TransUnion's new credit score range: What's changing?

TransUnion is one of the three main credit reference agencies in the UK. It's changing how it shows your credit score, moving from a score out of 710 to a score out of 999.

The switch is happening in stages over several months, so you may not see your new score straight away.

That might sound like a big change, but there's no need to worry. The information on your credit report stays exactly the same. TransUnion is simply updating how it works out and shows your credit score.

In this guide, we explain:

• What's changing?
• Why is TransUnion doing it?
• When will you see your new score?
• What does it mean for you?
• How to keep your credit score healthy

What's changing with the TransUnion credit score?

TransUnion is making three main changes:

• A bigger score range - Scores will run from 0 to 999, instead of 0 to 710.
• New score bands - Each band will cover a different set of numbers.
• New names for the lowest bands - "Poor" becomes "Low", and "Very poor" becomes "Very low".

Here's how the old and new TransUnion score bands compare:

 

So, what is a good TransUnion credit score now? With the new system, a score of 653 or above counts as "Good". A score of 786 or above counts as "Excellent".

Why is TransUnion changing its credit score?

TransUnion says the new score gives you a clearer picture of how you manage money. Here's what it's aiming to do:

• Look at the bigger picture - The old score showed a snapshot of one moment. The new score also looks at how you use credit over time, such as how your balances go up and down. TransUnion says this better matches how lenders may see you.
• Help people new to credit - The new score aims to give a fairer picture of people with little or no credit history.
• Make your score easier to understand - Each new band comes with a short note explaining how lenders may see you.
• Give better tips - Once your provider switches over, many apps will show you personal tips on what affects your score and how to improve it.

When will you see your new TransUnion score?

TransUnion doesn't show scores to you directly. Instead, you see your score through provider apps and services such as your bank or a credit checking site.

Each provider chooses when to switch to the new score. The roll-out started in late September 2026 and will finish by June 2027. So when you see your new score depends on which app or service you use, and when it moves over. While this happens, you might notice:

• Your new score appears in one app before another.
• Two different TransUnion scores in different places for a while.
• Your old score history is no longer shown, or is shown separately.

This is all normal. Your provider should tell you when it moves to the new score.

What does the new score mean for you?

When your new score arrives, it will probably look different from your old one. Your score band might change too. This doesn't mean something has gone wrong. TransUnion has simply changed how it works out the score, so you can't compare old and new numbers like for like.

Here's what stays the same:

• Your credit report - All the details on it stay the same (unless your circumstances have changed).
• What lenders see - Lenders check your credit report and use their own rules to decide. They don't use the score you see in your app.
• Your applications – The new score won’t affect lenders’ decisions

How to keep your credit score healthy

The new range doesn't change what helps your score. These simple habits still make a difference:

• Pay your bills on time, every time.
• Keep your credit card balances low.
• Register on the electoral roll at your current address.
• Check your credit report for mistakes, and ask for any to be fixed.

The new TransUnion score is a fresh way of looking at the same information. Focus on your band, not the exact number, and keep building good habits. Over time, good habits can help your score improve.