How to check your credit report
Checking you own report does not affect your credit score. It can help you understand the information lenders may consider, spot inaccuracies and make sure the details are up to date before applying for credit.
CRAs collect and hold secure information about your credit history, which is bound by the Data Protection Act.
Here, we look at:
Why should you check your credit report?
What does your credit report show?
Does checking your credit report affect your credit score?
Steps for checking your credit report
What is the difference between a credit report and a credit score?
Why should you check your credit report?
Checking your credit report can give you an insight into your borrowing history.
You’ll be able to see the information banks and other lenders use when deciding if they’ll lend to you or not.
It gives you the opportunity to improve your credit score before you apply for credit, which could increase your chances of being approved.
What does your credit report show?
Your credit report includes:
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Your name, address and date of birth
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Your registration on the electoral register
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How much you owe lenders, including any joint loans, mortgages or overdrafts
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Any missed or late payments
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Any county court judgements you have had
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Whether your home has been repossessed
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If you’ve ever been declared bankrupt
Your credit report does not include:
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Your income
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The amount of money you have, including savings
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Any student loans you have
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Your criminal record
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Your medical history
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Parking or driving fines
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Late or missed council tax payments
Does checking your credit report affect your credit score?
No. Checking you own credit report is usually recorded as a soft credit check and does not affect your credit score.
A hard credit check may be recorded when you make an application for credit, such as a credit card, loan, mortgage or some mobile-phone contracts. Several hard searches in a short period may be visible to other lenders.
Steps for checking your credit report
Below are the steps you should take to check your credit report.
1. Choose a credit reference agency
You can check your report through credit reference agencies, including Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each agency may receive information from different lenders and providers, so the details or score shown may not be identical across every report.
2. Request your credit report online
You can request your credit report online directly from the agencies. You may need to create an account and provide information to confirm your identity.
3. Request a paper copy if you prefer
If you’d prefer a paper copy of your credit report, you can contact the CRAs direct:
Written requests should include:
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Your name (and any other names you have been known by, such as a maiden name)
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Your full address (and any other addresses you have lived at in the past 6 years)
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Your date of birth
4. Review the information carefully
Once you have access to your report, check that your personal details, address history, credit accounts and repayment information are accurate and up to date. Look out for accounts, searches or financial links that you do not recognise.
5. Consider checking more than 1 report
It can be useful to check your report with more than one credit reference agency, particularly before applying for credit or if you think information may be missing or incorrect. Not every lender or provider shares information with every agency.
6. Raise a dispute if the information is incorrect
If you find information that you believe is incorrect, contact the credit reference agency that holds the report. It can explain how to raise a dispute and what information it may need from you.
What is the difference between a credit report and a credit score?
Your credit report is the information held about your credit history and certain public records. Your credit score is a number produced by a credit reference agency using information in that report, which gives an indication of whether you will be offered credit.
A high score does not guarantee that a lender will accept an application. Lenders use their own criteria, which can include affordability, income, existing borrowing and the type of credit you apply for.
This article was last updated:29/10/2026, 06:06
