You can check your credit score for free in the UK without paying a subscription or signing up for a trial. There are three main credit reference agencies, and each one offers a free route to your score and your full credit report.
This article is information only. It explains the free routes available and your legal rights. It is not financial advice, and it does not tell you what to do with your score once you have seen it.
The direct answer
Checking your credit score for free in the UK means going directly to one or more of the three credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each holds its own version of your credit file and offers free access. Under UK data protection law, you also have a statutory right to request a copy of your full credit report from any bureau at no charge. Checking your own score does not affect it.
Step 1: Understand which agencies hold your data
Three credit reference agencies operate in the UK:
- Experian, the largest bureau by lender coverage
- Equifax, used by many banks, mortgage lenders and utility providers
- TransUnion, used widely by credit card providers and some high street lenders
Not every lender reports to every agency. A missed payment recorded at one bureau may not appear at another. Checking all three gives you the fullest picture.
Your credit score at each bureau is calculated differently and sits on a different scale. A variation in numbers between bureaus is normal.
Step 2: Check your score for free at each bureau
Each bureau provides a free route. The options below do not require a paid subscription to access a basic score.
Experian
Experian offers a free Credit Score account. You can register directly on the Experian website to see your score, updated monthly. A paid subscription adds more detailed report data and monitoring alerts, but the free score account is sufficient to see your headline number.
Experian scores run from 0 to 999, according to Experian's own published scoring guidance (experian.co.uk).
Experian also operates the Credit Expert subscription service, which includes a free 30-day trial. The free score account described above is separate from the trial and does not require payment details.
Equifax
Equifax provides free access to your credit score and report through its own service. You can register on the Equifax website. Equifax also partners with third-party platforms such as ClearScore, which shows your Equifax data for free with no trial period.
Equifax scores run from 0 to 1000, according to Equifax's published scoring documentation (equifax.co.uk).
TransUnion
TransUnion provides free credit score access through Credit Karma (operated by Intuit). You can register on the Credit Karma website to see your TransUnion score and a summary of your credit file at no charge.
TransUnion scores run from 0 to 710, according to TransUnion's published scoring information (transunion.co.uk).
Step 3: Request your statutory credit report
If you want your full detailed credit file rather than just a score, you have a legal right to it at no cost. Under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, every credit reference agency must provide a copy of the personal data they hold about you on request. This is called a Subject Access Request (SAR). The Information Commissioner's Office confirms this right and explains how it applies to credit reference agencies at ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/your-right-to-get-copies-of-your-data/.
To request your statutory report:
- Go directly to the agency's website.
- Find the Subject Access Request or statutory credit report section.
- Submit your request online, by post, or by email (the agency's website will show the current method).
- The agency has one calendar month to respond.
There is no charge for a statutory report. The agency cannot require you to sign up for a paid service to fulfil it.
MoneyHelper, the government-backed money guidance service, publishes guidance on requesting your statutory report and on understanding what each section means.
Step 4: Read your report and check for errors
Once you have your score and report, look through the following carefully:
- Personal details, name, address history, date of birth. Errors here can affect your score.
- Credit accounts, check that all listed accounts are ones you recognise. An account you do not recognise may indicate fraud or a data error.
- Payment history, late or missed payments are recorded for six years. Check that any recorded defaults or late markers are accurate.
- Hard searches, these appear when a lender ran a full credit check because you applied for credit. If you see a search you did not authorise, it is worth querying it with the bureau.
- Electoral roll, being registered to vote at your current address helps lenders confirm your identity. If you are not registered, it can affect how lenders view your application.
If you find an error, you can raise a dispute directly with the credit reference agency. The agency is required to investigate and, where the data is inaccurate, to correct or remove it.
Step 5: Consider what to do with what you find
Your score on its own is one input among several: lenders use their own internal criteria when assessing applications, and two people with identical scores may receive different decisions from the same lender.
If your score is lower than you expected, looking at your report can help you understand why. Common factors that affect a score include:
- Missed or late payments
- High credit utilisation (using a large proportion of available credit)
- A short credit history
- Multiple recent hard searches from credit applications
- Incorrect information on your file
If you want to understand what steps may be available to you, the MoneyHelper website has a free credit improvement guide at moneyhelper.org.uk/en/money-troubles/dealing-with-debt/improving-your-credit-score.
Frequently asked questions
Does checking my own credit score affect it?
No. Checking your own score is recorded as a soft search, which is only visible to you. Soft searches have no effect on your credit score. Only hard searches, carried out by lenders when you apply for credit, can affect your score.
Do I have to pay to see my credit score?
No. All three UK credit reference agencies offer a free way to see your score. You are also entitled to a free statutory credit report from each agency under UK data protection law. You do not need to enter payment details or start a free trial to access the statutory report.
Why do my scores differ between Experian, Equifax and TransUnion?
Each agency uses its own scoring scale and holds slightly different data. Lenders do not all report to every agency, so the information each bureau holds about you can vary. A difference between bureaus is normal and does not mean one score is wrong.
How often does my credit score update?
Most lenders report to credit reference agencies once a month, so your score typically updates monthly. The exact timing depends on when each lender sends its update and when the agency processes it.
What is the difference between a credit score and a credit report?
A credit report is the full record of your credit history: accounts, balances, payment history, searches and any court judgments. A credit score is a number that each bureau calculates from that report to summarise your creditworthiness. Lenders may use either, or both, when making a lending decision.
Can I check my credit score if I have bad credit?
Yes. There is no restriction on checking your own score regardless of your credit history. Checking it when your credit is poor can actually be a useful starting point, because it lets you see what is being recorded and spot anything that may need correcting.
Sources and further reading
- Experian, free credit score account and scoring scale documentation: experian.co.uk
- Equifax, free credit score, Subject Access Request process and scoring scale documentation: equifax.co.uk
- TransUnion, free score access via Credit Karma and scoring scale documentation: transunion.co.uk
- MoneyHelper, guidance on credit reports, statutory rights and understanding your score: moneyhelper.org.uk/en/money-troubles/dealing-with-debt/improving-your-credit-score
- Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), your right to obtain copies of your personal data, including from credit reference agencies: ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/your-right-to-get-copies-of-your-data/
Related guide
For a broader look at how credit reports and scores work, what lenders look for, and how the scoring system operates, see the main guide: Credit reports and scores.
- Does checking my own credit score affect it?
No. Checking your own score is recorded as a soft search, which is only visible to you. Soft searches have no effect on your credit score. Only hard searches — carried out by lenders when you apply for credit — can affect your score.
- Do I have to pay to see my credit score?
No. All three UK credit reference agencies offer a free way to see your score. You are also entitled to a free statutory credit report from each agency under UK data protection law. You do not need to enter payment details or start a free trial to access the statutory report.
- Why do my scores differ between Experian, Equifax and TransUnion?
Each agency uses its own scoring scale and holds slightly different data. Lenders do not all report to every agency, so the information each bureau holds about you can vary. A difference between bureaus is normal and does not mean one score is wrong.
- How often does my credit score update?
Most lenders report to credit reference agencies once a month, so your score typically updates monthly. The exact timing depends on when each lender sends its update and when the agency processes it.
- What is the difference between a credit score and a credit report?
A credit report is the full record of your credit history: accounts, balances, payment history, searches and any court judgments. A credit score is a number that each bureau calculates from that report to summarise your creditworthiness. Lenders may use either, or both, when making a lending decision.
- Can I check my credit score if I have bad credit?
Yes. There is no restriction on checking your own score regardless of your credit history. Checking it when your credit is poor can actually be a useful starting point, because it lets you see what is being recorded and spot anything that may need correcting.