Credit Scores & Reports
How UK credit scores and reports work, what affects them, and how to improve them.
Browse by letter
A
Account age
How long a credit account has been open.
Account close date
The date a credit account was closed.
Account open date
The date a credit account was first opened.
Account reported balance
The balance a lender reports to a credit agency for an account.
Account reporting
The data a lender sends to credit agencies about your account.
Account status
The current state of a credit account, such as up to date, late, in arrears, or defaulted.
Account status code
A code used by lenders to show whether an account is up to date, late, or in default.
Account status update
A change in how a lender reports your account status each month.
Address history
The list of addresses on your credit file over time.
Address mismatch
When the address on your application does not match what is on your credit file.
Address verification
Checks used to confirm your current and previous addresses.
Admission form
A court form used to admit a debt and propose repayments.
Adverse credit
A term lenders use for a history of missed payments or serious credit issues.
Affordability assessment
A lender check that looks at your income and outgoings to decide if you can comfortably repay credit.
Affordability buffer
Extra headroom lenders expect after essential spending and repayments.
Affordability stress test
A check that tests whether you could afford repayments if costs rise.
Alias name
An alternative name or spelling that appears on your credit file.
AML check
Anti-money laundering checks used to prevent financial crime.
Average account age
The average length of time your credit accounts have been open.
B
C
ClearScore
A credit score and report provider that uses Equifax data in the UK.
Closed account
A credit account that is no longer active or open for new spending.
Committed expenditure
Regular payments you must make, such as rent, loans, and utilities.
Contractor income
Income earned from contract or freelance work.
Credit account
Any account where you borrow money or receive credit, such as a card, loan, or overdraft.
Credit age
How long you have been using credit, often measured by the age of your oldest account.
Credit agency
A common shorthand for credit reference agencies that store your credit history.
Credit agreement
A contract between you and a lender that sets the terms of borrowing.
Credit band
A range within a credit score scale that groups scores into labels such as excellent or poor.
Credit check
A review of your credit report by a lender or service provider.
Credit enquiry
A record of a credit check made by a lender or service provider.
Credit file
Your full record at a credit reference agency, including accounts, payment history, and public records.
Credit file freeze
A block that stops new lenders from accessing your credit report.
Credit file suppression
When a credit file is limited or hidden due to special circumstances.
Credit health
A general term for the strength and stability of your credit profile.
Credit history
A record of how you have used and repaid credit over time.
Credit history length
The length of time you have been using credit.
Credit Karma
A credit score and report provider that uses TransUnion data in the UK.
Credit lock
A tool that lets you quickly restrict access to your credit file.
Credit mix
The variety of credit types on your report, such as credit cards, loans, and mortgages.
Credit monitoring
A service that tracks changes on your credit report and alerts you to updates.
Credit profile
A broad view of your credit history, score, and risk signals shown on your report.
Credit rating
A general term for how lenders view your credit risk, often based on your credit report and score.
Credit rebuild
The process of improving your credit score after past problems.
Credit reference agency (CRA)
A company that collects and holds information about your borrowing history and provides it to lenders.
Credit report
A record of your borrowing history, repayments, and credit accounts held by a credit reference agency.
Credit report correction
An update that fixes incorrect information on your credit report.
Credit report dispute
A request to correct incorrect or incomplete information on your credit report.
Credit score
A number that summarises your credit risk based on information in your credit report.
Credit score boost
A feature that adds extra data, such as bank transactions, to your credit profile.
Credit score factor
A part of your credit history that influences how your score is calculated.
Credit score model
The formula or system used to calculate a credit score.
Credit score simulator
A tool that estimates how actions might affect your credit score.
Credit search footprint
A record on your credit file that a lender or service checked your report.
Credit utilisation
The percentage of your available credit that you are currently using.
Credit utilisation ratio
Another term for credit utilisation, calculated as balance divided by total credit limit.
D
Data accuracy
How correct and up to date the information on your credit report is.
Data correction
An update that fixes incorrect information on your credit report.
Data suppression
When certain credit data is hidden or not shared in a report.
Defence form
A court form used to dispute a debt claim.
Delinquency
The stage where payments are overdue and considered late.
Direct debit
A payment method that automatically collects money from your bank account.
Disassociation
A request to remove a financial association from your credit file.
Disposable income
The money left after paying essential bills and expenses.
Dispute letter
A written request asking a lender or agency to correct credit report errors.
Dispute resolution
The process of resolving errors or disagreements on a credit report.
E
Electoral roll
The official register of people eligible to vote, which lenders use to verify identity and address.
Eligibility check
A check used by lenders to see how likely you are to be accepted, often using a soft search.
Employment status
Your work situation, such as employed, self-employed, or unemployed.
Equifax
A major UK credit reference agency with its own credit report and score range.
Essential expenditure
Costs you need for basic living, such as housing, food, and utilities.
Experian
A major UK credit reference agency with its own credit report and score range.
F
File update
A change to your credit report after new data is reported by a lender.
File update date
The date your credit file was last updated by a lender.
Financial association
A link on your credit file created when you share credit with someone, such as a joint account.
Fixed rate
An interest rate that stays the same for a set period.
Full and final settlement letter
A written offer to settle a debt for a reduced lump sum.
G
H
I
Income multiple
A rule of thumb that links income to the maximum loan size.
Income verification
Checking that your income details are accurate and reliable.
Introductory rate
A temporary lower interest rate offered at the start of a credit product.
Irresponsible lending complaint
A complaint that a lender gave credit without proper affordability checks.
J
K
L
Last reported date
The most recent date a lender sent data to a credit agency.
Late fee
A charge applied when a payment is made after the due date.
Late payment
A payment made after the due date, which can be reported to credit agencies.
Late payment marker
A marker on your credit file showing a payment was made late.
Limitation Act
The law that sets time limits for taking legal action on debts.
Limitation period
The time limit for bringing certain debts to court under UK law.
Linked address
An address that appears on your credit file because you have lived there or used it for credit.
Linked address error
A mistake where an incorrect address appears on your credit file.
M
Minimum payment
The smallest amount you must pay on a credit account each month.
Missed payment
A payment that is not made on time and is recorded on your credit report.
Missed payment count
The number of missed payments recorded on your credit report.
Mobile contract
A phone plan paid monthly, often with a credit check.
Mobile credit check
A check performed by a mobile provider before approving a contract.
N
Name mismatch
A difference in how your name appears across credit records.
Name variation
A difference in how your name appears across credit accounts or reports.
Negative credit
Credit history events that signal missed payments or higher risk.
Net income
Your income after tax, National Insurance, and other deductions.
New credit
Recently opened accounts or recent credit applications on your report.
No credit history
A situation where there is little or no recorded borrowing activity in your credit file.
Notice of correction
A short statement you can add to your credit file to explain a special circumstance.
O
On-time payment rate
The percentage of payments you have made on time.
Open account
A credit account that is currently active and available for use.
Open banking
A secure way for you to share bank account data with trusted providers through regulated connections.
Open banking consent
Your permission for a provider to access bank data securely.
Order to obtain information
A court order requiring you to provide financial details about your situation.
Overpayment
Paying more than the minimum or scheduled amount on a credit account.
Overtime income
Extra earnings from working hours beyond your contracted hours.
P
Payment history
A record of whether you have paid your credit accounts on time.
Payment history length
The period of time covered by your on-time and late payments.
Payslip verification
Using payslips to confirm your income for a credit application.
Positive credit
Good credit behaviour, such as paying on time and keeping balances low.
Pre-approval
A provisional indication that you are likely to be accepted for a product, subject to final checks.
Pre-qualification
An early check that estimates your chance of approval, typically using a soft search.
Probation period
An initial period of employment where your job is being assessed.
Promotional rate
A special rate offered for a limited period, often 0% or low interest.
Proof of address
Documents used to verify where you live, such as utility bills or bank statements.
Protective registration
A fraud protection flag that makes lenders carry out extra checks on applications.
Public record
Information from public sources, such as court judgments, that appears on your credit report.
Q
R
Refinancing
Replacing an existing loan with a new one, often to change the rate or term.
Rent guarantor
A person who agrees to pay rent if a tenant cannot.
Rent reporting
The practice of reporting rent payments to credit agencies so they count toward your credit history.
Reporting cycle
The schedule a lender uses to send account updates to credit agencies.
Reporting date
The date a lender submits your account data to a credit agency.
Reporting lag
The delay between account activity and when it appears on your credit report.
Response pack
The set of forms included with a court claim that lets you respond.
Revolving credit
Credit that can be reused as you repay, such as credit cards and overdrafts.
S
Satisfied status
A label showing a debt or judgment has been paid in full.
Score alert
A notification that your credit score has changed.
Score band
A bucket within a score range that labels scores as excellent, good, fair, or poor.
Score band threshold
The score value where one band ends and another begins.
Score change
Any movement in your credit score, either up or down.
Score improvement
An increase in your credit score over time.
Score range
The minimum and maximum numbers used by a credit agency to calculate scores.
Score range comparison
Comparing different credit score ranges across agencies.
Score scale
The numerical range used to calculate credit scores.
Score threshold
A score level that lenders use as a minimum for certain products.
Score tracking
Checking your credit score regularly to see how it changes over time.
Search footprint
A record on your credit report showing that a search or check took place.
Self-employed income
Earnings from running your own business or working as a sole trader.
Settled account
An account that has been fully paid off and closed.
Settled status
A credit report status showing an account has been closed and paid.
Soft search
A credit check that does not affect your credit score and is not visible to other lenders.
Soft search footprint
A record of a soft check, usually only visible to you.
Standing order
A fixed payment you set up to send a set amount to another account on a schedule.
Status code
A monthly marker on your credit file showing payment performance.
T
U
V
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