Articles

Getting a Mortgage When Self-Employed

There are some important differences to the application process.

Article

7 min read

Mortgage

Mortgage Application Checklist: What to Do Before You Apply

Your credit report can help avoid any hurdles along the way.

Article

7 min read

Payments & Borrowing

Checking your credit report throughout your mortgage journey

Here’s how you could benefit from monitoring your file at every stage of the mortgage process.

Article

5 min read

Mortgage

Types of mortgage loans in the UK explained

Learn how your credit report could affect your approval chances.

Article

6 min read

Mortgage

Improve your credit score for a mortgage: All you need to know

Identify habits to strengthen your credit health before you apply.

Article

4 min read

Mortgage

Does a Mortgage In Principle affect your credit score?

Learn how a Mortgage In Principle impacts your credit score, whether a credit check is needed, and why it matters. Get the facts today.

Article

8 min read

Mortgage

How does inflation affect mortgage rates?

Find out how the Bank of England's inflationary measures can drive mortgage rates up or down.

Article

7 min read

Mortgage

Whose Credit Score is Used on a Joint Mortgage?

If you’re looking to buy a home with someone else, you may be wondering how your credit scores will impact your mortgage. Let’s look at the details.

Article

8 min read

Mortgage

Preparing for the future mortgage market

What you need to know about the future of mortgages – and how you can prepare for what’s next.

Article

6 min read

Mortgage

What is an offset mortgage? Here’s what you need to know

Learn what an offset mortgage is and how it differs from a standard mortgage.

Article

6 min read

Mortgage

The Pros and Cons of an Interest-only Mortgage Holiday

Can you take an interest-only mortgage holiday, and will it affect your credit score? Here’s what you need to know.

Article

4 min read

Mortgage

Understanding buy-to-let and residential mortgages

Learn the difference between buy-to-let and residential mortgages, how they work, who can get one, and what you need to qualify.

Article

8 min read

Mortgage

Does a mortgage holiday affect your credit rating?

Does a mortgage holiday affect your credit rating? Can it impact your ability to borrow? And what are the alternatives? Here, we explain all.

Article

9 min read

Credit Score

What the changes to UK interest rates mean for mortgages

Understand how it could affect your credit health.

Article

6 min read

Mortgage

Does retirement affect your credit score? What to consider before you stop working

There are ways to keep your credit health in check throughout retirement, and things you can do to prepare for it.

Article

6 min read

Credit Score

How to increase your credit score in the UK

For helpful tips to improve your credit score, read on.

Article

21 min read

Credit Score

Adverse credit history explained

Learn what adverse credit history is, how long it lasts, and its potential impacts on your ability to borrow.

Article

10 min read

Credit history

Does closing a credit card affect your credit score?

Could closing a credit card negatively impact your credit score? Let’s find out.

Article

9 min read

Credit card

How often should you check your credit report?

Regularly monitoring your report is good for your credit health.

Article

5 min read

Credit Report

What credit score is needed to buy a house?

Wondering what credit score you need to buy a house? Learn if you can get a mortgage with poor credit and how to improve your score with Checkmyfile.

Article

9 min read

Credit Score

Does Council Tax affect your credit score?

Get the facts and learn how it affects your personal finances.

Article

6 min read

Credit Score

Does PayPal Pay in 3 affect my credit score?

Learn how Pay in 3 could impact your credit rating and what you need to know before applying.

Article

10 min read

Payments & Borrowing

Does your student loan affect your credit score?

Student loans differ from other types of borrowing. Learn how they could impact future credit applications and what appears on your credit report.

Article

8 min read

Credit Score

How long defaults stay on a credit file and the effect it can have

Wondering how long defaults stay on your credit file? Learn the timeline and steps to improve your credit score.

Article

9 min read

Credit Report

Electoral Roll and a change of address: what to know

How to update your address on the Electoral Roll, how long it’ll take for the Electoral Register to reflect the change and important steps afterwards.

Article

11 min read

Addresses & Electoral Roll

How long does it take to buy a house?

From making an offer to getting the keys to your new home, our step-by-step guide explains all.

Article

11 min read

Regulations

How much does a guarantor need to earn in the UK?

Want to understand the role of a guarantor? From how much a guarantor needs to earn, to their rights and responsibilities, here are the key facts.

Article

9 min read

Loans

How to increase your credit score quickly

Sometimes, you want to know how to increase your credit score quickly. While there’s no magic fix, we look at the things that can make a difference.

Article

18 min read

Credit Score

Tips on how to improve your credit score

Discover strategies to help improve your credit score, from paying bills on time to managing balances. Steps worth taking, progress worth making.

Article

7 min read

Credit Score

Understanding why my credit score is different on different sites

Discover why your credit score varies across different sites and learn what factors affect these differences. Get clarity with Checkmyfile.

Article

9 min read

Credit Score

What is a credit limit?

Learn how it’s determined, how to increase it, and what happens if you exceed it.

Article

9 min read

Credit

What is a statutory credit report? How to request yours

Understand the information on your statutory credit report. Know when you might need one and how to request it online or by post.

Article

9 min read

Credit Report

What is a tenant credit check?

Landlords use tenant credit checks to verify your identity and to help determine if you’ll be a good tenant. Here’s what to expect from these checks.

Article

10 min read

Searches

When do you start paying stamp duty in the UK?

Learn all about the different stamp duty rules in the UK, along with exceptions that may apply to you.

Article

11 min read

Regulations

Why can't I get a credit card? 13 possible reasons

Find out why you’ve been declined and uncover tips for your next application.

Article

10 min read

Credit card

Why has my credit score gone down? 14 reasons

Wondering why your credit score dropped? Discover 14 common reasons for a lower credit score and learn tips to help improve it.

Article

20 min read

Credit Score

Why has my credit score gone down when I haven’t missed any payments?

Wondering why your credit score dropped without missed payments? Explore common reasons like credit utilisation, hard searches, and balance changes.

Article

9 min read

Credit Score

Why is my credit score low? Top 10 reasons explained

Wondering why your credit score is low? Read Checkmyfile's guide to understand causes, get tips, and improve your score.

Article

18 min read

Credit Score

Does car finance improve your credit score?

Explore how having a car on finance can build and improve your credit score and how it might damage your credit rating if you’re not careful.

Article

6 min read

Credit Score

Does Klarna affect your credit score?

Does Klarna affect your credit score? Find out how Klarna's payment plans are reported and what you can do to protect your credit rating.

Article

8 min read

Credit

The UK’s credit health knowledge gaps revealed

One in five adults don’t realise they can access their credit information.

Article

4 min read

Credit Score

What is a default on a credit file?

Learn what a default on a credit report is, the impact it can have on your applications for new credit, and the steps to take if you have one.

Article

9 min read

Credit Report

How to build credit as a new UK immigrant

Uncover practical ways to start building your credit score.

Article

4 min read

Credit

Where does the information in your credit report come from?

Learn what to do if something doesn’t look right on your credit report.

Article

5 min read

Credit Report

Declined for Credit? Your Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding Why

Had your credit declined? Find out why lenders say no, how it could affect your credit file, and what you can do next.

Article

6 min read

Credit

What is a good credit score?

Uncover what each credit reference agency considers a ‘good’ credit score, how to get one, and the benefits of having one.

Article

13 min read

Credit Score

How bankruptcy affects your credit score

Learn how bankruptcy affects your credit score and how soon it can improve in the UK. Steps to rebuild your credit score after bankruptcy.

Article

6 min read

Court Information

Does gambling affect your credit score?

Gambling won't have a direct impact on your credit score, but there are many ways in which its impact can show up indirectly.

Article

8 min read

Credit Score

Does being self employed affect credit score?

Does being self-employed affect your credit score? Learn how lenders assess credit health and how to improve it.

Article

4 min read

Credit Score

Can you apply for more than one credit card?

Can you apply for more than one credit card or have multiple credit cards in your name? Here’s what you need to consider.

Article

9 min read

Credit card

How does closing a bank account affect your credit score?

Read on to find out what you should do before closing a bank account and the impact it can have.

Article

7 min read

Bank account

Stamp duty changes 2025: How it affects your score

Here’s everything you need to know about the stamp duty changes being introduced in April 2025 and how they could affect you and your credit score.

Article

4 min read

Mortgage

What affects your credit score?

Article

5 min read

Credit Score

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Learn when you can expect a bankruptcy to be removed from your credit report and steps you can take to improve your credit score in the meantime.

Article

4 min read

Court Information

Why don’t I have a credit score? Understanding credit invisibility in the UK

There are steps you can take to start building your credit history.

Article

6 min read

Credit Score

Does a salary sacrifice affect your credit score?

Does salary sacrifice affect credit score? Learn how salary sacrifice schemes and salary finance could influence lender affordability checks.

Article

3 min read

Affordability

How joint finances could impact your credit score

Learn the joint finance and credit score essentials before sharing a home with your partner.

Article

9 min read

Associations & Aliases

Freehold vs leasehold: Pros and cons in the UK

Learn the difference between freehold and leasehold property, and the future reforms in the UK.

Article

6 min read

Mortgage

Anti-Money Laundering Checks When Buying a House in the UK

All you need to know about AML checks when buying a house, including how they work and whether they can affect your credit score.

Article

8 min read

Regulations

Everything you need to know about AML checks

Discover the ins and outs of AML checks, including how they work and whether they can affect your credit score.

Article

7 min read

Regulations

Can you pay rent with a credit card?

If your landlord is willing, you can pay your rent with a credit card. Learn more about the potential benefits and drawbacks of doing so.

Article

9 min read

Payments & Borrowing

Does a joint account affect your credit score?

How can joint accounts affect your credit score? It’s an important yet often misunderstood topic. Here’s everything you need to know.

Article

9 min read

Credit Score

Understanding credit health: reports and scores

Learn what credit health means, how it could impact your financial goals, and why regular credit report checks are important.

Article

4 min read

Credit Score

Does having multiple bank accounts affect your credit score?

Opening and managing multiple bank accounts could affect your credit score. Here’s everything you need to know.

Article

10 min read

Credit Score

How to check your credit score: a step-by-step guide

Your credit score and most detailed credit report are just a few clicks away.

Article

4 min read

Credit Score

Can divorce affect your credit score?

Your marital status isn’t listed on your credit report, but a divorce could still indirectly affect your credit score.

Article

9 min read

Credit Score

Does switching banks affect your credit score?

Here’s what you need to know about switching bank accounts and the potential knock-on effects to your credit score.

Article

9 min read

Credit Score

Do utility bills affect your credit score?

There are a few ways they could impact your score, but it’s not guaranteed.

Article

4 min read

Credit Score

Does changing your address affect your credit score?

Understand the relationship between addresses and credit reports and the indirect ways that changing addresses could impact your score.

Article

7 min read

Addresses & Electoral Roll

Does being a guarantor affect your credit?

Simply being a guarantor won’t affect your credit score. But if the borrower doesn’t pay, it can impact you. Here’s what you need to know.

Article

8 min read

Credit Report

How much of my credit limit should I use?

Learn more about the three most important considerations to help you decide for yourself.

Article

5 min read

Credit

Does car insurance affect credit score?

Understanding how insurance impacts your credit score can be confusing. Our guide explains how car insurance could affect your credit score.

Article

9 min read

Credit Score

Good credit score but declined a phone contract? Here’s why

Discover potential reasons for rejection and how to improve your chances with Checkmyfile.

Article

8 min read

Credit Score

The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on credit scores

Learn how the cost-of-living crisis could impact your credit score and what you can do if you're facing financial issues.

Article

8 min read

Payments & Borrowing

How much does a loan affect your credit score in the UK?

Wondering how a loan impacts your credit score in the UK? Learn how loans affect your credit health, from short-term dips to long-term benefits.

Article

9 min read

Loans

Does rent appear on my credit report?

Rent payments typically don't appear on credit reports automatically. Learn how you could add them and the ways they could affect your credit score.

Article

5 min read

Credit Report

What is unsecured debt?

Learn how it differs from secured debt and the potential consequences for breaching loan agreements.

Article

6 min read

Debt

What is a 999 credit score and how to get one

Learn how a 999 credit score is calculated, what it means, and how you could take steps towards getting one.

Article

6 min read

Credit Score

Is it better to rent or buy a house in the UK?

Learn more about the costs involved, potential advantages, and disadvantages of buying and renting.

Article

9 min read

Mortgage

The pros and cons of shared ownership

Learn how it works and if it’s a good idea for you.

Article

7 min read

Mortgage