Where does the information in your credit report come from?

Your credit report tells the story of your credit health over the past six years. It has records of any loans, credit cards, and how you’ve handled repayments.

You’ll also find other information like your Electoral Roll listing, any public records, and financial associations.

It’s the story lenders read when you apply for credit, whether that’s a mortgage, a car loan, or a new credit card. And it’s not just about getting a yes or no. The information on your report can also shape the interest rate you’re offered.

So, it’s worth getting to know your own story and how you can shape it going forward. Where does all this information actually come from? And what does it mean for your credit health once it's there?

What information is on my credit report?

Not all lenders report information to every credit reference agency, so your report and score might look a little different depending on where you check it.

You can see what they all hold on you with Checkmyfile – we provide the most detailed credit report, with all your data from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion in one place. Get started with a 7-day free trial, then it’s £14.99 a month. Cancel online anytime.

Here's what you can expect to see:

·       Personal details: Any name you’ve applied for credit in, and the same for current and previous addresses.

·       Active and closed credit and bank accounts: Think mortgages, overdrafts, credit cards, loans, and mobile contracts.

·       Your Electoral Roll listing.

·       Your credit repayments, including any missed or late payments.

·       Public records: Any County Court Judgments (CCJs), Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), Debt Relief Orders, or bankruptcies.

·       Hard and soft credit searches: Only hard searches have any impact on your score – they are made when you apply for credit.

·       Financial associations: Anyone you’re financially connected to, including those you have taken joint credit out with. They won’t affect your credit score, but could impact new credit applications.

·       Notices of Correction: A short statement you can add to explain something a lender may call into question.

There's plenty your report won't mention, too. Things like your salary, religion, and marital status aren’t included. Savings and current account balances usually won't feature either, unless your current account has an overdraft – which is a form of credit.

Where does the information in your credit report come from?

Your credit report is built from a mix of sources. The public side of things, like your Electoral Roll status, address, and any court judgments, comes from public records and local authorities. Meanwhile, your credit history – the accounts, the balances, the repayments – is supplied by the lenders, banks, building societies, and service providers you've dealt with.

Cifas could play a part too, adding details to your file if you've been a victim of fraud, or if an identity marker has been flagged against your name.

Agencies can also gather data from your payment accounts through open banking, and in certain circumstances, from gambling organisations, employers, utility suppliers, and telecoms businesses too.

Why accurate information matters

Every time a lender looks at your application, they're weighing up the information on your credit report and what you've told them on your application. This paints a picture of your financial behaviour, how you’re likely to handle credit, and how likely you are to pay them back.

Accuracy matters. Something as small as a spelling mistake on your Electoral Roll listing that doesn’t match the address on your application, or a missed payment that's slipped through, can be enough to tip an application from an approval to a rejection.

And it goes beyond simply giving you a green light. The information on your file can shape how much you're able to borrow, and the interest rate you're offered.

What should you do if information is incorrect?

Spotted something on your report that doesn't look right? The first thing to do is to get in touch with the lender directly. Let them know clearly what information you believe is incorrect and share any evidence you have to support your dispute.

If that isn’t successful, our UK-based customer care team can help. We can get in touch with the credit reference agencies on your behalf.

How can you check the information on your credit report?

At Checkmyfile, we provide the most detailed credit report out there. We pull information from the UK’s three main credit reference agencies –- Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion – and put the information in one easy-to-read report.

Start with a 7-day free trial, then it’s £14.99 a month– you can cancel online anytime.

Your credit report and credit score change often, so regularly monitoring your file is the best way to know where you stand and prepare for future applications.