What Information is on Your Credit Report?

Free: See Your Credit Report Online

A credit report includes the following kinds of information...

• Statement of your Rights.
  The statement of rights includes procedures for requesting corrections to your credit report, in the event of inaccuracies.

• Profile Information
  This is the information the credit reference agency has used to identify you. It includes your full name, other names by which you may be known, your current and former addresses, date of birth, and other people that may have a financial connection with you.

• Addresses of the Information Providers
  Your credit report is compiled from information provided by the courts, and companies with whom you've had credit transactions. Their addresses are listed in case you need to  write to any of them.

• Notice of Correction
  A statement to potential lenders, in your own words, is shown here, if you provided one.

• Electoral Roll
  Addresses registered in your name, and the dates.

• Financial Associations
  Joint accounts, joint credit applications, joint court judgments reported by lenders and courts, as well as financial connections that you have disclosed when asking to see your credit report.

• Public Records
  Court judgments and bankruptcies over the past 6 years, and individual voluntary arrangements.

• Account Information
  All your known credit accounts and balances are listed, with their up-to-date, late, or defaulted status shown over recent months. (Bad account activity can remain on your report for up to 6 years.)

• Linked Addresses
  All addresses that you are known to have been connected with.

• Fraud Information
  Reports of fraud associated with your address or former address (whether or not you were involved.)

• Moved Without Leaving a Forwarding Address

  If you owe money and move without providing a forwarding address, that information can be shown on your credit report so that when you apply for new credit, your old creditors can find you!

   

Credit information about you is gathered from these sources...

Public Records

Public records on your credit report may include court judgements, individual voluntary arrangements and bankruptcies.

Your credit report also shows whether you are registered to vote.  Lenders use the electoral roll as a precaution against fraud. It allows them to check that you are who you claim to and that you live at the address you have given.

Information From Lenders

Lenders and financial institutions tell the credit reference agencies how many loans you have and  whether you have ever missed a repayment.  For open accounts, this information is updated monthly by most lenders.

Your payment habits, as shown on your credit report, play a big part in the decisions lenders will make about you, including the rates and terms they'll offer.

Information from The Credit Reference Agency

Besides collating the information about your financial background, credit agencies keep records of who it has been shown to lately. This  list of recent searches is part of your credit report, which lenders* (and you) can see.

*Some searches are not revealed to lenders. Only you are allowed to see the full list.

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