Moving to the UK? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Credit Scores

Are you planning a move to the UK? Whether it’s for work, education, or simply a change of scenery, the process involves more than just packing your bags and booking a flight.

One of the critical elements that often gets overlooked in this transition is understanding the financial system, and more specifically, how credit scores in the UK work.

Your credit score, a simple yet profound three-digit number, is often the key to unlocking various financial services and facilities in your new home.

If you’re finding it hard to understand how exactly credit scores work and why they are so important, sit tight. This blog post will educate you on everything you need to know about the credit scoring system in the UK.

What is a credit score?

A credit score, simply put, is like a financial report card for adults. It’s a number that tells banks, lenders, and sometimes even landlords and employers, how responsible you’ve been with your money and debts.

It serves as a quick summary of your creditworthiness, impacting everything from your ability to rent a flat and get a mobile phone contract, to even securing a mortgage.

If you’ve borrowed money before, be it in the form of loans, credit cards, or other types of credit, and paid it back on time, you’re likely to have a good credit score. On the flip side, if you’ve had difficulties repaying, missed payments, or defaulted on a loan, your credit score might be lower.

How does credit score work in the UK?

Think of this as a scoring system in a game. When you do something good, like paying your credit card bill on time, you earn points. But when you do something less desirable, like missing a payment, you lose points. Your credit score is the total of these points.

Credit scores generally range from 300 (very poor) to 850 (excellent) in the US, while in the UK it’s from 0 to 999. Lenders look at this score when you apply for things like a credit card, a loan, or a mortgage, and use it to help decide whether they should lend to you or not, and what interest rate they should charge you.

It’s important to remember that credit scores aren’t fixed; they change over time as your financial behaviour changes. That means it’s always possible to improve a low score by making better financial decisions. Similarly, high scores should be maintained by continuing responsible credit management.

The importance of credit scores in the UK

A good credit score in the UK is more than just a financial asset; it’s a passport to better opportunities and a more comfortable lifestyle. It’s a critical factor that lenders, landlords, and even some employers consider when making key decisions.

It can impact every aspect of your financial life, influencing the deals you are offered, the products you can access, and even how much they cost.

Now, let’s discuss how your credit score matters in the following cases:

Mortgages

When applying for a mortgage to buy a home, lenders assess the creditworthiness of the borrower. A higher credit score indicates responsible financial behaviour and lowers the risk for the lender. As a result, individuals with higher credit scores are more likely to secure mortgage loans and enjoy more favourable terms, such as lower interest rates, larger loan amounts, and lower down payment requirements.

For example, John and Sarah are looking to buy their first home. They both apply for a mortgage loan with the same lender.

John has a credit score of 800, while Sarah’s credit score is 650. As a result, John qualifies for a lower interest rate of 3.5%, while Sarah is offered a higher rate of 4.5%. This means that over the life of a 30-year mortgage, John will save thousands of pounds compared to Sarah due to his higher credit score.

Credit cards and loans

Credit scores heavily influence the approval process for credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, and other forms of borrowing. Lenders use credit scores to assess the likelihood of repayment. Applicants with higher credit scores have a better chance of approval and may receive more favourable terms, including higher credit limits, lower interest rates, and better rewards programs.

Rental applications

Landlords often consider credit scores when evaluating rental applications. A good credit score demonstrates a history of responsible financial behaviour, making applicants more desirable as tenants. Landlords may use credit scores to assess the likelihood of timely rent payments and determine the security deposit required. Low credit scores may lead to rejected applications or require additional security deposits.

Employment and background checks

Some employers, particularly in certain industries, may conduct background checks that include a review of an applicant’s credit history. While credit scores are not typically the sole determinant for hiring decisions, negative credit information or very low scores may raise concerns about an individual’s financial stability, responsibility, or risk of potentially fraudulent behaviour.

Utility services

When applying for certain utility services, such as electricity, gas, or cable, providers may assess an individual’s creditworthiness. Low credit scores may require individuals to pay a higher security deposit or provide a co-signer to secure these services.

Starting a credit history after moving to the UK

When you move to the UK from abroad, your credit history from your home country generally does not transfer directly.

Initially, you may face a challenge in establishing a credit history in the UK if you have no previous borrowing or credit activity within the country. This lack of credit history can make it difficult for lenders to assess your creditworthiness, potentially resulting in a lower credit score or limited access to credit.

To start building a credit history in the UK as an immigrant, you can take the following steps:

Register on the electoral roll

Registering on the electoral roll confirms your identity and address, which is essential for establishing credit in the UK. Contact your local council to register.

Open a bank account

Opening a bank account in the UK is crucial for managing your finances and building a credit history. Choose a bank that offers services specifically designed for newcomers or immigrants.

Obtain a mobile phone contract

Applying for a mobile phone contract can help demonstrate responsible payment behaviour. Some providers offer specific contracts for individuals with limited credit history.

Use a credit builder card

Credit builder cards help individuals with limited or no credit history. They often have lower credit limits and higher interest rates but can help establish a positive credit history if used responsibly.

Consider credit builder loans

Credit builder loans are another option to establish credit. These loans are specifically designed for individuals with limited credit history and can help demonstrate responsible borrowing and repayment behaviour.

Building a positive credit history

Once you have started your credit history in the UK, it’s crucial to manage it responsibly. This includes making all timely payments, keeping credit utilization low, and avoiding excessive borrowing.

Building a good credit history in the UK takes time and responsible financial management. As you establish a positive credit history, your credit score should gradually improve, making it easier to access credit and better financial opportunities in the future.

How can you improve your credit score in the UK?

Always pay your monthly bills when they’re due. Nowadays, all big banks have easy-to-use apps and alerts to help you keep track of your money.

• Pay Off Some Debt: Paying a little more than the minimum amount due each month can also help your credit score.
• If you’re not already registered to vote, do so. It can help improve your credit score. This is because your address and other personal information can be verified through the process.
• Shut down old accounts that you no longer use, especially those with credit left in them. When banks decide how much money to lend you, they look at all the credit you have available.
• If you have any unresolved court decisions about money or defaults on credit agreements, settle them. These can greatly lower your credit score.
• Don’t apply for too many credits at once.
• If you hold a joint account with someone it can impact your credit history/score as well if the other person’s credit history/score is not good. So be sure to be sure of whom you share an account with.
• Cut Financial Ties with ex-partners or Roommates: This includes shared bank accounts or bills. It protects you financially.
• Consider a Credit-Building Card: Consider getting a credit card that helps you build your credit.
• Check Your Credit Report: Look at your credit report at least once a year to make sure there are no mistakes

How to check your credit score in the UK

You can find out your credit score from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Experian lets you set up a free account where you can see your credit score every month. If you want a detailed credit report or to see your score more often, you’ll need to pay for a monthly subscription.

Equifax allows you to use their service for free for the first 30 days. After that, you’ll need to pay a monthly subscription fee.

You can check your TransUnion credit score for free on Credit Karma, Moneysavingexpert, and Moneysupermarket.

Some banks in the UK also provides credit score by default on their mobile banking apps, and some offer a limited view of credit report as well for free.

By law, all three of these credit check companies must provide a free statutory credit report.

This type of report doesn’t give you your credit score. Instead, it gives you basic information about your financial past, like:

• Credit agreements
• Late or missed payments
• Information from the electoral roll

Important facts to note about credit applications

• Every credit application leaves a mark on your credit report which would be seen by new lenders if you apply for another credit application. So, make sure you don’t apply for too many credit applications in a short duration.
• When applying for a mortgage,  don’t make any credit applications at least 2-3 months before the mortgage application. Making new credit applications within a short period before applying for a mortgage can potentially impact your credit score and raise concerns for lenders.
• Credit companies build your credit history by collecting information every month from different companies like banks, lenders, utility companies, etc.
• It’s important to check your home address information as a slight change in address information at either your bank or utility company can lead to the exclusion of that item from the credit report. So if you do not see any particular bank account, credit card or utility company on your credit report, look into the linked addresses section or search history on your credit report and add address variations to see the full report.

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