What are credit reference agencies?

You don’t just have one credit score. You may have up to three scores, one from each of the UK’s main credit reference agencies, depending on what information each holds about you. Here's how you can check each one.

Your credit report is compiled by companies known as credit reference agencies (CRAs). There are three CRAs in the UK: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

These CRAs create and keep hold of your credit reports. They gather information about your credit history, and put this into a credit report and calculate a score for you based on this information. In turn, lenders will ask one or more of these agencies for information about you before accepting your credit application.

ClearScore is not a CRA. We show you your Equifax credit score and report for free.

How do CRAs work?

Each CRA is sent information by lenders about the credit you have and how you manage it. Other information, such as public records like the electoral roll, are also sent to the CRAs and form part of your credit report. Once a CRA has enough information on you, they will generate your credit report and calculate your credit score.

Why do you have different credit scores?

Your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion (formerly Callcredit) scores may be slightly different because not all lenders report to every CRA. Some lenders only report to one or two CRAs, whereas others will report to all three.

CRAs also have different maximum scores. Experian's score is out of 1,250, TransUnion's is 710 and Equifax, the CRA that we use here at ClearScore, has 1000. They all have different scales, too. (Score scales correct as of July 2026 and reviewed periodically.)

So, your credit score might be different with each agency, even if they have the same information. This is normal - but it is worth checking that the information held by each agency is accurate, as errors on any one report could affect a lender's decision.

Experian vs Equifax vs TransUnion: how the three UK CRAs compare

All three UK credit reference agencies collect similar information, but they differ in how they score you, how you can access your report, and which lenders share data with them. The table below gives you a quick side-by-side comparison of Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

Most major UK lenders - including the big high-street banks - report to at least two of the three credit reporting agencies, and many report to all three. However, some smaller lenders or specialist providers may only share data with one agency. That is the main reason your scores can differ between Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, even when your underlying financial behaviour is exactly the same. Checking with all three credit agencies in the UK gives you the most complete picture of what lenders see when you apply for credit.

How do I check my credit report?

To look after your credit score, it's important to get a full picture of your finances. To do this, you can check in with all three UK credit reference agencies periodically. This is especially true before an important application like a credit card, loan or mortgage.

You're already in the right place to check your Equifax credit report - ClearScore gives you your full Equifax score and report absolutely free, and checking won't affect your score. You can also check your finances on the go with our apps for iOS and Android.

Equifax:

• ClearScore. It's currently free to use, with no charge to see your full report. You'll get access to your full Equifax report and score, updated monthly, and you'll get weekly alerts if something changes on your report. You'll also get a free coaching tool to help you improve your finances, and an eligibility checker from ClearScore (a credit broker, not a lender) that tells you the likelihood of you getting accepted for credit cards and loans. Not only that, but you'll also get free dark web monitoring.

• Under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and the Data Protection Act 2018, UK consumers are entitled to access their statutory credit report for free.

Experian:

• Experian's free credit score. You can sign up and see your credit score for free, but you won't have access to your report.

• Experian CreditExpert. This gives you access to your full report and score and is £14.99 a month after a 30-day free trial. You get real-time access to your credit report (as opposed to information that's updated monthly).

TransUnion:

• TransUnion. You can check your TransUnion credit report and score directly on the TransUnion website. Some other third-party services also provide access to TransUnion data, so it is worth checking whether any fees apply before you sign up.

Under the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, you are entitled to request a free statutory credit report from each CRA (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) as often as you like at no cost, via their online portals. You can choose either an online or a paper copy.

Once you've checked in with each credit reference agency, you'll have a good idea of your overall financial situation and you can fix any mistakes. You can do this on ClearScore here, and add a notice of correction if anything seems wrong.

It's best to continue checking your report regularly to look after your score. Read our cheatsheet on how to keep your credit score and report on track.

How to check your credit report with all three agencies at once

Rather than relying on a single agency, you can check your credit report with all three UK credit reference agencies for free. Here is a straightforward step-by-step workflow to get a complete view of your credit file.

Step 1 - Sign up for ClearScore (Equifax)

Create a free ClearScore account to access your full Equifax credit report and score. Your report updates monthly, and you will receive weekly alerts if anything changes. ClearScore is currently free - there is no paid tier required to see your full report.

Step 2 - Register with Experian's free service

Head to the Experian website and sign up for a free account. This gives you access to your Experian credit score, though the full report is only available through the paid CreditExpert service (£14.99 per month after a 30-day free trial). For most people, the free score is enough to spot any major discrepancies.

How often should you check all three?

For day-to-day monitoring, checking your ClearScore account regularly is a good habit. However, it is worth reviewing all three credit reports at least once or twice a year - and always before applying for a mortgage, loan or credit card. This ensures you catch any errors or inconsistencies across all three UK credit reference agencies before a lender sees them.

Companies similar to Experian and Equifax

Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are the only three credit reference agencies in the UK, but a growing number of companies offer credit-related services that sit alongside them. If you are looking for sites like Experian or Equifax similar companies, these platforms fall into three broad categories.

Free credit-score platforms

Several services let you view your credit score and report without paying a penny. ClearScore provides your full Equifax report for free. These platforms make money by recommending financial products you are likely to be accepted for, rather than charging you directly. They are among the most popular companies like Experian for consumers who simply want to keep an eye on their credit health.

Open-banking credit-insight tools

A newer wave of tools uses open-banking technology to analyse your bank transactions and offer personalised credit insights. These are not credit reference agencies themselves, but they complement the data held by Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

How these differ from the CRAs themselves

It is important to understand that none of these companies collect or store credit data independently. They all pull information from one or more of the three UK CRAs. The CRAs remain the sole source of the credit reports that lenders check when you apply for credit. Services like ClearScore are best thought of as windows into your CRA data - they make it easier to access and understand, but the underlying information comes from Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.

Frequently asked questions about credit reference agencies

Are credit reference agencies and credit rating agencies the same thing?

No. In the UK, credit reference agencies (CRAs) such as Experian, Equifax and TransUnion compile credit reports on individual consumers and calculate personal credit scores. Credit rating agencies - such as Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch - assess the creditworthiness of businesses, governments and financial instruments like bonds. The two types of agency operate in entirely different markets, even though the terminology can be confusing.

Do all UK lenders report to all three CRAs?

Not necessarily. Most major high-street banks and large credit card providers report to all three credit reference agencies, but some smaller or specialist lenders may only share data with one or two. This is one of the main reasons your credit report can look slightly different at each agency. If you want a complete picture, it is worth checking your report with all three.

Can a CRA affect whether I get approved for credit?

Credit reference agencies do not decide whether you are approved or declined - that decision rests entirely with the lender. CRAs simply supply the data that lenders use, alongside their own affordability checks and internal criteria, to make a lending decision. Your credit score is a guide, not a guarantee of acceptance - lenders also consider your income, existing borrowing, and affordability.

Is it bad to have different scores across agencies?

Having different credit scores across Experian, Equifax and TransUnion is completely normal and nothing to worry about. Each agency uses its own scoring model and scale, and not every lender reports to all three. As long as the factual information on each report is accurate, different scores do not harm your chances of being accepted for credit.

How do I dispute incorrect information on my credit report?

If you spot an error, you should raise a dispute directly with the CRA that holds the incorrect data. You can do this through ClearScore for your Equifax report, or through the Experian and TransUnion websites for their respective reports. The CRA is required to investigate and respond, usually within 28 days. If the information is confirmed as wrong, it will be corrected or removed. You can also add a "notice of correction" - a short statement explaining your circumstances - which lenders must read before making a decision.