The UK has three main credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Lenders don’t all report to all three, so it’s worth checking each one.
All three in one place, as a PDF
Checkmyfile shows your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion reports together and lets you download them as a PDF, which is the easiest thing to send with a claim. It has a free trial and then a monthly fee, so cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to keep it.
Free ways to see your report
- Experian: the free Experian account or app shows your full Experian report.
- Equifax: free through ClearScore, or the free Equifax Basic account.
- TransUnion: free through Credit Karma or MSE Credit Club.
These free apps are handy for seeing who you’ve borrowed from, but they usually don’t give you a PDF. For a claim you need the full report as a PDF; screenshots can’t be used.
You also have a legal right to a free “statutory” copy of your credit file from each agency, which you can download or save as a PDF: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Experian may post you a passcode first, which can take a few days.
What it shows, and what it doesn’t
Your report usually shows accounts from roughly the last six years, including ones you’ve paid off. Older accounts drop off, so for older borrowing you may need to ask the lender directly.
Getting everything from a lender
You can ask any lender for a copy of all the information it holds about you with a subject access request (SAR). It’s free, and they must normally reply within one month. Ask for your full lending history: every loan or credit limit, dates, amounts and payments.
Will checking hurt my score?
No. Looking at your own report is a “soft” search that lenders can’t see.
Once you know who you borrowed from, do our free check or complain yourself. After you send your check, you can upload your credit report securely, so the firm can see every lender you’ve used.
Questions people ask
Why doesn’t my report show an old payday loan?
Accounts usually drop off about six years after they were closed or defaulted. Ask the lender for your history with a subject access request instead.