Londoners lack understanding about what information influences their credit score
New research* conducted by credit information provider, Equifax, has found that people living in London appear the most naive when it comes to credit report information and how it can influence their credit score. Only 26% recognised that not being registered on the electoral roll has a negative impact on their credit score – compared to 52% of all respondents from across the UK, whilst 40% didn’t recognise that having a record of prompt payments on short-term debt has a positive impact on their credit score.
“There are certain elements on a credit file that will have a positive impact on an Equifax Credit Score, like being registered on the electoral roll”, explained Lisa Hardstaff, Equifax Credit Information Expert. “But there are also pieces of information that are likely to have a negative impact on a credit application, such as late payments and County Court Judgments. Yet, surprisingly, 33% of respondents to our survey from London believed that having a CCJ would actually have a positive impact on their credit score.”
Key London data
- 36% thought that being late or missing credit card payments had a positive effect on their credit score compared to 15% nationally
- 28% didn’t recognise that paying bills on time has a positive effect on their credit score compared to 22% nationally
- 36% believed that having a County Court Judgment had a positive impact on their credit score compared to 26% nationally
“We were quite surprised by these findings, when considering that 67% of Londoners have applied for their credit score and over half (53%) recognised it was important to have a good credit score if planning to apply for new credit” continued Lisa Hardstaff. “Clearly consumers understand that having a good credit score is important – but they don’t seem to realise what might contribute to that.
“Your credit file stays with you for life – it’s vital, therefore that consumers understand the influence that each piece of information has on their ability to access new credit.”
The Equifax Credit Score snakes & ladders , provides consumers with some helpful insight into the positive and negative factors that might affect their credit score and is available to download for free from the Equifax website (https://www.equifax.co.uk/newsroom/credit-score-snakes-and-ladders.html)
The Equifax Credit Report and Score** is accessible for 30 days free simply by logging onto https://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/credit-score.html. If customers do not cancel before the end of the 30 Day Free Trial, the service will continue at £14.95 per month, giving them unlimited online access to their credit information and score and weekly alerts on any changes to their credit file. It also includes an online dispute facility to help them correct any errors on their credit file simply and quickly.
ENDS
*Equifax Credit Score Survey – 3,000 consumers surveyed through Atomik Research June 2015
**The Equifax Credit Score is designed to provide an indication of how a lender may view an
individual’s creditworthiness. Other information may, however, also be used by a lender to
make a lending decision.
For further press information, please contact: Clare Watson, Cecile Stearn, Parm Heer or Wendy Harrison at HSL on 020 8977 9132 / Fax: 020 8977 5200 or email: equifaxbtocteam@harrisonsadler.com
About Equifax
Equifax is a global leader in consumer, commercial and workforce information solutions that provide businesses of all sizes and consumers with insight and information they can trust. Equifax organizes and assimilates data on more than 600 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide. The company’s significant investments in differentiated data, its expertise in advanced analytics to explore and develop new multi-source data solutions, and its leading-edge proprietary technology enable it to create and deliver unparalleled customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Equifax operates or has investments in 19 countries and is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500® Index. Its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EFX. In 2013, Equifax was named a Bloomberg BusinessWeek Top 50 company, was #3 in Fortune's Most Admired list in its category, and was named to InfoWeek 500 as well as the FinTech 100. For more information, please visit www.equifax.com.
Equifax Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.