Credit Report: How to Check, Read, and Improve Yours

Your credit report is the scoreboard that lenders use to decide if you get a loan, a mortgage, or even a mobile phone contract. It’s not a mystery—just a list of your credit accounts, payments, and any public records. Knowing what’s on it helps you spot mistakes, plan better, and raise your credit score faster.

Where to Get Your Free Credit Report

In the UK you have three main credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. By law you can request a statutory report from each agency once a year for free. Go to their websites, fill out your details, and you’ll receive a PDF or online view within minutes. Some banks also let you see a snapshot of your report directly in your online banking portal—take advantage of that if it’s available.

When you request a report, make sure you have your National Insurance number, passport or driving license details, and a recent utility bill handy. The agencies will use these to verify your identity and protect your data.

What to Look For and How to Fix Errors

Once you open the report, scan the sections quickly: personal details, credit accounts, public records, and enquiries. Check that your name, address, and date of birth are correct. A typo can cause a new lender to see a different identity and reject your application.

Next, look at each credit account. Verify the balance, payment status, and opening date. If an account shows a missed payment you didn’t make, flag it as an error. Most agencies let you raise a dispute online—explain the mistake, attach proof, and they must investigate within 28 days.

Hard enquiries (when a lender checks your credit) stay on the report for 12 months and can lower your score a bit. If you see an enquiry you never authorized, dispute it as well. Soft enquiries (like your own check) don’t affect the score, so don’t worry about those.

Public records such as County Court Judgments or bankruptcies stay on the file for six years. If you’ve settled a judgment, make sure the agency updates the status; an outdated record can keep your score down needlessly.

After you’ve corrected any errors, the agencies will send you an updated report. The changes usually reflect in your credit score within a month, and lenders will see the cleaner version next time you apply.

To keep your score climbing, pay all bills on time, keep credit‑card balances low (ideally under 30 % of the limit), and avoid opening lots of new accounts at once. Even a small habit like setting up automatic payments can prevent missed due dates.

Finally, check your report at least once a year. Treat it like a health check—regular monitoring catches problems early and gives you control over your financial reputation.