Your credit score isn't a fixed number—it changes regularly based on your spending, borrowing and how you use credit. Understanding when and how these updates happen can help you improve your score faster.
In the UK, three main credit reference agencies (CRAs) collect and update your credit information:
Most lenders report your account activity to one or more of these agencies every 30-45 days. Experian typically updates its records once a month. However, not all updates happen at the same time as:
This is why you might see different scores if you check multiple agencies on the same day.
Each CRA uses its own scoring system, so a "good" score varies:
Higher scores mean you're more likely to be approved for credit and may get better interest rates. But remember, your credit score isn't the only factor lenders consider. They also look at your:
This is why someone with an excellent score might still be rejected, while someone with an average score might be approved. Each lender has their own criteria, and different lenders have different appetites for risk.
When you make a payment toward a debt:
In total, it can take anywhere from a few days to about two months to see the impact of a payment on your credit score.
Larger payments that significantly reduce your credit utilisation ratio (the percentage of available credit you're using) tend to have the most noticeable positive effect on your score. This is because credit utilisation is considered one of the most important factors by credit reference agencies.
Bringing your credit card balance down below 30% of your credit limit can also help to maintain a healthy credit score.
You can check your credit score for free with all three main UK credit reference agencies:
Checking your own score only performs a "soft search" that doesn't affect your score. No one apart from you can see these checks.
We suggest checking your report at least once every three months to spot any errors quickly. Always check before making any major credit application so you can fix problems that might affect your approval chances.
It can be frustrating when your score doesn't improve despite your best efforts. Here's why this might happen:
Recovery from negative marks can take time:
These quick fixes can help boost your score:
✅ Register to vote (electoral roll)
✅ Join the Rental Exchange scheme if you rent
✅ Update your credit file with correct addresses and details
✅ Remove old financial links to ex-partners or housemates
✅ Keep credit utilisation below 30% of your available credit
✅ Set up Direct Debits for all regular payments
Remember that building good credit is a marathon, not a sprint. Small, consistent actions over time will lead to lasting improvements in your creditworthiness.
Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure content is correct when published. Information on this website doesn't constitute financial advice, and we aren't responsible for the content of any external sites.
Fiona is a personal finance writer with over 7 years’ experience writing for a broad range of industries before joining Ocean in 2021. She uses her wealth of experience to turn the overwhelming aspects of finance into articles that are easy to understand.
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