Free credit score

tabby763

Hi

Just wanted to inform you how to get a free credit score from Equifax. If you look online, the options with joining a free trial are to get a free credit report but in order to get a credit score you have to pay £5.95 I wasn't happy to pay this so I called Customer services and asked them if I could get a free credit score with my free report and they informed me of their other free trial which is to get a free credit score which includes a free report. They said this isnt advertised online and is a service for people who join the free trial over the phone. Bit cheeky if you ask me but just wanted to let everyone know. Hope it helps.

Tabby763 :j

CRISPIANNE3

tabby763 wrote: »

Hi

Just wanted to inform you how to get a free credit score from Equifax. If you look online, the options with joining a free trial are to get a free credit report but in order to get a credit score you have to pay £5.95 I wasn't happy to pay this so I called Customer services and asked them if I could get a free credit score with my free report and they informed me of their other free trial which is to get a free credit score which includes a free report. They said this isnt advertised online and is a service for people who join the free trial over the phone. Bit cheeky if you ask me but just wanted to let everyone know. Hope it helps.

Tabby763 :j

Nice to know but most posters on here seem to think the score is meaningless. However good for the feel good factor.

BugsyBrowne

CRISPIANNE3 wrote: »

Nice to know but most posters on here seem to think the score is meaningless. However good for the feel good factor.

We don't think we know its meaningless,but its a good profit making tool for the CRAs.

sfax

As above, it's not worth getting your score, even if it's free. Your report is all you need

sistafromanothermista

Ok (sticks head above the parapet)

Everyone comments on how the scores are 'meaningless' but surely they are there to give a 'guide' as a quick reflection of the overall state of the report? or am i wrong?

sfax

sistafromanothermista wrote: »

Ok (sticks head above the parapet)

Everyone comments on how the scores are 'meaningless' but surely they are there to give a 'guide' as a quick reflection of the overall state of the report? or am i wrong?

My Experian score was about 500/999 and I then got accepted for four credit cards (3 new BT cards and an Amex) over a 3 month period. Look at the 100s of posts on MSE saying "I don't understand why I was rejected because i have a score of 990" etc. Then consider that CCJs and other critical factors like your income are ignored when calculating your score. Add to that that the score is not used or even seen by any lender, lenders make decisions based on what is in your credit report and your income.

I used to get my Experian and Equifax score in the past and it used to accurately reflect my CC application success (and I have applied for a lot of CCs) but I've recently seen the light and agree with many others who correctly say that the score is totally worthless and exists only to make money for Experian and Equifax.

YorkshireBoy

sfax wrote: »

Then consider that CCJs and other critical factors like your income are ignored when calculating your score.

I can't imagine they'd ignore a CCJ.

Having said that, one poster on here reported being given a 900+ score as a discharged bankrupt!

tabby763

I agree that the score is only a guide and Equifax only score out of 600 so it isn't a standardised score as Experian score out of 1000 I believe. The report is far more important than the score. However I just wanted to let people know that if they wanted to get the score there was a way (unadvertised online) that they could do it for free.

CRISPIANNE3

sistafromanothermista wrote: »

Ok (sticks head above the parapet)

Everyone comments on how the scores are 'meaningless' but surely they are there to give a 'guide' as a quick reflection of the overall state of the report? or am i wrong?

Its only guide at a price. The only score that matters is the one a potential lender will score you by. As I said if the credit agency gives you a high score it just makes you feel better and nothing more.

sfax

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

I can't imagine they'd ignore a CCJ.

I've seen a few people mention that they had excellent credit scores despite CCJs. E.g.

BugsyBrowne wrote: »

I agree with this it's a great system Experian use as its very good to bankrupts as well, as these normally get the 950+ excellent.
It's also very user friendly towards people who carry CCJ's on their report these also get excellent scores.

But obviously the timing is a big factor

sistafromanothermista

CRISPIANNE3 wrote: »

Its only guide at a price. The only score that matters is the one a potential lender will score you by. As I said if the credit agency gives you a high score it just makes you feel better and nothing more.

Oh yes, definitely agree with this.
For others to say it's 'meaningless', i guess when it comes to acceptance of credit it is but to give an 'overview' i guess it's quite informative for the reportee.