Credit Score (UK)

Your credit score is how banks and other financial companies assess if they want (or can take the risk of) you as a customer. It is important that you check that there are no mistakes or anything that could be helping banks make up their mind and give you a no to a credit card application...

Credit Reference Agencies (UK)

There are three credit reference agencies in UK:

• Equifax
• Experian
• CallCredit

It is possible to check your credit score quite easily (although not for free, but it is cheap). The Consumer Credit Act 1974 (section 7) gives you the right to see your credit reference files for £2 (source) by writing to them. Just include a cheque for £2.

Example letter to write to credit agency requesting your information

The following is an example of the text in a letter you can send to the credit agencies (addresses below):

Dear Sir / Madam,
I wish to apply under section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998 for a single copy of my credit report. I enclose the statutory fee of £2 made payable to agency name.
My personal details are as follows:
Include Name, address, DOB, Phone, Email, and also include addresses you have lived in in past 6 years

Equifax Address

Equifax PLC,
Credit File Advice Centre,
PO Box 1140,
Bradford,
BD1 5US

Experian Address

Experian Consumer Help Service,
PO Box 8000,
Nottingham,
NG80 7WF

Callcredit Address

Callcredit plc,
Consumer Services Team,
PO Box 491,
Leeds,
LS3 1WZ

There are also online order systems. Click their names above to visit their site.