{"id":2027,"date":"2018-05-18T10:53:24","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T10:53:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.credibble.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2027"},"modified":"2022-08-22T13:54:49","modified_gmt":"2022-08-22T13:54:49","slug":"managing-credit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Credit: Honestly, Does My Credit File Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You may not realise it, but managing credit is a key life skill. You may be asking, &#8220;Does my credit file matter? And what value can it bring to me?&#8221; Well, your credit can affect a surprising number of areas in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From your job to your phone, your car to your home, the impact is wide-reaching. What might seem like a small detail can follow you around and either help or harm you, depending on the information your file contains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">What&#039;s Included?<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#What_is_a_credit_file\" >What is a credit file?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#Why_is_managing_my_credit_file_important\" >Why is managing my credit file important?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#Mobile_providers\" >Mobile providers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#Employers\" >Employers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#Landlords\" >Landlords<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#Utility_companies\" >Utility companies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#Insurance_providers\" >Insurance providers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#Getting_a_credit_card\" >Getting a credit card<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#Getting_a_car\" >Getting a car<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#Getting_a_home\" >Getting a home<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#What_information_counts_on_my_credit_file\" >What information counts on my credit file?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#How_can_I_boost_my_Lender_Score\" >How can I boost my Lender Score?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-account\/managing-credit\/#Credit-Score_offers_two_fabulous_solutions\" >Credit-Score offers two fabulous solutions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_credit_file\"><\/span><strong>What is a credit file?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your credit file is a record containing lots of information about how you handle debt, plus your current financial and living situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, it details how much debt you currently have, how you pay your bills, if you have a phone contract, and whether you rent or own a property, among many other things. It can be a shock to the system to find out just how much of your life leaves a footprint on this file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_managing_my_credit_file_important\"><\/span><strong>Why is managing my credit file important?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Managing your credit file is important in part because banks use the information it contains to decide if they\u2019ll lend you money or give you a credit card, and whether they will offer you a good deal (lower interest rates, for example). Lending money is a risky business, and your credit file can tell lenders how reliable, or unreliable, you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But even if you\u2019re not planning on taking a credit card or loan any time soon, your credit file is something you need to keep an eye on in the long term. This is because a variety of businesses and individuals may check your credit file to make key decisions about you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mobile_providers\"><\/span>Mobile providers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One reason why managing your credit file is important because the state of your credit could impact what kind of phone you get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the cost of mobile phone handsets skyrocket, network providers such as Vodafone or EE want to know that their customers are on top of their finances. They will often check your credit to decide whether they will accept you as a customer and hand over a swish phone on monthly payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you won\u2019t need to have an extensive credit history to get a good phone, phone providers will check certain details before giving you their best contract deals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Employers\"><\/span>Employers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, employers increasingly are looking at credit as a part of their Employment Reference checks. This is because your credit file is a good way to find out how responsible you are with money, which in turn can help predict what kind of employee you will be. Some employers take the view that if you can\u2019t manage your credit, you\u2019re unlikely to manage work responsibilities well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that managing your credit well can help make sure you look as good as possible to potential employers. Don\u2019t lose out on the job you want because of a problem on your credit file!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Landlords\"><\/span>Landlords<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your credit file can even affect your ability to rent a property. Landlords want to know that a potential tenant is going to be able to pay rent on time, and not fail to make payments. As part of tenant referencing, a landlord may check your credit file to see if you can be trusted to consistently make payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, recent research shows that nearly half of private landlords in the UK run credit checks on potential tenants. In London, 95% of landlords say they do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poor credit can therefore hurt your chances of moving in to a great new place. Better to avoid the heartache and get your credit in shape before getting rejected!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Utility_companies\"><\/span>Utility companies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Utilities like gas and electricity are paid for after they are used, so if a customer is unreliable with payments it can end up costing the utilities company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a way of avoiding this, the best utilities companies (with the cheapest rates) will check your credit before accepting you as a customer. So your credit file is important if you want to spend less on your monthly bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Very poor credit might mean you won\u2019t be accepted on a standard tariff and you may have to accept an expensive pre-paid plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Insurance_providers\"><\/span>Insurance providers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your credit file can affect your ability to spread the cost of your car or home insurance across a monthly payment plan. Monthly insurance quotes depend on insurance providers being able to trust that you will consistently pay what you owe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So these companies will check the information on your credit file to make sure everything is in good order before offering you a pay-monthly deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_a_credit_card\"><\/span>Getting a credit card<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A credit card is a valuable tool for insuring larger purchases and spreading payments out when you don\u2019t want to burn all your cash at once. But terms and rates on credit cards vary, so it can be more or less affordable to use one depending on what card and deals you can get accepted for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A stronger credit file will give you access to better credit card offers. You could pay less on interest, have longer interest-free periods, or a higher credit limit if you can prove you are good at managing credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_a_car\"><\/span>Getting a car<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of people won\u2019t have the cash up front to buy their dream car, so many rely on some form of car financing to spread payments over a longer period. This way, they can afford the car they really want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poor credit can be a barrier here &#8211; low interest rates for car financing are heavily dependent on your credit file. What this really means is that managing your credit well can be an important step towards affording your next car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_a_home\"><\/span>Getting a home<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the area where your credit can potentially have the most dramatic impact on your life. If you ever plan on buying property, how you manage your credit will affect your ability to get a mortgage, and the terms of the mortgage you get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mortgage lenders are unlikely to lend to you if you have a poor credit file. And if they do, you will likely be borrowing at a high interest rate. By contrast, if you make the effort to build up an excellent credit history, they may feel you\u2019re worthy of borrowing half a million pounds to buy a home, and at a truly reasonable rate of interest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that your credit file has an impact on the kind of home you can afford to buy. If you can get accepted for the best mortgage deals, you can afford a much nicer property on the exact same income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_information_counts_on_my_credit_file\"><\/span><strong>What information counts on my credit file?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now we get to the juicy bit. At this point, you\u2019re probably wondering what counts as an excellent credit file, so you can whip your own into shape. Well, there are a number of factors to consider, and you can read more about them <u>here<\/u>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully at Credit-Score we have worked out what information lenders care about when they create their assessment of your credit file. We&#8217;ve created a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/credit-score-vs-lender-score\/\">24-Factor Credit Check<\/a><\/span> that analyses your credit file according to all the factors that are important. You even get a Credit-Score Score for your credit rating. Overall, you get the most comprehensive tool in the UK which shows where you stand, where you fall short and how to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is unlike an ordinary credit score and report from a credit bureau. These are not in fact designed to accurately show or clearly explain how lenders prioritise and examine the information on your file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So all you need to do is access your <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">24-Factor Credit Check<\/span>. That\u2019s where you can see a full breakdown of the factors that matter, and if there are any areas that you personally need to work on. This way, you can manage your credit with all the facts at your fingertips. Easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_boost_my_Lender_Score\"><\/span><strong>How can I boost my Lender Score?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our in-house Einstein has toiled away to develop the UK\u2019s very first score booster. This tool takes the guesswork out of managing credit, by showing practical tips you can take to improve your credit file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you plan on borrowing money in the short or long term, looking for a new job, or trying to get a better deal on your monthly bills, your Booster provides a roadmap to get you credit-ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/credit-score.com\/register\"><u>Find out where you stand with your Credit Report today.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Credit-Score_offers_two_fabulous_solutions\"><\/span>Credit-Score offers two fabulous solutions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re preparing to take a mortgage, never apply until you\u2019ve tried our unique and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/home.credit-score.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FREE Credit-Score Home app.<\/a>&nbsp;Our smart technology will tell you what you need to fix so you avoid rejection. The app predicts when you will be able to buy, for how much and tracks your month-by-month progress to mortgage success. We\u2019ve even added your own mortgage broker, so you get the best deals available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More focused on your credit rating? Well, get started for free with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Credit-Score\u2019s 24- Factor Credit Check<\/a>&nbsp;to truly help you improve your creditworthiness and how lenders view you. (Remember: lenders don\u2019t use your credit score! We\u2019ll show you what lenders look for and how to get your credit report in the best shape possible).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Last updated by Robert Edwards, May 2022<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You may not realise it, but managing credit is a key life skill. You may be asking, &#8220;Does&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2028,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[324,317],"tags":[371,379,369,367,578,366,365,378],"class_list":{"0":"post-2027","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-credit-basics","8":"category-credit-score-account","9":"tag-credit-activity","10":"tag-credit-agreements","11":"tag-credit-cards","12":"tag-credit-report","13":"tag-credit-score","14":"tag-lender-report","15":"tag-lenders-dont-use-your-credit-score","16":"tag-managing-credit"},"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/file-folders-923523_1280.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Claire Ben Chorin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.check.co.uk\/blog\/author\/claire\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Does My Credit File Matter? 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