When you apply for a credit card, the lender checks your credit report. That check is recorded, and other lenders can see it. This article explains what lenders look at, what an application does to your credit report, and what you can check before you apply.

ClearScore is a credit broker, not a lender.

What lenders look at

There are three main credit reference agencies in the UK: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each holds a credit report on you and calculates its own credit score. ClearScore shows your Equifax credit report and score.

When you apply, a lender looks at the information on your credit report together with what you tell it, such as your income. It then makes its decision using its own criteria. A score from a credit reference agency is only a guide to how lenders might see you. That's one reason you can be accepted by one lender and declined by another.

Your credit report can include:

• your credit accounts and how you've repaid them, including any missed payments

• how much of your available credit you're using

• recent applications for credit

• whether you're on the electoral roll

• public records, such as County Court Judgments (CCJs) and bankruptcies

• financial links to people you share credit with

Among ClearScore users who applied for a credit card in early 2026, about 42% of those with scores below 100 were declined, compared with about 18% of those scoring 700 or more. Many other factors affect each application, and individual results vary.

What happens to your credit report when you apply?

A full application usually leads to a hard search. Other lenders can see that you applied for credit and when, but not whether you were accepted.

How long a hard search stays on your report depends on the agency. Experian says most stay for 12 months, and Equifax keeps most for at least a year. TransUnion removes them after two years.

A single hard search usually has a small, temporary effect. Experian says several hard searches in a short period can affect your score for around six months. Lenders may also see several recent applications as a sign that you're relying on credit. Experian suggests making no more than two or three applications every few months.

Soft searches and eligibility checkers

A soft search can only be seen by you and doesn't affect your credit score. Eligibility checkers use a soft search to show how likely you are to be accepted for a card before you apply. Some offers are marked as pre-approved, which means the lender has indicated it will accept you, subject to its final checks. If you then apply, the lender will carry out a hard search.

Eligibility and acceptance are decided by each lender and depend on its own criteria and checks. Checking your eligibility does not guarantee that you'll be accepted.

How much of your credit you're using

Lenders also look at how much of your available credit you're using, known as credit utilisation. Among ClearScore users who started above 30% utilisation in June 2025, those who got below 30% and stayed there were the most likely group to see their score rise over the following year. Many other factors affect credit scores, and individual results will vary.

Checking your credit report

You can get your statutory credit report free from each credit reference agency. ClearScore lets you see your Equifax report and score for free. Checking your report can help you spot mistakes, such as a payment wrongly marked as missed. If you find one, you can ask the agency to correct it.

Read more:

• How to improve your credit score