Your credit score is a number based on your credit file. It shows how well you’re handling your money. It also tells lenders how likely you are to repay loans or credit cards.
Have you been tracking your credit score? Have you noticed it going down? You may be asking “why has my credit score gone down?” Many things can affect your credit score. By learning what these are, you can take steps to boost your score and manage your money better.
Here are 13 reasons why your credit score has gone down and what you can do about them.
1. You’ve made late payments on your credit card or loans
Your payment history has the biggest impact on your credit score. Even one late payment can make your credit score drop. Each missed payment causes your score to fall even more.
Lenders tell credit reference agencies about missed payments. These can stay on your credit record for up to six years. To avoid late payments, set up direct debits. Try to schedule them just after you get paid. This helps stop missed payments from hurting your credit score.
2. You’ve maxed out your credit card
Using all of your credit limit can lower your credit score. Your credit usage (known as your credit utilisation ratio) is a key part of your credit score. Lenders check your credit report to see if you’re handling money well. If you’re maxing out your cards, they might worry you can’t manage more debt.
To help your credit score, pay down balances that are near your credit limit. Try to use less than 30% of your total credit limit. This shows lenders you’re in control of your personal finance and managing your credit card balances wisely.
3. You’ve applied for too much credit recently
Asking for lots of new credit in a short period can hurt your credit score. Each time you apply, the lender may add a hard credit search on your file. This leaves a mark other lenders can see. Many hard credit searches in a short time make you look like you might be in money trouble. This can impact your credit score badly.
Hard searches stay on your credit record for 12 months. Their effect gets smaller over time. To help your score, space out credit applications. Only apply for credit you really need and look for companies that offer a soft search option.
4. You’ve closed your old credit cards
Closing old credit card accounts can lower your credit score for two main reasons:
- It makes your average credit age shorter. Lenders use your credit history to judge if you’re a reliable borrower.
- It cuts your total credit limit. This can push up your credit usage if you have balances on other cards.
Old credit accounts with zero balances can help your credit score. They keep your credit history longer. They also create more space between what you owe and your total credit limit. If you worry about spending on these cards, put them away safely. Keep the accounts open but don’t use the cards.
5. You’ve defaulted on a loan in the past
Missing several loan payments can lead to a default on your credit file. Defaulted payments hurt your credit score a lot. This is even worse if they happened recently. Money problems can affect anyone. If you can’t keep up with payments, contact your lender right away.
Lenders offer support to help you manage during tough times. Make a budget to ensure you can pay at least the minimum on your debts. Regular payments are vital for a good credit score.
6. Your total debt may have increased
Taking on new credit or growing your debt can make your credit score drop. Lenders look at your debt compared to your income. If you owe too much for what you earn, it will affect your credit score.
Only borrow what you truly need. Don’t use loans for things you want but don’t need. Try to save up for extras instead. This is a better way to manage your finances responsibly.
7. There’s an error on your credit report
Errors on your credit report aren’t common, but they can hurt your credit score. Check your report often to catch any mistakes. Look at your credit file with all three main UK credit reference agencies:
- Experian
- Equifax
- TransUnion
If you find something wrong on your credit report, raise a data dispute with the relevant agency. They will look into it and fix any errors. When they correct mistakes, your credit score should improve.
8. You’ve been declared bankruptcy or have other negative information on your credit report
Major money problems like bankruptcy, Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs), or County Court Judgments (CCJs) show up on your credit report. These legal or financial issues harm your credit score badly. They stay visible to lenders for many years.
If your home was taken back or you’ve had other financial difficulties missing payments, these will also show in your credit record. They will lower your credit score a lot.
9. You may not have a long enough credit history
If you’re new to credit or haven’t used it in a long time, your credit history will be short. Lenders need to see a pattern of how you handle credit over time.
The average age of your credit accounts matters for your score. A longer, good credit history often leads to a higher credit score. With little or no credit history, lenders can’t tell if you’re a reliable borrower.
10. You may not be registered to vote
Being on the electoral register helps lenders check who you are. It also guards against fraud. Making it easy for lenders to confirm your identity helps your credit score.
If you’ve moved and haven’t signed up to vote at your new address, this could be hurting your credit score. Keep your electoral register updated when you move to maintain a good credit score.
11. You may have changed your address quite frequently
Moving homes often can hurt your credit score. Lenders like to see stability. This includes staying at the same address for a good while. Many moves might suggest your life is unsettled.
Before applying for credit, make sure your address history is correct. Wrong address links could cause loan rejections. This would further impact your credit score.
12. You may have experienced identity theft
Identity theft happens when someone uses your details to open a credit account or access your bank account without permission. This fraud can badly damage your credit history and score if not fixed quickly.
If you think you’re a victim of identity theft, act now. Contact any bank or lender where your identity was misused. Check your credit report for accounts you don’t know about. Ask for any fake accounts to be removed from your credit file right away.
13. One or more of your credit limits has decreased
If your credit limit goes down, it can lower your credit score in two ways:
- It shrinks the gap between what you owe and your available credit, which may raise your credit usage
- It can signal to lenders that you might be having money problems
Credit limit cuts often happen when lenders review your account. If they lower your limit, other lenders might see you as a less reliable borrower. If they do offer you credit, it might cost you more in interest.
To keep a good credit score, try to use less than 30% of your total credit limit. Show that you can manage your existing credit accounts well.
Why would my credit score drop for no reason?
It can worry you when your credit score drops out of the blue. This is even more true if your money habits haven’t changed. But there’s usually a reason:
- Errors in your credit file: A lender might have reported wrong info to credit reference agencies. If this happens, contact the lender to fix it. Also tell the relevant agency by starting a dispute.
- Changes to scoring methods: Credit reference agencies sometimes update how they work out credit scores. If this is the case, focus on building your credit rating through good money habits.
- Fraud: Accounts opened in your name without your knowledge will look like your debt until removed. Regularly check for strange accounts or activity on your credit report.
When you see a credit score drop, check your credit report right away to find out why. Once you know what caused it, you can take steps to fix it.
How quickly can your credit score recover?
How long it takes your credit score to bounce back depends on what made it drop:
- Small issues like high credit usage can improve in 1-3 months once you pay down your balances
- Hard credit searches have less impact after 3-6 months
- Late payments, defaults, and more serious issues like CCJs can affect your score for up to six years
Being steady with good money habits is the best way to help your credit score recover. Pay all bills on time. Keep credit usage low. Don’t apply for too much new credit too quickly.
Conclusion
Working to keep a good credit score can be hard. Seeing it go down can be very frustrating. But once you know why it changed, you can take steps to fix it.
Check your credit report often. This lets you quickly spot and deal with any issues that might hurt your credit score. Set up payment reminders. Keep your credit usage low. Be careful about new credit applications. All these things help keep a healthy score.
A good credit score is important as it makes money matters easier. It boosts your chances of getting approved for mortgages, car finance, or other credit in the near future. By knowing what can make your score go down, you can take steps to protect and improve it.
Disclaimer: We are not providing financial advice. These are just tips for informational purposes.
