Check your credit report before you apply for a mortgage

Why check your credit report first?

Lenders use your credit file, along with their own rules, to decide whether to lend and on what terms. Mistakes on a file, such as an old address, a debt that has been paid or an account that is not yours, can count against you. Seeing the file before you apply gives you time to correct things.

Things lenders commonly look at include:

• missed or late payments on loans, cards and bills
• how much of your available credit you are using
• recent applications for credit
• whether you are on the electoral roll at your current address
• any county court judgments, defaults or financial links to other people

Checking your own file leaves a visible footprint, but according to Checkmyfile’s terms it does not affect your credit score.

What you get with Checkmyfile

• An online credit report and a Checkmyfile credit score, calculated using data from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
• A dispute resolution service, which Checkmyfile handles on your behalf while your subscription is active.

Please note: Checkmyfile’s online credit file is a simplified version and is not the same as the statutory credit report you can request from each credit reference agency. Its score is not the score a lender uses and is not comparable with scores from other providers. Lenders have their own scoring, so a good score does not guarantee a mortgage and a lower one does not always mean a decline.

Fees and charges to you

Free trial	7 days, starting when you register. For new customers aged 18 or over living in the UK. Offered once only.
Monthly fee after the trial	£14.99 a month as advertised by Checkmyfile on 2 November 2026. Prices include VAT. The fee applies after the trial unless you cancel, and is confirmed when you register.
Price changes	Checkmyfile says it will give at least 14 days’ email notice before any price increase.
Cancelling	You can cancel during or after the trial, without a reason or penalty, online under Billing, or by phone or email. Keep the confirmation reference number you are given. Once cancelled, no further payments are taken, reports stop refreshing and the dispute service ends.
Refunds	Checkmyfile’s terms say payments are generally non-refundable because the service is bespoke, with limited exceptions, for example if it cannot obtain your information from a credit reference agency. Please read its terms before you sign up.
Failed payments	If a payment cannot be collected, reports stop updating and the dispute service is suspended until payments resume.
Cost of using this page	Nothing. We do not charge you for this introduction.

Checkmyfile’s prices and terms can change. The details above were checked on 2 November 2026. The terms you agree to when you register are the ones that apply.

How we are paid: our referral fee

Our Mortgage Broker Limited has a partner arrangement with Checkmyfile. If you start a free trial through our link, we will receive a referral fee from Checkmyfile. The referral fee is paid by Checkmyfile. It does not change the price you pay Checkmyfile and we do not add anything to it.

• We are not Checkmyfile and we do not provide the credit report. Your contract for the service is with Checkmyfile, and questions about your account, billing or report go to them.
• Our mortgage advice and recommendations do not depend on whether you use Checkmyfile. You are free to use another provider, or none.
• We do not receive your credit report, your score or any personal data about you from this link. Checkmyfile shares only the number, date and time of clicks and sign-ups with us, never who they are, so that the referral fee can be paid.
• Our own fees for mortgage advice are separate and are set out in our Services & fees page and in your fee agreement before you proceed.

Terms in brief

• Who provides it: Checkmyfile is a trading name of Credit Reporting Agency Limited, registered in England (company number 3719598), authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference 690175).
• Personal use: the service is for your own personal use.
• Not advice: credit scores should not be your only basis for financial decisions. Nothing on this page is mortgage advice or a recommendation to take out a subscription.
• Identity checks: if Checkmyfile cannot verify your identity online it may ask for more information, which could delay access to your report.
• Your data: Checkmyfile says it does not sell your personal information or email address. How it uses your data is set out in its Privacy Policy, including checks shared with fraud prevention agencies.
• Complaints: make these to Checkmyfile first, by email to help@checkmyfile.com. If you are unhappy with the outcome you may be able to refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Phone 01872 304050, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
• Governing law: the law of England and Wales.

Read the full documents before you sign up: Checkmyfile Terms of Use and Privacy & Cookies.

Ways to strengthen your credit file

• Check every entry and ask the lender or agency to correct anything that is wrong.
• Register on the electoral roll at your current address.
• Pay bills and credit commitments on time, and consider direct debits.
• Keep balances on cards well below their limits.
• Avoid making several credit applications close together before a mortgage application.
• Close or unlink accounts you no longer use, and end financial links with people you no longer share finances with.

Every lender is different and no step guarantees an outcome. If you have missed payments, defaults or other adverse credit, speak to us before you apply. Our adverse credit mortgage page explains the options.

Common questions

Do I need to pay to see my credit report?

You can request a statutory credit report from each credit reference agency, and other providers also offer credit reports and scores, some of them free. Checkmyfile is a paid service after its free trial, which combines the three agencies’ data and adds extras such as its dispute service.

Will checking my own report affect my score?

According to Checkmyfile’s terms, checking your own file leaves an enquiry footprint that you can see, and it does not affect your credit score.

Will you see my credit report?

No. We do not receive your report, your score or any personal data from this link. We see only how many people clicked or signed up, and when. If you share your report with an adviser, we will use it only to help with your application.

What if I forget to cancel the trial?

The monthly fee applies after the 7-day trial. Set a reminder when you register. If you cancel, you should receive a confirmation reference number; contact Checkmyfile straight away if you do not.

Does a good score mean I will get a mortgage?

No. Lenders apply their own criteria, and every application is assessed on its own merits.

Start your free 7-day trial →

How we are paid: Our Mortgage Broker Limited will receive a referral fee from Checkmyfile if you start a free trial through our link. Checkmyfile sets its price; the referral fee is paid by Checkmyfile, not added by us.

Information checked 2 November 2026. Checkmyfile is a separate company and is responsible for its own service, prices and terms.