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Should I check all three credit reports?

If you're doing a specific application for a company and you know which credit reference agency it uses, it's obviously a priority to check that one. But as a general housekeeping rule we suggest you check all three credit reports at least once a year, because they all have an impact.

Don't worry about over-checking your credit report. It's not recorded on it, and it's something that only you and the credit reference agency will know about. Check EVERY detail and do it regularly. PLUS always check before making any big applications to minimise your risk of rejection. It can all be done online, it's quick and easy.

However, if time is short and you can only use one, then choose Experian (the biggest) or CheckMyFile (checks Equifax and Callcredit). It's a good idea to do a check-up roughly every 12 to 18 months. Always do one in good time before making any important applications.

The most important thing to tell you is that you have a legal right to check your credit report. This is because it's important you know the information that companies have on you. It used to cost £2, but since the new GDPR law came into effect in May 2018, it's now free. Here's how to check, and how to get paid to do it.

The checks are all done online so they're quick and easy to do (and are much more efficient than the old mail-only method).

The statutory report contains your personal details, info on financial links to other people, whether you're on the electoral roll, the credit accounts you have, any missed payments or defaults, and a list of other recent searches of your credit report (though these only stay on your file for a maximum of one year). All three credit reference agencies will provide you with a statutory report:

Equifax, Experian and Callcredit.