Most lenders will use two key credit brokers:

• Experian.co.uk 
• Equifax.co.uk 

 

There are other sites such as checkmyfile.com that will allow you to get a broad view across the two above brokers as well as various others. This is because on some occasions your score could show as excellent with one broker but very poor with another. Although there are many other options available in terms of checking your credit score the sites listed above are the core companies that are used to truly determine where you are positions and how banks will consider you.

 

Your credit history and credit scores are vital pieces of information that are important to your overall financial wellbeing. Viewing your credit history – as shown on your credit reports – and your credit scores may help you understand your current credit position.

Generally speaking, a credit score is a three-digit number designed to represent your credit risk (the likelihood you’ll pay your bills on time). Your credit history is the record of how you have managed your credit accounts. It may include your current and past credit accounts, information on your payment history and the total amount you owe. Credit scores are calculated using information from your credit reports, although credit scoring models are different.

Along with many other pieces of information, potential lenders and creditors – including credit card companies, mortgage lenders and auto lenders – may use your credit scores and credit history to help make lending decisions. These companies want to know how likely you are to pay the money they lend back as agreed.

Because of this, it’s important to regularly check both your credit scores and your credit reports. Your credit scores and credit history are among the factors that may determine your loan terms, including interest rate, and it’s important to ensure the information on your credit reports is accurate and complete.

Contrary to popular belief, credit scores are not part of your credit reports, although credit scores are calculated from data on your credit reports and may be delivered along with it. You also may not know that you may have more than one credit score -- each credit bureau or company that provides credit scores calculates them using different credit scoring models. Because of this, your credit scores may vary. Another reason your score may vary is that the underlying credit data may be different since not all lenders report to all three nationwide credit bureaus. Some report to only two, one, or none at all.