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MortgageOS
Preparation Guide

How to Get Your Credit Report Free (Before Applying for a Mortgage)

Step-by-step guide to accessing your free credit reports from all three UK credit agencies, what to look for, and how to fix issues before your mortgage application.

Updated January 202610 min read

Why Check Your Credit Before Applying?

Your credit report is one of the first things mortgage lenders look at. Even if you have a strong income and substantial deposit, credit issues can cause your application to be declined — or result in higher interest rates.

The 60% approval advantage

According to UK Finance, mortgage applicants who review and address credit issues at least 6 months before applying are 60% more likely to be approved on their first application. Early preparation pays off.

Checking your credit report allows you to:

  • Spot errors — incorrect addresses, accounts that aren't yours, or mistakes that are dragging down your score
  • Identify issues — late payments, defaults, or high credit utilisation you may have forgotten about
  • Take action — fix problems before they cause your mortgage application to be declined
  • Understand your position — know what lenders will see and whether to delay your application

The Three UK Credit Agencies

The UK has three main credit reference agencies, and different mortgage lenders use different agencies. You need to check all three to get the full picture.

Experian

The largest UK agency. Used by many high street lenders.

Equifax

Second largest. Data accessible via ClearScore.

TransUnion

Formerly Callcredit. Used by MSE Credit Club.

Different reports, different data

Each agency may hold slightly different information about you. An error on your Experian report might not appear on Equifax. A default might show differently across agencies. Always check all three.

Getting Your Experian Report (Free)

Experian is the largest credit reference agency in the UK. Here are your free options:

Option 1: Experian App (Free Forever)

Recommended
  1. 1. Download the Experian app (iOS or Android)
  2. 2. Create a free account with your email
  3. 3. Verify your identity with personal details
  4. 4. Access your free Experian credit score and report

Includes: Credit score, credit report summary, and alerts for changes

Option 2: Statutory Credit Report

Request your official statutory credit report directly from Experian. This is your legal right under the Data Protection Act.

  1. 1. Visit experian.co.uk and navigate to statutory report
  2. 2. Complete the online application form
  3. 3. Verify your identity
  4. 4. Receive your full report (currently free online)

Note: No credit score included — this is raw data only

Option 3: CreditExpert 30-Day Trial

Experian's premium service offers a 30-day free trial. Useful if you want the full Experian experience with detailed insights.

  • Full credit report with detailed breakdown
  • Experian credit score with history
  • Score simulator to see impact of actions
  • Daily monitoring and alerts

Remember to cancel before the trial ends to avoid charges

Getting Your Equifax Report (Free)

Equifax is the second largest UK credit agency. The easiest free access is through ClearScore.

Option 1: ClearScore (Free Forever)

Recommended
  1. 1. Visit clearscore.com or download the app
  2. 2. Sign up with your email address
  3. 3. Answer security questions to verify identity
  4. 4. Access your Equifax credit report and ClearScore score

ClearScore is 100% free — they make money from product recommendations, not subscriptions

Option 2: Equifax Basic (Free)

Equifax offers a free tier directly through their website that provides access to your credit report.

  1. 1. Visit equifax.co.uk
  2. 2. Register for a free account
  3. 3. Verify your identity
  4. 4. Access your Equifax report

ClearScore is legitimate

Some people worry ClearScore is too good to be true. It's a genuine, FCA-regulated service backed by Equifax data. They've been operating since 2015 and have millions of UK users. Your data is safe.

Getting Your TransUnion Report (Free)

TransUnion (formerly Callcredit) is the third major UK credit agency. You can access their data through partner services.

Option 1: MSE Credit Club (Free Forever)

Recommended
  1. 1. Visit moneysavingexpert.com/creditclub
  2. 2. Sign up with your email (MSE account)
  3. 3. Verify your identity
  4. 4. Access your TransUnion credit report and score

Run by MoneySavingExpert, trusted by millions of UK consumers

Option 2: Credit Karma (Free Forever)

Credit Karma, owned by Intuit, also provides free access to TransUnion data.

  1. 1. Visit creditkarma.co.uk or download the app
  2. 2. Create a free account
  3. 3. Verify your identity
  4. 4. Access your TransUnion report and score

Similar model to ClearScore — free service funded by product recommendations

Multi-Agency Option: CheckMyFile

If you want to see all three credit reports in one place, CheckMyFile is the only service that provides data from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion together.

CheckMyFile 30-Day Free Trial

  • View all three credit reports side-by-side
  • See which accounts appear on which reports
  • Compare data across agencies for discrepancies
  • Single dashboard for comprehensive view

After the 30-day trial, it costs money per month. Set a reminder to cancel before the trial ends if you only need a one-time check.

When CheckMyFile is worth it

CheckMyFile is particularly useful if you've had credit issues in the past, are unsure what's on your file, or want to save time by viewing everything in one place. For most people, the free individual services are sufficient.

When to Check Your Credit

Recommended Timeline

6 months

First full check

Check all three agencies. This gives maximum time to fix any issues.

3 months

Progress check

Verify improvements are reflected. Chase any unresolved disputes.

1 month

Final check

Confirm everything is in order before submitting your application.

Ongoing

Set up alerts

Enable notifications on the free apps so you're alerted to any changes.

Don't leave it too late

Disputing an error can take 28 days (or longer). Improving your credit utilisation takes a billing cycle to reflect. Allowing defaults to age off takes years. The earlier you check, the more options you have.

What to Look For in Your Reports

Red Flags (Urgent Issues)

  • Defaults — missed payments that have been formally registered
  • CCJs (County Court Judgments) — court orders for unpaid debts
  • Accounts you don't recognise — possible fraud or error
  • Incorrect personal information — wrong addresses linked to you
  • Bankruptcy or IVA markers — even if discharged, check they're correctly recorded

Yellow Flags (Issues to Address)

  • High credit utilisation — using more than 30% of available credit
  • Multiple recent applications — too many hard searches in short period
  • Old addresses still linked — especially if you've never lived there
  • Closed accounts not showing as settled — should say "settled" or "closed"
  • Financial associations — links to other people's credit files

Green Signals (Positive Factors)

  • Electoral roll registration — confirms your address and identity
  • Long credit history — accounts open for several years
  • Low credit utilisation — using a small percentage of available credit
  • No missed payments — consistent on-time payment history
  • Stable address history — not moving frequently

Common Errors to Dispute

  • Wrong address: Addresses you've never lived at linked to your file
  • Accounts that aren't yours: Credit cards, loans, or other accounts you didn't open
  • Incorrect payment status: Payments marked as late when they were on time
  • Outdated defaults: Defaults more than 6 years old that should have dropped off
  • Financial associations: People you shouldn't be financially linked to (ex-partners, old flatmates)

Your 6-Month Credit Action Plan

Month 1: Discovery

  • Sign up for ClearScore (Equifax), MSE Credit Club (TransUnion), and Experian app
  • Review all three reports thoroughly
  • Make a list of any errors or issues you find
  • Check you're registered on the electoral roll at your current address

Month 2: Dispute and Clean

  • Submit disputes for any incorrect information
  • Request removal of incorrect financial associations
  • Register on electoral roll if not already
  • Close any unused credit accounts (but keep oldest ones open)

Months 3-4: Optimise

  • Reduce credit card balances to below 30% of limits
  • Set up direct debits for all regular payments
  • Stop applying for new credit (avoid hard searches)
  • Pay off any small outstanding debts

Months 5-6: Verify and Maintain

  • Check that disputes have been resolved
  • Verify improvements are reflected in your scores
  • Ensure no new issues have appeared
  • Keep credit utilisation low and payments on time

Small actions, big impact

Simple actions like reducing credit card balances, registering to vote, and fixing errors can significantly improve your credit profile. Most improvements start showing within 1-2 months.

Ready to check your mortgage readiness?

See how your credit profile affects your mortgage options and what you can do to improve your position.

Get your readiness score

Frequently asked questions