What Is a Good Credit Score in the UK? (Experian, Equifax & TransUnion Explained)
Last updated: July 2026 | Reading time: 8 minutes
By Hamid Ali · MSc Accounting & Finance · ACCA in progress · Founder of DebtShift
You check your credit score. You get a number. Then you check somewhere else and get a completely different one.
That’s not a glitch. That’s just how the UK works.
There are three credit reference agencies — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — and each one uses its own scale, its own data, and its own definition of what counts as “good.” Experian just made this messier: it quietly moved to a brand new scale, so a lot of what’s floating around online right now is already out of date.
This post cuts through all of it. You’ll see the current bands on all three agencies, what score you actually need for a mortgage or loan in 2026, and the fastest way to move your number up.
Want to know what your credit score needs to look like?
Our free AI Credit Score Roadmap builds a personalised plan to hit your target score — in weeks, not years.
Get My Free Credit Roadmap →Heads up — Experian changed its scale
From late 2025 through early 2026, Experian rolled out a new scoring system for everyone: the old 0–999 scale is gone, replaced with 0–1,250. It also dropped the “poor” and “very poor” labels for friendlier ones. Your number will look different even if nothing about your borrowing has changed — Experian says around 44% of people saw their band drop and 42% saw it rise, purely from the rescale itself. Everything below reflects the new system.
Why Your UK Credit Score Keeps Changing Depending Where You Check
Most people assume there’s one credit score. There isn’t.
In the UK, three separate agencies hold your credit data. Each lender decides which one to pull from — and some check all three. The score you see on one platform has nothing to do with the number on another.
Here’s what each one uses right now:
| Agency | Score Range | Good Score | Excellent Score | Check It Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experian | 0 – 1,250 (new, 2026) | 861 – 1,000 | 1,121 – 1,250 | MSE Credit Club |
| Equifax | 0 – 1,000 | 531 – 670 | 811 – 1,000 | ClearScore |
| TransUnion | 0 – 710 | 604 – 627 | 628 – 710 | Credit Karma |
Note on Equifax: scores between 671–810 fall into a separate “Very Good” band, sitting between Good and Excellent — don’t mistake it for the top band, and don’t mistake Good (531–670) for something worse than it is.
The reason the numbers look so different is that each agency calculates risk in its own way — and not every lender reports to all three. So your data can vary between them too.
The score you see is an educational guide. It shows you roughly where you stand. Lenders use their own internal models when they actually make a decision — so hitting “good” doesn’t guarantee approval. But it gets you a long way there.
What Does Each Score Band Actually Mean?
Every agency splits scores into bands. Here’s what they mean in plain terms:
Low / Poor
You’re likely to be declined by most high-street lenders. Some specialist lenders may say yes — but at much higher rates. A missed payment, a default or a CCJ will put you here.
Fair
You’ll get approved for some credit but not at the best rates. Mortgage approval is possible with a larger deposit. You’re building — keep going.
Good
Most lenders will consider you. You can access mainstream credit cards, personal loans and standard mortgages. Rates won’t be rock bottom — but they’ll be reasonable.
Excellent
You get the best rates available. 0% balance transfer cards, the lowest mortgage deals, high credit limits. This is where you want to be.
What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage in the UK?
This is the one people actually care about.
Here’s the reality. Most high-street lenders — Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Nationwide — don’t publish a minimum score, and Experian’s rescale means any specific number quoted before 2026 is now stale. What’s stayed consistent is the band:
- 🏠 Standard mortgage approval: sitting in the Good band or above (861+ on Experian’s new scale) gets you through the door with most high-street banks
- 💷 Best fixed rates: Excellent band (1,121+) unlocks the lowest rates and the highest loan-to-value options
- ⚠️ Bad credit mortgage: specialist lenders may work with you from the Fair band — but rates will be noticeably higher
- 📉 Cost of a bad score: the gap between poor and excellent credit can easily add £60,000 or more in extra interest over a 25-year mortgage term
The score gets you in the room. The rest of your credit file — payment history, defaults, CCJs, income, deposit size — decides whether you leave with a deal.
What Actually Affects Your UK Credit Score
Your score isn’t random. These are the things that move it — and how much each one matters.
Payment history — biggest factor
Every missed payment, default, CCJ or IVA stays on your file for 6 years. A default or missed payment can drop you a full band overnight on any agency. Pay on time, every time — no exceptions.
Credit utilisation
Using more than 30% of your available credit limit hurts your score. If you have a £2,000 limit, keep your balance under £600 — under 10% is even better. Run your numbers with our free Credit Utilisation Calculator to see exactly where you stand.
Electoral roll registration
Not on the electoral roll? That alone can cost you 50–100 points on Equifax or TransUnion’s scales. Lenders use it to confirm your address and identity. Register at gov.uk/register-to-vote — it takes 5 minutes.
Length of credit history
The longer your accounts have been open and managed well, the better. Don’t close old credit cards you’re not using — the age of the account helps your score.
Hard searches
Every full credit application — loan, credit card, mortgage — leaves a hard search on your file. Too many in a short time signals desperation to lenders. Space applications out by at least 3 months.
Errors on your credit file
Mistakes are more common than people think. Wrong address, a default that isn’t yours, a closed account still showing as open. Check all three files and raise a dispute if anything is wrong — errors can be dragging you down for no reason.
Not sure where your credit score needs to go?
Get a free AI-powered plan that tells you exactly what to fix first — and how long it’ll take to hit your target score.
Get My Free Roadmap →How to Check Your UK Credit Score for Free
Never pay for your credit score. In 2026, every agency has a free version.
Experian → MSE Credit Club
Free Experian score through MoneySavingExpert, now showing the new 0–1,250 scale. Full report plus personalised eligibility checks for credit cards and loans.
Equifax → ClearScore
Free Equifax data, full credit report, updated weekly. No paid tier, no card required. One of the most widely used apps in the UK.
TransUnion → Credit Karma
Free TransUnion score and full report. Updated regularly. Good for spotting hard searches and errors.
Check all three at least once. Your data won’t be identical across them — and an error on one you never check could be costing you without you even knowing.
Checking your own score creates a soft search only — it is completely invisible to lenders and has zero impact on your score. Check as often as you like.
How to Improve Your UK Credit Score — What Actually Works
Most people Google “how to improve my credit score” and get a list of 20 tips. Half of them barely move the needle. Here’s what actually does:
Register on the electoral roll → up to +100 points
Takes 5 minutes. One of the fastest improvements available. Go to gov.uk/register-to-vote right now.
Never miss a payment → protect every point
Set up direct debits for every account — even minimum payments. One missed payment can undo months of progress.
Keep utilisation under 30% → big scoring factor
If you can get it under 10%, even better. Don’t max out cards then pay them off — the balance when the statement closes is what gets reported.
Dispute any errors → free points you’re losing
Contact the agency directly. They typically have 28 days to investigate. Wrong data could have been dragging your score down for years.
Build credit history if you have none
A credit builder card used for small purchases and paid in full every month shows lenders you can manage credit. Don’t carry a balance — the interest isn’t worth it.
For a full step-by-step plan tailored to your exact situation, use the free AI Credit Score Roadmap. It tells you what to fix first based on where your score is now.
How Long Does It Take to Go From Bad to Good?
There’s no magic number. But here’s a realistic timeline for someone starting from a poor score with no active defaults:
- 📅 1 month: Register on electoral roll, fix any errors → immediate improvement possible
- 📅 3 months: Consistent on-time payments + low utilisation → score starts climbing noticeably
- 📅 6 months: Fair to Good range within reach for most people
- 📅 12–18 months: Good to Excellent range if habits are consistent
If you have active CCJs, defaults or an IVA on your file, the timeline is longer — those marks stay for 6 years. But their impact fades over time, especially if you’re building positive history alongside them.
Want a full 90-day credit repair plan?
The Credit Repair Blueprint walks you through exactly what to do, week by week, to repair your credit over 90 days. Covers disputes, utilisation, payment strategy and building history — all in one place.
Get the Credit Repair Blueprint →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good credit score in the UK?
It depends which agency you’re checking. On Experian’s new 0–1,250 scale, good is 861–1,000. On Equifax (0–1,000), good is 531–670. On TransUnion (0–710), good is 604–627. Excellent on all three unlocks the best rates from lenders.
Why did my Experian score suddenly change?
Experian rolled out a new scoring system between late 2025 and early 2026, replacing the old 0–999 scale with 0–1,250. Your actual creditworthiness hasn’t changed — the ruler measuring it just got longer. About 44% of people saw their band drop and 42% saw it rise purely from the switch.
Why do I have three different credit scores in the UK?
Each of the three credit reference agencies — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — holds different data and uses a different scoring model. Not every lender reports to all three, so the information they hold about you can vary, which means your scores vary too.
Does checking my credit score lower it?
No. Checking your own score creates a soft search that is invisible to lenders. Only hard searches — from actual credit applications — can temporarily affect your score. Check yours as often as you like.
What credit score do I need to get a mortgage in the UK?
Most high-street banks will consider you once you’re in the Good band or above — 861+ on Experian’s new scale. The best rates typically require the Excellent band, 1,121+. Lenders also weigh your income, deposit size and the rest of your credit file, not just the score alone.
How can I check my UK credit score for free?
Use MSE Credit Club for your Experian score, ClearScore for Equifax, and Credit Karma for TransUnion. All three are completely free — no card required, no trial. Check all three so you have the full picture.
How fast can I improve my credit score in the UK?
Registering on the electoral roll can add up to 100 points within a month on Equifax or TransUnion’s scales. After that, consistent on-time payments and keeping utilisation under 30% can move you from Fair to Good within 3–6 months. Serious damage like defaults or CCJs takes longer but does fade over time.
Will paying off debt improve my credit score?
Usually yes — especially if it reduces your credit utilisation ratio. Paying off a credit card balance that was near its limit can give your score a meaningful boost. See our full guide: Does Paying Off Debt Improve Your Credit Score?
Related Guides
- Debt Help UK — Explore All Your Options
- How to Improve Your Credit Score Fast
- What Hurts Your Credit Score the Most
- How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report
- Does Paying Off Debt Improve Your Credit Score?
- How to Check Your Credit Score for Free
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Get My Free Credit Roadmap →DebtShift is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Credit score ranges and lending criteria change over time and vary between providers — figures here reflect Experian, Equifax and TransUnion’s published bands as of July 2026. For free confidential debt support contact StepChange or MoneyHelper.
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