Credit History -
why should I want to see my credit reference file?

Your credit reference file is made up of important information about you and, by law, you are entitled to see it. There are a number of reasons why people ask to see their files:

• If you have applied for some sort of credit and been turned down, you credit reference file will help you understand why. If this happens to you, you are entitled to ask the company that turned you down which credit reference agency it based its decision on. This is useful because some people find that the information held on them by the three main credit reference agencies does vary slightly.

• If you are thinking of taking out a mortgage or applying for credit, it can be both helpful and reassuring to know what your credit reference file says about you.

• By knowing what your credit reference file says about you, you can start to take any necessary steps to repair your financial record. Why not have a look at the rest of the dealing with debt section of this site?

• Information held by credit reference agencies can sometimes be wrong. By looking at your file every now and then, you can reassure yourself that companies are basing their lending decisions on the right information.
  Click here to find out what to do if you spot a mistake.