Can I build my credit history myself?

YES 👍 You are the only person who has the authority to undertake all the actions to do this. Take control – repairing your credit history will also help you to take control of your financial life. This guide can help – this page lists many of the items you can start doing to repair your credit rating. Credibble.com can make this process easier for you by providing valuable insights into specifically what you need to do based on your individual credit history – though it’s you that will be actioning the suggestions.

What are the positive impacts of improving your credit score?

There are many benefits to having a good credit score 😃 Lower borrowing cost – as your credit rating improves, the cost of most forms of credit (mortgages, loans, car finance, credit cards, etc) reduce, so the cost of new borrowing becomes lower. Borrow more – you’ll potentially have greater access to credit, whether that be a larger loan or credit card facility (subject to affordability). Access to more contracts and accounts – you’ll no longer be restricted to ‘pay as you go’ type contracts, opening up access to cheaper deals on mobiles and various utility bills. Own a home – with a bad credit score it’s possible that mortgages are not available, so improving your credit file could enable you to buy your own home. Easier renting – letting agents look at your credit file and report this to potential landlords, making renting a home more challenging if your score is bad. On the flip side, if you have a good score this makes renting easier. So, having a good credit score can give you many more options, and make borrowing cheaper. Affordability – note that many of the above are subject to the loan, or credit being comfortably affordable to you, which the relevant company will check with you in detail beforehand. Further reading – see How your credit rating affects the cost of borrowing by moneyadviceservice.org.uk

Do I need to use Credibble to improve my credit score?

No, but they do make it super easy: 👍 Finds Critical Issues – identifies all your critical issues, so you know what’s holding you back. 24 Point Assessment – provides a 24-points Credit assessment on all the things that lenders check. Personalised Actions – generates a list of personalised actions you can take without any guesswork

Who is Creddibble and can they help me build my credit score?

Credibble is an information provider and experts in credit repair 🛠️ They help you build your credit score by providing insights into your credit file, identifying: Weaknesses – from the perspective of the lenders. Actions – specific actions that you could take to improve your score (bespoke to you). Monitoring & suggestions – ongoing monitoring and suggested actions to help you keep improving your score over time. We’ve found Creddible to be easy to use, providing valuable insights and a logical pathway to credit rating recovery at an affordable cost. Though you don’t need to use them, you can do this yourself. Fully Authorised: Credibble Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm registration numbers (FRN’s) 713043 and 795412. They are also partners with Equifax Credit Bureau.

Can they improve my credit history?

NO 👎 YOU are the only person who has the authority to repair your own credit history. YOU can only start repairing – your file when you know what needs to be fixed. Credibble can help you to know what to do – so you can effectively improve your credit score.

Can they tell me why I got declined, or if I will be when I apply?

YES 👍 Their system will do the following: Lenders Perspective – look at your credit report from the perspective of a lender. Why You May Get Turned Down – will show you the reasons why you may get declined by a lender. You can potentially improve your chances of getting accepted by looking at your Credibble report first.

Can they tell me what I need to do to correct problems?

YES 👍 Their system will show you: Weaknesses – your files’ areas of weakness and what needs to be improved. What You Need To Do – all things you need to do to repair your credit (bespoke to you).

Can they suggest when I can apply without damaging my credit rating?

YES 👍 Their system will give you Date – an estimated date when you could apply again. Credit – for the type of credit you need.

Is there anything their system does not do?

CHECK YOUR OWN PERSONAL DETAILS 👎 Their system will not know, for example: Genuine or Fraud – if a recent credit application made was genuine or fraud. Moved House – if you’ve moved to a new house recently. You’ll still need to check your own credit history, which is covered in Chapter 4 – How to Check Your Credit File

What are the top 6 credit score factors?

There are over 150 factors that lenders look at but the following are the main six categories. For a high credit score, you need ‘good marks’ in all six, one can let down all the others! Top Credit Factor 1: CREDIT CARDS The credit cards you have, and how you use them have a big impact. This is covered in detail in Chapter 6: How to use credit cards? Top Credit Factor 2: SHORT TERM CREDIT When not used correctly, short term credit can be negative! See Chapter 7: How to use loans and credit? Top Credit Factor 3: PAYMENT HISTORY This is where you can earn, or lose big marks! Learn more in Chapter 8: How to make your payment history work? Top Credit Factor 4: TOTAL ACCOUNTS The overall picture of all your accounts is also important. See Chapter 9: How all your accounts impact your file? Top Credit Factor 5: STABILITY So what do the lenders view as being stable? Learn more in Chapter 10: How stability can help you? Top Credit Factor 6: BAD CREDIT Whilst bad credit is not good, most do not fully understand what it is. Learn more in Chapter 15: What’s considered bad credit?

How to get your credit reports?

Your credit history in the UK is recorded by the three Credit Reference Agencies (CRA) Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion (formerly Call Credit). Ways of getting your credit history: Via Credibble.com – your data from Equifax, plus gives detailed insights into file problems and what you need to do to fix them on an ongoing basis. Via Checkmyfile – gets your data from all three Credit Reference Agencies but does not give any insights. So, you will need to read this page in detail to get ideas as to what you’ll need to do to your file. Individually With Each Agency – you can go to the three Credit Reference Agencies individually, but this would be more expensive.

What are the checks only you can do?

No automated service can check the things only you would know, so you need to manually check to make sure all is correct: CHECK THE INFORMATION STORED ON YOUR FILE Your score is based on the information held on your file, so if it’s not accurate this could be a problem. Check to make sure everything is correct: Name – your full name, especially if your name has changed DOB – Date of birth Address – plus previous addresses from the past 6 years. Financial Associations – with other people, such as a joint mortgage. Electoral Roll – whether you are registered to vote at your address. County Court Judgements – CCJs, Bankruptcies, Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) Credit Account Information – including mortgages, credit cards, store cards Amount owed When payments were made Account age Hard Credit Searches – happens when applying for new credit Fraud – anything that has been committed Using your name, or Fraud you’ve committed using someone else’s name CHECK THE ELECTORAL REGISTER Being on the electoral register improves the way that lenders view you and they can verify who you are; this will make you Stability – appear more stable to lenders. Better Chance – improve your chances of getting accepted for credit. So, check your credit file to ensure you are correctly listed. CHECK YOUR FINANCIAL ASSOCIATIONS If you have a joint account such as a mortgage, loan, or bank account with your spouse, family member or friend, then if they have a poor credit rating, this could be impacting your credit score. So, check all the associations that you may have and their score. Also, see HOW TO STOP OTHERS WRECKING YOUR CREDIT RATING. CHECK FOR IDENTIFY FRAUD Identity fraud is increasingly becoming a problem, and if you’ve fallen victim, this could affect your credit rating. Check to see if someone has tried, or taken out a loan, or credit agreement in your name. Searches Section – review the ‘searches’ section of your report and look out for any hard searches you don’t recognise, also Credit Agreements – all the credit agreements listed, and any you do not recognise If there is any fraudulent activity you should report this to Action Fraud.

How do I do ongoing monitoring?

When you’re looking to fix your credit rating, regular monitoring is important Manually – you can monitor your credit files manually with Checkmyfile – free for 30 days (then for just £14.99 a month after, which you can cancel online at any time). Automatically – or get intelligent automatic monitoring and recommended fixes with Credibble.com – £7.95 a month (cancel online at any time). If you do not monitor: Problems ‘Creep In’ – otherwise, mistakes and problems can ‘creep’ into your file and you’ll be unaware. Impact Of Actions Not Seen – you’ll be able to see the impact that actions have on your credit history. As your score improves this will inform further credit repair actions.

What are your ‘quick win’ actions?

1. Review your ‘Credibble Booster’ tips Credibble.com make the process of knowing what do to simple with their ‘Booster Tips’ Look at the ‘Score Boosters’ tab List of To Do’s – you will see a list of actions you can do which will improve your creditworthiness. List of What To Avoid – there is a list of actions to avoid which will impair your creditworthiness. 2. Sign up for the electoral roll If your name’s not on the electoral roll, you will find it harder to get credit 🤔 YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE AT GOV.UK Online By Post REGISTERING IS EASY 😃 Takes about 2-minutes You need your National Insurance number. When moving house, remember to re-register straightway to keep a solid history of electoral roll registration, which helps with credit applications. 3. Get your name on some bills A great way to show potential lenders that you can pay your bills back reliably is to get your name on utility bills ✍ Gas bill Electricity bill Water bill Mobile phone contract Landline phone Internet If you live in a house share, it might be worth considering putting one or two utility bills in your name or adding your name to some bills. 4. Get a mobile phone contract Your mobile phone contract contributes to your credit score 📲 Many lenders trust people who use a contract more than individuals on ‘pay-as-you-go’. So why not start looking for good value mobile contracts? 5. Get a landline A landline contract also contributes to your credit rating ☎️ Lender Trust – many lenders trust people a little bit more who have an established landline contract. Stability – a landline indicates stability (for more info see How stability can help you?) So why not start looking for good value landline contracts? 6. Pay off a credit card balance If you run a balance on a credit card, only making the minimum payment every month can have a big impact on your credit score 👎 It’s an indication to the lenders that you’re struggling with money! Quick Win – if you have the money it can be a ‘quick win’ to pay off this balance A Little Bit A Month – If you do not have the funds start paying a little bit more than the minimum payment every month; even 1% extra can help. More information Chapter 6: How to use credit cards? Chapter 8: How to make your payment history work? 7. Start paying bills on time Now you have your name on some bills, the key is to pay them all on time (as covered in Chapter 8: How to make your payment history work?) Missed or Late Payments – these stay on your credit report for up to six years! Suggests to Lenders You’re Struggling – not paying bills suggests to lenders that you struggle to manage your credit well. To help to avoid this, set up direct debits to pay your bills, phone, and credit card payments. 8. Pay insurance premiums up front When you pay for your insurance in monthly instalments the insurer will normally do a ‘hard search’, which affects your credit file! If you’ve renewed a couple of insurance policies recently and are paying monthly, it’s possible that you could have a number of ‘hard credit searches’ on your credit report. Ask Insurer – if you want to pay monthly, ask your insurer before signing up, whether or not they’ll be doing a ‘hard credit search’. Pay Upfront – if you pay upfront, this will stop this from happening.

Should I get a credit card?

It depends 🤔 A credit card can be a great way of building your rating, though Bad Credit Rating – if you have a bad credit rating, also see ‘credit-builder credit cards’ below. Read This First – before applying for a credit card, read Chapter 14: Improve the chances of successful applications?

Does credit card usage matter?

YES 🤨 Using credit regularly and responsibly is key to building your score. It shows you can reliably pay back any money you borrow. Use ‘Lightly’ – use the credit card lightly, spending small amounts only. Clear Balance – pay your bill in full every month. Use For Budgeted Items – use the credit card to pay for items budgeted for rather than spending out of your means.

Should I keep below my credit limit?

YES 👍 To help your score most, do not to use too much of your credit limit Use Only 10% – 30% of Credit Limit – use less than 30% of your credit limit on any one card, using 10% or less is ideal Shows Good Management – this shows lenders that you can manage your credit sensibly and you’re not desperate for quick cash.

I’ve a credit card balance, should I pay over the minimum payment?

YES 👍 If you have a balance which you cannot pay pack in full, it’s important to pay over the minimum payment: Pay 1% More – even if you pay back 1% above the minimum repayment, this can make a difference (obviously the more the better. If your last card payment was the minimum payment when you apply for credit, it could reduce your borrowing chances: Reduces Credit Score – paying the minimum repayment every month impacts your score. Indicates You Have Poor Affordability – it’s a sign to lenders that you cannot afford the repayments and cannot afford to borrow more.

Should I close my old credit card?

NO 👎 Closing old credit cards has the following negative impacts: Reduces Your Combined Credit Limit – as you no longer have access to that card’s limit, this will reduce your total combined credit limit. Increased Your Balance Usage – if you have a balance on other cards, the card balance percentage usage will increase which is not a good sign. Reduced Average Account Age – the average age of your other credit agreements will reduce. So, keep the card open, but ensure the usage is as previously described.

Can I withdraw cash on my credit cards?

NO 👎 Withdrawing cash is expensive and affects your score: Lenders Do Not Like It – many lenders see it as poor money management. Expensive Money – interest is charged by most credit cards, so this is expensive money. Note, if you’re withdrawing cash on a specialist card abroad, this is not seen in the same way.

Should I increase my credit limit?

Yes, but slowly 👍 It can be a good way to build your credit score: Increase Existing Card Limits – by increasing your credit limit on your existing cards. Apply For New Credit Cards – by taking out new credit cards (it’s a good idea to space out credit card applications ideally by at least six months). Applying for several credit cards within a short period of time can damage your credit rating – some lenders see it as a sign of weak finances! Your creditworthiness is partly measured by How High Your Credit Limit Is – your combined credit limit on your credit cards is one measure of how creditworthy you are. Typically, the higher your limit, the more confident lenders often are that larger loan repayments are affordable for you.

Can I do balance transfers?

Your credit file shows all your balance transfers and if you’re not paying for them Can Show Reduced Affordability – some lenders take the view that you do this because you cannot afford to pay this back. This can even apply to zero interest balance transfers, where you’ve transferred a balance on a card to take advantage of their zero costs. Sometimes this can reduce your chances of getting a loan or mortgage.

What about credit-builder credit cards?

If you have a bad credit history then a credit-builder credit card can help build your credit score 😃 Good For Bad / Zero Credit – designed for people with little credit history, or bad credit history. Have Low Credit Limits – credit limits are normally low and with high-interest rates. Helps Build Creditworthiness – By using these cards and paying off the bill each month, you can build your creditworthy status. The interest rates are higher than standard credit cards, typically 30% in interest a year, however, you won’t be charged if You repay the card each month (preferably by direct debit) Never withdraw cash Example use of a credit builder card Spend say £60 a month on the card. Have no other financial issues. After six months or so your credit rating should start to improve. After a year this could make quite a difference

Should I have a few credit accounts?

YES * 👍 A good way to show lenders that you are creditworthy is to have a few credit agreements that are all up to date: Create Your Payment History – building a history of on-time payments. Show Slow Improvement – this will gradually improve your credit rating. Try a mix of different credit accounts Mobile phone contract Other credit cards Personal loan Mortgage Important * Be Affordable – only take out extra credit if you can afford the repayments; do not put yourself in debt and harm your credit by taking out agreements you cannot keep up with. Too Many Accounts – can indicate to a lender that you’re desperate for money, thus having the opposite effect than intended.

Should I get a bank account overdraft?

POSSIBLY 🤔 WHEN AN OVERDRAFT HELPS An overdraft can help improve your credit history if 👍 On Your Bank Account – if you have one on your bank account this shows lenders that your bank trusts you. Is Not Used – if you do not need to use it this shows you manage your money well and don’t need it. WHEN AN OVERDRAFT CAUSES PROBLEMS An overdraft can damage your credit history if 👍 Regularly Used – if you use the overdraft every month you will see a negative impact on your credit report. High Expenses – regular overdraft use suggests to lenders that your expenses every month are higher than your income. If you cannot live outside of your overdraft, consider getting a manageable loan instead, this will look better on your credit file.

Should I get rid of payday and other short-term loans?

Some lenders, especially mortgage lenders do not like to see payday loans on your credit file. Viewed As Poor Money Management – lenders can take the view that these are a result of poor money management and your expenses every month are higher than your income. Consider Consolidating – one solution to getting rid of a payday loan if you have a poor credit rating is to consolidate into a new loan with a lower monthly payment. This will not only help your credit file but could also reduce your monthly outgoings. IF YOU ARE THINKING OF CONSOLIDATING EXISTING BORROWING YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YOU MAY BE EXTENDING THE TERMS OF THE DEBT AND INCREASING THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU REPAY

Should I get rid of shopping accounts?

YES 👍 As with short term loans, many lenders don’t like shopping accounts on your credit file. Shows Poor Money Management – lenders can take the view that these are a result of poor money management. Shows High Expenses – also that your expenses every month are higher than your income. One potential solution is to consolidate your shopping accounts into one new loan with a lower monthly repayment which can help credit file and reduce monthly outgoings. IF YOU ARE THINKING OF CONSOLIDATING EXISTING BORROWING YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YOU MAY BE EXTENDING THE TERMS OF THE DEBT AND INCREASING THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU REPAY

What’s the maximum amount of short-term debt I should have?

It’s best to keep your short term debt levels Ideally, zero short term debt is best. Or at least keep to a minimum. Over 40% of annual income is considered high. Keeping well below 40% of your annual income should be your goal.

Should I get a loan and pay it back?

If you take out a loan (not payday or high-cost short term), and successfully pay it back, this can help to start boosting your credit rating. Can Show Good Money Management – this shows lenders that you manage your money well and meet your obligations. Can Improve Your Credit Score – in the circumstance where getting a loan that is affordable to you is the right thing to do, this can also help to improve your credit score. Only consider this if; You were genuinely thinking of taking out a loan anyway. The loan is comfortably affordable for you. If you take out a loan and do not make all the repayments, this will damage your credit file!

How can I use repayments to start improving my credit file?

The simplest way to make your repayment history work for you, and improve your credit score is to Make All Payments In Full – make a full payment every time, and never less than they should be. Pay On-Time – ensure all repayments are on time and never late. We understand this may not be possible, so consider Loan Consolidation – if you have multiple expensive loans/credit cards or overdrafts, you may be able to reduce your total monthly credit costs by consolidating all into one cheaper loan*. Credit Cards – if you have credit cards, pay a little over the minimum monthly payment.

What's the effect of missed payments?

Missed payments stay on your credit file for 6 years, so it’s important not to miss payments 😬 It’s important to catch up as soon as possible One month late is not good Two-months late is worse Three months late is much worse Lenders normally give you 14 days to make a payment before it officially marked as a default.

What about paying my utility bills on time?

Make all your bill re-payments in full (as covered in Chapter 5: What are your ‘quick win’ actions?) Gas bill Electricity bill Water bill Mobile phone contract Landline phone Internet Etc

What about paying my credit cards on time?

As covered in Chapter 6: How to use credit cards? Clear Balance Each Month – if you can, paying the full balance on time each month is best. More Than Minimum Payment – if you cannot fully clear the balance, then making more than minimum payments every month will also help. Try to avoid just making the minimum payment, as this indicates poor affordability.

What about paying my loans on time?

As covered in Chapter 7: How to use loans and credit? Make Repayments In Full – make all your repayments in full, and on time at the end of the month. If you’re struggling to do this, consider a consolidation loan to reduce your monthly costs.

If I pay my rent on time will I get credit on my file?

TYPICALLY NO 😒 But there are now solutions where this can happen 😃 Get Payments Recognised On Your Credit File – it is now possible to get your rent payments put onto your credit file to help build your credit rating with Creditladder.co.uk Canopy.rent Pay Rent In Full And On-Time – for the positive benefit, your rent must be paid in full and on-time every time. Consider signing up to one of these services so your payments can start getting recognised straight away.

What about paying my mortgage on time?

If you have a mortgage, this is an extremely important factor in your credit file Very negative impact – if you do not pay your mortgage on time. Very positive impact – if you pay on time, every time – this shows lenders you are financially stable and one of the best signs to a lender that you are a trustworthy borrower.

Are more accounts better?

TYPICALLY YES 👍 A good number of credit agreements typically shows lenders You manage your money well So improving your credit rating In Chapter: QUICK WIN ACTIONS we suggest: Getting utility bills in your name Getting a mobile phone contract Getting a landline In Chapter: HOW TO USE CREDIT CARDS CHAPTER we suggest: Getting a credit card Increasing your credit limit This does not apply to payday, short term loans, and shopping accounts as covered in Chapter 7: How to use loans and credit?

Are all accounts equal?

NO 👎 Not all credit accounts are treated equally! The following is how lenders typically view different credit agreements: Top marks: for mortgages Good marks: for personal loans Medium marks: for utility bills and similar Negative marks: for short term credit such as payday and shopping accounts WHAT IF I HAVE ‘BAD’ SHORT TERM CREDIT ACCOUNTS? Consider consolidating into a personal loan – if you have a few types of short-term credit (payday, shopping accounts etc.) you can consolidate these into a personal loan, which can reduce your monthly outgoings and improve your credit score. IF YOU ARE THINKING OF CONSOLIDATING EXISTING BORROWING YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YOU MAY BE EXTENDING THE TERMS OF THE DEBT AND INCREASING THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU REPAY

Are long term relationships better?

YES 👍 Lenders are typically more likely to approve your application if they see you have long histories with other companies The bank account that you’ve been using for years (with an unused overdraft) Credit card Gas, electricity bills Mobile contacts Mortgage Long-term agreements can do wonders to your credit report, so try to ensure that you keep your first agreement open if it’s a credit card or a bank account.

Does job status and duration matter?

YES 🏢 Your employment status affects your credit file! Lenders see full-time employees who’ve been in their jobs a long time as the lowest risk. Top Score For Full Time – full-time employees who’ve been in the same job for a good length of time. Medium Score For Part-Time & Self Employed – if you work part-time, or are self-employed, this typically will be seen as offering medium stability. Lower Score For Temporary / Contract – temporary and contract workers are typically seen as the riskiest, so have the lowest stability score.

Does residential status matter?

YES 🏠 Good Score For Homeowners – homeowners typically get a higher score than tenants. Time At Property Matters – the longer that you’ve been in your home the better, try not to move around too much. This applies to both tenants and homeowners. Unfurnished Lettings Better – tenants in unfurnished properties get higher scores than those in furnished. If you are a tenant, get credit on your file for rental payments, see Chapter 8: How to make your payment history work?

Does electoral roll registration matter?

YES 👍 Being on the electoral register indicates to lenders Stability – the stability of a permanent address. More Stability (Over 4 Years) – being on the register for more than 4 years gets the greatest number of points. See Chapter 5: What are your ‘quick win’ actions?

Are payment defaults a problem?

YES 🤔 The most common issue that reduces people’s credit rating is payment defaults, especially on the higher value accounts such as mortgages. Start fixing your credit score by Start Making Payments Again – start making your repayments in full and on time. Start Settling Arrears – start settling outstanding payments and your arrears. For more information see Chapter 8: How to make your payment history work?

Is there anything I can do about County Court Judgements (CCJ’s)

YES 👍 CCJ’s can greatly affect your credit file, and lenders are able to see the amount of your CCJ and date. If you settle the CCJ in full you can start rebuilding your credit rating.

What about IVA's (Individual Voluntary Arrangement)?

IVAs severely affect your credit history 😕 It’s a formal insolvency arrangement for people who are unable to pay their debts. No Borrowing In An IVA – most lenders will not lend to someone in an IVA. IVA Effect Reduces Over Time – once the IVA has finished, its effect does reduce over time, and borrowing options will start to gradually open up again.

Is there any way back from bankruptcy?

Of all factors, bankruptcy is the most damaging to your credit file! Affect Lasts For Years – it affects your ability to borrow for many years. Effect Reduces Over Time – once discharged, its effect does reduce over time.

Can incorrect payment defaults get removed?

YES 👍 It’s possible for late payments to incorrectly appear on your credit file due to an error. This will affect your credit rating so needs to be removed. FIND THE PROBLEM 1. Get Your Multi-Agency Credit Report Rather than getting your credit file individually from each agency, a report from Check My File includes the data recorded by each of the UK agencies (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union). GET YOUR MULTI-AGENCY CREDIT REPORT FROM CHECK MY FILE Try it FREE for 30 days, then £14.99 a month – cancel online anytime 2. Review Report To See If Error Is With All Agencies Review your multi-agency report to see if the error is with one, or all of the agencies? Error With One Agency Only – if the error is only showing with one of the agencies this indicates a clerical error by that one agency. Error With All Agencies – if the error is only showing with all agencies, this indicates that this could have been put there in error by the lender. SOLVE THE PROBLEM 1. If A Clerical Error By One Agency – contact that agency, inform them of the error, and request a correction. 2. If Put In Error By Your Lender Contract the lender Ask for the error to be removed. Explain the reasons why this default should not be there (be brief and to the point). Say that you’ll be taking it to the Financial Ombudsman if the default isn’t removed. If this fails then go to the next steps. Add a notice of correction to your credit report(s) Explain the reasons why this default should not be there (be brief and to the point). Also Complain to the Financial Ombudsman It can adjudicate that the default is unfair. Ask for all traces of it to be removed. Order recompense for damage if appropriate. Explain the reasons why this default should not be there.

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Guide to improving your credit score

A very detailed (UK focussed) guide on what you can start doing to improve your credit rating today!

Home > How to build your credit score?

Why improve your credit rating?

Your credit score impacts so many areas of life, from getting a mobile phone to car finance, to buying a house.

😟 A Poor Credit Score Is Very Limiting – we understand that a poor credit score can greatly limit your day to day life!

😀 All You Need To Know To Improve Your Score – this guide tells you everything you need to know, to start improving your credit history so you can start enjoying the ‘good credit life’

Guide Contents

Chapter 1: What’s credit score improvement?
Chapter 2: How to take the pain away with Credibble?
Chapter 3: What are the top 6 credit score factors?
Chapter 4: How to check your credit histoy?
Chapter 5: What are your ‘quick win’ actions?
Chapter 6: How to use credit cards?
Chapter 7: How to use loans and credit?
Chapter 8: How to make your payment history work?
Chapter 9: How all your accounts impact your file?
Chapter 10: How stability can help you?
Chapter 11: What’s considered bad credit?
Chapter 12: How to dispute errors & correct mistakes?
Chapter 13: How to stop others wrecking your credit?
Chapter 14: How to use your home?
Chapter 15: Improve chances of successful applications?

START REPAIRING TODAY WITH CREDIBBLE
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Credibble.com is mentioned on this page as an information provider to help you improve your own credit score. The information included on this page is highly relevant whether you use Credibble or not.

Having personally had to sort out my own credit rating, I was frustrated by there not being a UK specific credit improvement guide online, so I wrote one! I hope you find it useful? Jon Edward

read guide
sign with credibble
find problems
learn how to sort
improve
enjoy the good credit life

CHAPTER 1

What is Credit Score Improvement?

Let’s start with the basics of what rebuilding your credit rating is and its impact.

How to start what may seem like a daunting process?

Introduction

Improving your credit score is the process of

1. CARRYING OUT ACTIONS TO IMPROVE THE FACTORS AFFECTING YOUR CREDIT SCORE, for example

Paying missed payments
Satisfying bad debts
Getting a new credit card
Clearing unauthorised overdrafts
See Chapter 3: What are the top 6 credit score factors?

2. CORRECTING OR DISPUTING ANY ERRORS OR MISTAKES on your credit reports.

See: Chapter 12: How to dispute errors & fix mistakes?

The process is done by you, but can be assisted by insights from companies such as credibble.com who will help you:

Understand current problems with your credit file
Know what you can do to start fixing the issues
Monitor changes, and continually suggest actions to help continual improvements

The purpose is to make getting loans, mobile phones, and other accounts easier and cheaper

How to start building your credit rating?

In 3 steps

1. FIND PROBLEMS

Analyse your credit history and identify the items that are causing your score to be affected:

Find Obvious Problems (e.g. Missed Payments) – such as missed loan repayments or not being on the electoral register.
Find Obscure Problems (e.g. Dormant Credit Cards) – such as a credit card you have that’s not being used, or bad financial association with someone else.

2. IDENTIFY REPAIR ACTIONS

You’d be surprised what some of the repair actions can be; for example

Disassociating yourself with a past flatmate
Getting a landline

There are over 154 things you could be doing, Credibble.com can tell you the priorities for you.

3. MONITOR FILE CHANGES AND MAKE REGULAR IMPROVEMENTS

Unfortunately, credit score improvement is not always quick and can require activity on a semi-regular basis, so

Ongoing Monitoring Required – this is to see how the actions you’ve taken have improved your score.
New Improvements Are Needed – as the score improves new actions will be needed, (most people do not know what to do).
Improvement Stops As People Forget – many people forget about their credit file so it stops improving.

Credibble.com will tell you how your score is improving over time and point out the new actions that need to happen to maintain improvements.

How long does it take to improve my credit file?

It does depend on your credit history profile 📖

For example:

If You Are Bankrupt – Over 2-Years

For someone who is bankrupt improving your credit score will take at least a couple of years.