How to remove mistakes from your credit report

Why should you check your credit report for mistakes?

A credit report summarises information on financial accounts you've had and your history of repayments. Lenders use this report to consider credit applications, like for a credit card or loan.

In the UK, there are three main credit reference agencies (CRAs) that create these reports: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each CRA uses your report to calculate your credit score, based on their own criteria, to give you an idea of how likely lenders are to accept your credit application.

If there are any mistakes or outdated information on your report, lenders will have an inaccurate view of your financial habits and circumstances. This means you may be rejected for credit or get a different deal from what you expected.

Under UK GDPR, you have a legal right to have inaccurate personal data corrected. This includes information held on your credit report — so if something is wrong, you're entitled to challenge it.

What details should you check on your credit report?

• Personal details — Your full name, date of birth, and current address should be up to date. It's also worth double-checking that any previous addresses are accurate.
• Credit accounts — All credit card accounts and other credit agreements like loans or utility payments should be on your reports, with details of your balances and limits. Make sure you recognise all accounts and any debts reported. An account you don't recognise could be a sign of fraud or an administrative error — both worth raising.
• Court claims — If you have a County Court Judgment (CCJ), Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), Debt Relief Order (DRO), or bankruptcy, make sure all details are correct. Check the full balance owed and whether it's marked as satisfied or unsatisfied.
• Overdraft usage — Your bank will report any overdraft you've used in your current account. Check the amount is accurate.
• Financial ties — When you share a credit agreement with someone, your credit reports are linked. If you no longer have this agreement, make sure to remove the outdated financial tie, as it may affect your chances of getting credit if the other person has bad credit.

Additionally, if there's any information missing from your report, flag it to your lender or credit reference agency. If you have a well-managed credit account that isn't showing up, your credit score won't benefit from it. Bear in mind that new accounts can take a few weeks to appear on your file.

Can you wipe your credit history clean?

No — you can't wipe your credit history clean, and you should be wary of any company that claims it can do this for you. Negative marks like missed payments, defaults, and CCJs will stay on your credit report for six years from the date they were recorded, regardless of whether you've since paid off the debt.

What you can do is get genuine errors corrected, add a Notice of Correction to explain your circumstances, and over time build a more positive credit history through responsible financial behaviour.

How do you remove an error from your credit report?

While you can't wipe your credit history clean, you can follow the steps below to get mistakes corrected:

1. Get your paperwork together

If you spot a mistake on your credit report, check your records to confirm it's a genuine error before taking action.

Your first port of call is the lender who reported the information. Before you contact them, gather all your paperwork as evidence — your lender will usually need this to update your records.

For example, if your surname has changed after getting married, they'll need a copy of your marriage certificate. If you want to challenge a missed payment, they might ask for a copy of your bank statement to prove you made it.

2. Contact the lender

Contact your lender as soon as possible to challenge the mistake, as it can take several weeks to update your credit report.

Lenders might ask you to send in your paperwork by post. It's worth asking whether they'll accept copies by email to speed things up.

There's no guarantee they will accept your dispute — it depends on what you're challenging and whether there's sufficient evidence that a genuine error has been made.

3. Contact the credit reference agency

You can also ask the credit reference agency to get in touch with your lender about any mistakes you find. Bear in mind that they can only update your credit report with the lender's permission.

You'll need to explain why the entry is incorrect, and again there's no guarantee your dispute will be accepted. Credit reference agencies are required to investigate disputes, and typically aim to resolve them within 28 days. In the meantime, they should add a Notice of Correction to your report to let other lenders know you've raised a query.

Remember to contact all three agencies separately — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each holds different information and don't automatically share updates with each other.

Removing old financial ties from your credit report

To get old financial ties removed from your credit report, you'll need to apply to the credit reference agency for a notice of disassociation.

Anyone you've shared finances with could affect your credit report if they have a poor credit history. Make sure you close any joint accounts beforehand — the agency won't be able to process your request otherwise.

If the information on your report is correct

You may still be able to contact the lender to ask them to remove or clarify information, but they're not obligated to agree. It's down to their discretion, though they may consider:

• Whether you have a positive payment history with them
• Whether you're a long-standing customer
• Whether there's a good reason for your request

How to support your request

Outlining the steps you've taken to address the issue — like setting up a Direct Debit to avoid missing future payments — can help your case. You can also ask the credit reference agencies to add a notice of correction to your file explaining the circumstances that led to the mark, such as redundancy or illness.

CRAs may be willing to remove smaller marks like a single missed payment, but are unlikely to remove CCJs or bankruptcies.

Can I get credit with a poor financial history?

There are some credit brokers, like Ocean Finance, who specialise in considering all circumstances when checking eligibility for credit cards and loans. This means you don't have to wait six years for negative marks to drop off your credit report before you can get finance.

If you're struggling with debt, you can access free financial advice and support from a professional debt specialist. Visit Money Wellness, StepChange, Citizens Advice, National Debtline, or MoneyHelper to find out more.