Your Credit Score
Thinking about applying for credit? Check Your Credit Score for free, with no impact on your credit file.
If your credit score is on the low side, it could be harder to get credit when you need it.
Credit reference agencies collect information about you from public records, lenders and other service providers. Things that can impact your credit score are:
If you find it difficult to manage your budget and borrowing, that could be a barrier to you improving your credit score in future, so it might help to check out our tips and tools.
The scale used by each credit reference agency varies, but as a general rule, the higher your credit score is, the better your chances are of being accepted when you apply for credit.
Having a low score doesn’t always mean an application won’t be accepted – lenders and service providers also consider other factors, like affordability and any past account history – you might just be offered higher interest rates, and a more limited amount of credit.
Below are examples from the credit reference agencies Halifax work with:
Excellent |
Very good |
Good |
Poor |
Very poor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Excellent961 - 999 |
Very good881 - 960 |
Good721 - 880 |
Poor561 - 720 |
Very poor0 - 560 |
Excellent |
Very good |
Good |
Poor |
Very poor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Excellent811 - 1000 |
Very good671 - 810 |
Good531 - 670 |
Poor439 - 530 |
Very poor0 - 438 |
Excellent |
Good |
Ok |
Needs some work |
Needs work |
---|---|---|---|---|
Excellent628 - 710 |
Good604 - 627 |
Ok586 - 603 |
Needs some work551 - 585 |
Needs work0 - 550 |
It’ll take time, but there are a number of things you can do which might improve your credit score:
More on improving your credit score
A low credit score could make it harder to get credit, or limit your borrowing options.