A poor credit rating can often mean that you could be turned down for credit or that certain types of credit are not available to you. Being turned down for credit can be both upsetting and embarassing. It can also be baffling as it may well be the first time you have realised that there could be a problem with your credit rating. If you'd like to view your credit rating click here to check your credit report.
There are things you can do to improve your credit rating - use our six-point plan to help you ensure your credit report helps you to achieve the best possible credit rating.

• Make sure you are on the Electoral Roll at your current address. If necessary register online at www.rollingregistration.cou.k or contact your local authority directly.


• Check to see any settled accounts have been recorded properly. If it hasn't, contact the organisation in question and ask them to amend the record accordingly.


• Ensure that any paid off County Court Judgments are marked as 'satisfied'. All certificates should be requested from the County Court who issued the judgment and forrwarded to the 3 credit reference agencies.


• Make sure you always make at least the minimum monthly payment. If you miss a payment, it will be regsitered on your credit file and used as an indication of poor credit history.


• Don't keep applying for credit if you've been previously refused. If you continue to apply, and keep getting refused, you will leave too many credit search footprints on your file, which will suggest to future lenders that you are financially over-committed.


• You have the right to state your case if things have changed. Perhaps you have recently lost your job, or are going through a dviroce. If you need to explain your financial circumstances you can place a Notice of Correction on your credit file. You can make a statement of up to 200 words, which has to be viewed by the lender when searching your credit file.




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