The way that you handle credit can have a significant impact on your future eligibility for loans or credit cards. That’s because, in the UK, credit reference agencies keep track of consumer financial histories. Lenders are provided with data to form the basis of lending judgements – to extend credit or not. Not everyone understands the way that the system works, especially when it comes to credit scoring and credit rating – so, what’s the difference between the two?
Everyone in the UK over 18 has a credit file that is accessible via one of the main credit references agencies – Experian, Equifax and Callcredit (also known as TransUnion). It’s important to understand that there is no such thing as a universal credit score i.e. one that applies across the board. Each credit reference agency will provide a different score, based on a different scoring system, and lenders will compile their own. Many of the terms that are used to talk about credit reports tend to be used interchangeably so, what do they all mean?
Credit file. Your credit file is where all of your credit history is contained – if you access your credit file you will be able to see your entire credit history as well as the credit rating that you’ve been given by the agency that you’re using to make the check.
Credit history. This is essentially all of your previous interactions with credit of any kind, going back six years. So, this could be evidence of an account with an energy provider that you had at university or recent transactions and repayments on a loan or a credit card. Your credit history will include current bank accounts and personal details, as well as records of past and present debts within that time-frame.
Credit scoring. Your credit score is the number that is assigned to you based on the contents of your credit report. Credit scoring is the system that is used to determine what that number should be for each individual UK consumer. However, as there is no single system, each one of the different credit scoring agencies will use their own scale and criteria to do it. For example, if you are looking to nurture an “excellent” credit score, you’ll need to aim for 800 on Experian while you can achieve this with 660 based on the Equifax criteria. It’s important to note that lenders have their own scoring systems – they don’t use the scores that are provided by the credit rating agencies. Despite the fact that each system is different, credit scoring tends to work with a lot (but not all) of the same data, such as how well you’ve managed borrowing in the past.
Credit rating. Your credit rating is the term most often used to describe the score that you’ve been given on the basis of your credit history. You won’t know what rating you have been given by a lender but you can see how the different credit agencies have rated you. Most agencies offer a way to check your credit rating for free at least once (e.g. Experian’s free credit score). Make sure you know the different scales involved for each rating system so that you can see where your score puts you in terms of being an attractive borrower.
Why is it important to understand this?
If you want to make an application for any type of credit you will need to know what your credit history is going to look like to a lender. The credit rating you have is a good guide as to the judgements that a lender is likely to make when it comes to whether to approve an application for something like a loan or a mortgage. A so-called “bad credit history” is where your file contains records that depress your score and as a result credit may become more problematic or more expensive.
There are lots of different factors that can affect your credit rating, including:
Keeping up with repayments on loans and credit cards
The amount of debt that you have, compared to how much credit is available
How much you earn
Any issues you’ve had with credit in the past, such as County Court Judgements against you or bankruptcy proceedings
Whether you’re only making the minimum payments each month
Whether you are on the electoral roll
Terms that relate to your credit history are often used interchangeably, which is why it can be so confusing to work out what lenders really need when you’re applying for credit. Ultimately, your credit rating (or credit score) won’t guarantee that you’ll be accepted for specific credit it just provides a guide. What’s more crucial is ensuring that your credit history is positive and that you are borrowing affordably and responsibly.
Alex Hartley is a keen advocate of improving personal finance skills. She's worked at Solution Loans since 2014 and written hundreds of articles about how people can manage their money better. Her interest in personal finance goes way back to...Read about Alex Hartley
We use cookies to make your experience on our site even better. They also help us to understand how you use our site. By clicking 'Accept All' you're agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie preferences by choosing 'Manage Settings' and if you want to know more, you can read our cookie policy.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.