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Credit file & ratings

Discuss everything to do with credit checks and credit reference agencies.

What your credit score really means
Hi! This is the discussion thread for the What credit scores really mean guide. Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply. Thanks folks,
What your Credit Score really means - Please read first before posting about a credit score issue.
Hi all! This is the discussion thread for the What credit scores really mean guide. Well, what does your credit score really mean ?. By Martin If you've paid to get a credit score from one of the credit agencies, how reliable is it? We run through the truth about credit scores. I’ve just found out that my credit score has…
New to the Credit File & Ratings board? Start here
Useful links to MoneySavingExpert.com guides * Top tips to build your credit score * How to check your credit report for Free * Credit Club * Build your credit history * Student credit scoring * Should I get a loan if I have a bad credit score? 💡 If there's a link you think we should include here, please send me a message!
Hitachi (now Novuna) never defaulted me?! M&S Incorrect default date? how to fix?! Pls help!
So, in July 2019 I made some very bad financial decisions, I'm in serious debt and can no longer afford my loans or credit cards. I contact all my creditors and offer £1 a month for all of my accounts ( did this without StepChange ) and have continued to pay them on time every month. Long story short it's been 6 years now…
Loan Delinquent but no default
Hi All Thanks in advance. I have just noticed that one of my loans are appearing as delinquent on my credit file, but I've never had a default on my credit file? Any ideas what this means? / What should I do?
Wrong electoral roll address recorded on my Experian file
Hello. The electoral roll address is recorded incorrectly on my Experian file, though fine with Equifax. My address format is (with address anonymised). 14 Leinster Court, 6 Village Road, Town, postcode. Experian have it recorded as 14 Village Road, Town postcode, which is completely wrong. I have lived here for 13 years…
Post IVA and remortgage with additional borrowing
Hi All, My husband and I both had IVAs which we completed early hooray! Mine was completed 16 months early and in a few weeks it'll be the 6 year anniversary since the start of my IVA (for my husband the IVA has dropped off his credit file completely as it has been 7.5 years since the start date of his and his score with…
Defaulted after…. 5 YEARS?
Hi, really odd one. Applied for a mortgage through a broker, all going well until I’m told we have a payment which is in ‘unknown’ status on our file (this didn’t show up on 2 out of 3 reference agencies so we weren’t aware). I contact the company to find it’s a debt of over £6K from 2020. I know what it is (finance car,…
Hindsight's a great thing
Hi all, this is a classic long one from me. In case you fall asleep before reaching the end - I'm after some advice of the best route I should take for a situation we find ourselves in. I have a house (co-owned with my Mum) that we paid cash for. The renovation works (£149k worth), we're paying with cash. We don't have a…
Will My DMP Provider Know I Took Out a Loan? Really Worried About the Consequences
Hi everyone, I’ve posted something similar before. My fear is that my DMP provider or one of the creditors checks my credit file randomly and finds out. I’m currently on a Debt Management Plan (DMP) and recently found myself in a really difficult situation. I had to take out an extra loan to help my retired parents — it…
Letter of claim - Overdales
Hello, firstly i appreciate i'm going to be lynched for this BUT I struggle with searching for things online and i've read the welcome threads and the answer is probably here somewhere so please go easy on me and if you could just point me to the right thread please. Essentially, i've received a Letter of Claim from…
BG settled arrangement to pay stopping me get a mortgage
Hi, Me and my husband are struggling to get a mortgage due to issues I have had with British Gas. This had been ongoing for quite some time about amounts I owed them and disputes I had. I have 4 late payments marked last year with the last 'late' payment noted in June last year and from July it states agreement in place on…
Experian and my bank
Hello. I requested that Experian send me all of the data which they hold on me. Its possibly naive of me to have been surprised to see that each of my banks gives them a list of the monthly credits to my current account with them. Can I stop this from happening? I don't recall giving the bank(s) permission to do this and I…
Removing fraudulent entries on my credit file
Hi there, Is there a way of contacting transunion to do a proper dispute, I have two entries on my credit file that should not be there, but I an unable to explain my case in their dispute process. One of them I don't have an account for and another one did not go into default, it is in dispute and should not yet be on a…
Why are my settled defaults not showing up on my credit report after only 3.5 years?
So 3.5 years ago I settled all 5 of my defaults, some were for loans, some for credit cards. I settled them all and paid them off in full in December 2021. Now when I look on Experian and check under "settled accounts" it lists 2 recently settled ones, one for car finance and the other for BT. But none of the 5 defaults…
Why is there a Soft Search from my Insurance Company?
My Clearscore credit record shows a soft search from my car insurance company, but I pay my premium in one payment, when I renew. Why are they doing a search, when I'm not taking out credit, or paying by installments?
CCJ Nearly Six years old now getting contacted
I defaulted on a debit in 2013 due to marrige brekdown the debit was sold several times, and a ccj was placed on it in summer 2019, I moved house and went to my old house to collect post to find I now had a ccj. I didn't hear anything more so I did forget about it. I have now received a letter from Irden Capitol Services…
PRA Duplicate Defaults
Hello , just looking at picking brains, cut a long story short. 5 years ago i defaulted on 6 separate accounts from various lenders when I went through a messy divorce, which ironically all got sold to PRA Group. All these accounts were settled in full when my house was sold, about month later, however I have noticed that…
Default debt payment
Default due to drop off next month, currently paying small amounts to “law firm” each month. As it stands the debt would be cleared in 10 years wondering if it would be good idea to make a settlement offer?
Paypal Pay in 3
Hi all, will Paypal or Klarna if paid in full improve my credit rating?
Remove arrangement to pay marker from credit file?
Years ago my debt situation was very bad. Multiple CCJs, defaults, late payments, payday loans, etc. Bar one default and a series of late payments which will come off in October, I only have one negative marker left - an arrangement to pay with my bank from May-August 2023. Basically what happened was, as I was paying down…
Experian Now Offering Free Monthly Credit Report In Their App
Just had an e-mail that Experian are now offering a free monthly credit report in their app. Tried it and it is, as expected, the fairly basic version but does show all accounts and searches. So all 3 CRA reports are once again available free.
Credit score updates for mortgage application
I need some advice, I had over £8k worth of debt spread over 10 accounts, I cleared them all in one day on June 2nd 2025. I'm am trying to secure a mortgage, but none of the credit scores have been updated as yet. Does anyone know how long it takes or if I can do something to move it along so I can get my house

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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