How to check your credit report for free
See what lenders see by getting your free statutory credit report from the UK's three credit reference agencies, and fix any mistakes.
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 6
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Your addresses for the last few years
- Bank account or card details may be needed to verify your identity
Safety first
- Be careful with 'free trial' offers that roll into a monthly subscription – cancel before it ends if you don't want it.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Know the three agencies
Lenders mainly use Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each holds slightly different information, so it's worth checking all three.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Ask for the free statutory report
By law you can get your credit information from each agency free. On their websites, look for the statutory credit report option – don't sign up for a paid subscription or trial by mistake.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Or use a free app
Free services linked to the agencies (such as ClearScore for Equifax, Credit Karma for TransUnion, and Experian's own free account) let you view your report regularly. The 'score' is only a guide; lenders use their own scoring.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Check the details
Look for accounts you don't recognise, wrong addresses, late payments that weren't late, and financial links to people you don't share finances with. Check you're on the electoral roll at your current address – it helps lenders confirm who you are.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Fix mistakes
Contact the credit reference agency and the lender that supplied the information – both can correct it. If something is accurate but has a reason behind it (like illness), you can add a notice of correction explaining it.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: Escalate if needed
If the agency won't fix inaccurate information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Disputes with a lender about money can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Tips
- Checking your own report doesn't affect your credit rating.
- Accounts you don't recognise can be a sign of identity fraud – report it to the lender and to Report Fraud.
Questions people ask
Does checking my credit score lower it?
No – checking your own file is a 'soft' search that lenders can't see.
How long do missed payments stay on my file?
Typically six years.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
- ICO: Credit (ico.org.uk)
- MoneyHelper: How to check your credit report (moneyhelper.org.uk)
- Experian: Statutory credit report (experian.co.uk)
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Printed from howtoguides.uk/guides/how-to-check-your-credit-report-for-free/ · Checked 9 October 2026 · General information only. For gas, electrics, structural work, medical, legal or money decisions, use a qualified professional.