no effect on your score or on future applications. Most UK issuers and comparison sites offer one. Some give a percentage chance of approval; Capital One's QuickCheck gives a yes or no before you apply. Use a checker every time, and only make a full application where the result is strong and the offer shown, such as the 0% period or credit limit, is what you want.

How can you check your credit report for free?

You can check all three main files without paying. According to MoneyHelper, four agencies compile statutory credit reports: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion and Crediva. Each must give you your statutory report free of charge. For ongoing access, Experian shows your score free, ClearScore shows your Equifax report and score, and MoneySavingExpert's Credit Club shows your TransUnion report and score. Look at all three, because an error or an old address on one file will not show up on the others.

How do you improve your credit score before applying?

Start with the changes that fix your file, then give them time to show. These steps, in order, cover most of what lenders look for:

1. Register to vote at your current address if you are eligible.
2. Set up direct debits for at least the minimum payment on every card and loan, so you never miss one.
3. Bring your utilisation down. As a worked example, if your cards have £4,000 of limits between them and you owe £1,200, your utilisation is £1,200 ÷ £4,000 = 30%. To get under 25%, you need to owe less than £1,000, so paying off £200 or more before your next statement date does it.
4. Check all three reports for mistakes, such as accounts you do not recognise, wrong missed payments or links to people you no longer share finances with, and ask the agency to correct them.
5. Keep your oldest account open if it costs nothing, and close unused cards only if you do not need the limit.
6. Space out applications. After a decline, wait before trying again and use soft-search checkers in the meantime.
7. If your file is thin, add positive history with a credit-builder card used lightly and paid in full.

Most changes take one or two monthly reporting cycles to appear, because lenders usually update the agencies once a month.

How long does negative information stay on your file?

Most negative information stays for six years. MoneyHelper says late payments are removed after six years and defaults are visible for six years from the date they were recorded, whether or not you have since paid them. Accurate information cannot be removed early, but its effect fades as newer, positive records build up. If there is a genuine reason behind a bad record, such as illness, you can add a short notice of correction to your file explaining it.

What credit score do you need for a credit card in the UK?

There is no fixed minimum, because each issuer uses its own criteria. Credit-builder cards from lenders such as Aqua, Capital One and Vanquis are designed for low or thin files. Mainstream 0% and rewards cards usually go to applicants in the good bands or higher, but a strong score does not guarantee approval if your income or existing debts do not fit the lender's rules. An eligibility checker is a better guide than the number in an app. For more on how cards are priced and limits set, see how to compare UK credit cards and how credit limits are decided.

How do newcomers to the UK build a credit score?

Your credit history from another country does not transfer, so you start with an empty UK file. Open a UK current account, register to vote if you are eligible, put a utility or mobile contract in your name, and check the Capital One Classic or similar credit-builder cards once you have some address history. A year of on-time payments usually opens up mainstream cards. Our guide to credit scores covers the basics across countries, and the UK credit cards hub lists every card we compare.