5 things you might not know about credit scores

Your credit score is incredibly important – it has a huge impact on whether you could get a loan or mortgage, and having a good record can allow you to access some of the more tantalising credit card offers on the market.

But despite this, it’s remarkable how little we often know about our own scores. In fact, according to credit agency Experian, seven in 10 people who have been turned down for credit didn’t investigate why.

Understanding and improving your credit history is the best way to prevent being turned down again, so read on for some things which you might not know about your own credit-worthiness…

1. There’s no such thing as a credit blacklist…

The idea that there is a ‘list’ which lenders share containing the details of unfavourable candidates for credit is a myth. Every lender has its own criteria, which it doesn’t share with the public.

However, there are various universal factors which will determine whether you’re a good or bad prospect, wherever you go.

“At its simplest, lenders want customers who will repay what they borrow,” said James Jones, credit expert at Experian. “So anything that suggests otherwise could negatively impact how they score your application. The key things are therefore defaults, serious arrears, county court judgements, missed payments and bankruptcy.  Not being on the electoral roll or contradictory address information can be a cause for concern, as identity verification is a key fraud prevention measure.”

2. …But it’s easy enough to find out how you might do

You can get your statutory credit report for just £2, and from this you will be able to check that names, addresses, financial links and credit accounts are all accurate and up to date, and that you’re registered on the electoral roll.

It’s worth getting hold of one of these before making an application, because multiple attempts which are turned down in a short time can impact on your rating.

If you want to dig deeper and keep tabs on your score, there’s the option to sign up with a rating agency like Experian, Equifax or Callcredit. You can get a 30-day free trial, but bear in mind that you’ll have money leaving your account every month thereafter unless you cancel.

You can get an analysis of your credit report, telling you the behaviours which are bringing your credit score down, and those which are having a positive impact. Also bear in mind that, while there will be common factors taken into account, an agency’s report will not be exactly the same as a lender’s.

3. Never having debt can affect your score

Never having been exposed to debt can only be a good thing, right? It means that you’re prudent and live completely and utterly within your means, which will surely mean that a lender will view you as a cast-iron prospect?

In short, no. If you’ve never managed debts or demonstrated that you can handle making repayments, then lenders won’t be able to judge whether or not you’re a good case.

This could jeopardise your chances of getting approved for a mortgage, for example.

If you’ve found that your credit score is poor you could consider services like a credit-builder card – these are typically cards with a relatively low balance but high APR. Using such a card for your weekly petrol and then paying off the balance in full every month will add valuable positive data to your credit rating.

(MORE: Credit cards: how do they work?)

4. Lenders look at six years of credit history

The good news is that lenders tend to look at relatively recent behaviour when it comes to judging whether or not you’re a good prospect, so if you’ve been pretty solid with your repayments and management over the past few years then you should have cause for optimism.

However, there are a few other factors to consider. County court judgements, insolvency, bankruptcy and taking up of payday loans can have serious repercussions on your credit rating in the long term, whether you’ve conducted yourself well lately or not.

5. There’s plenty you can do to fix your rating

Even if you’ve had severe financial problems in the past, with several years’ positive credit management you can eventually rebuild your rating.

The first step you should consider is to take a look at your score and, if need be, correct any mistakes on there. Next, think about paying off your existing debt to around 20-25% of your credit limit. If you’ve got no history of having debt, now might be a good time to think about applying for a credit builder card.

Ensure that the full balance is paid off at the end of every month – credit-builder cards tend to have very high APRs, and have the potential to get very expensive if debt is left to mount up.