How to Improve your Credit Score in Cambridge

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Credit score criteria

Reasons why Your Credit Score may be Lower

Improving Your Credit Score in Cambridge

Avoid Unnecessary Credit Searches

Avoid Credit Applications

Are you registered on the voter's roll?

The Importance of Updating Your Address

Don't run too Close to Your Maximum Limit

Remove financial links to others

Is it all about your credit score?

Credit Score Mortgage Advice in Cambridge

A credit score is a numerical value that lenders use to determine your affordability for a mortgage, loan, credit card, etc. Although different lenders have different credit scoring models, the credit score that will be listed on your file will usually range from 300-800+.

Credit score criteria

• 300-580 – This is a poor credit score and having a credit score like this may decrease your chances of being accepted by a lender.
  
• 580-670 – A score like this is considered fair and your lender may be more lenient with you when you have a score like this.
  
• 670-740 – This is a good score and your chances of being accepted will be high if you have this score on your file. This is usually the average credit score range.
  
• 740-800 – This score is very good. A score as good as this will put your chances even higher of being accepted.
  
• 800+ – If you have a score that’s 800+, it’s classed as an excellent credit score. Your chances of being accepted are well above average, well done!

If you have a credit score above 670, it’s likely that a lender will see no problem lending to you. On the other hand, if your score is less than 670, you may struggle to get the competitive deals that other applicant’s with a higher score are accessing.

Reasons why Your Credit Score may be Lower

As a Mortgage Broker in Cambridge, we deal with specialist cases all of the time. It’s often the case that mortgage applicants come to us after being declined by their bank due to a low credit score or something similar. Our job is to step in and help these struggling customers and their application back on its feet.

There are lots of different reasons why you could have a low credit score. The most common reason that we come across is that the applicant is the subject of a county court judgement (also known as a CCJ). If you fail to repay a loan/borrowed money, it’s likely that you will get a CCJ.

A CCJ can leave a harmful dint on your credit file for 6 years or more, so we strongly advise that you make sure that you pay off your debt before applying for credit. It will undoubtedly pop up on your file and the lender will start asking questions.

Failing to stick to credit agreements can be bad too. Failing to keep up with your mobile phone contract payments will even cause damage to your file. Sometimes the little things can cause damage too, for example, dipping into your overdraft every month could cause a long term negative effect. Even using price comparison websites can sometimes impact your score.

These are just a few things that could negatively impact your credit rating, there are lots of other reasons to why you could have bad credit, however, our job is to help you improve your score so you get the chance to move into your dream home!

There are multiple ways to improve your score to try and get you up into that next bracket that lenders will be looking for. Don’t give up just because you have a low score, it’s still possible to secure a mortgage in some cases!

Improving Your Credit Score in Cambridge

Trying to improve your credit score can be a difficult task, but with the help of this handy guide, you may just be able to level it up a notch.

We must warn you that every lender has their own lending criteria so your score may impact what deals you can access. This also means that just because you have a great score doesn’t mean that you’ll match every deal, it’s sometimes down to personal circumstances. At the end of the day, it’s all up to your lender and their criteria.

Avoid Unnecessary Credit Searches

Every time that you go directly to a lender and their in-house mortgage advisor puts you through for a deal, they will perform a soft or hard credit search on you, and this search will leave an imprint on your credit file. If for any reason, your application is declined, the credit search performed could have a negative impact on your credit score. Multiple searches may lower your chances of getting accepted for a mortgage in the future.

This is where a mortgage broker in Cambridge will come in handy. Here at Cambridgemoneyman, we aim to get it right the first time, which means that we will take a look at your credit score and only approach lenders that hold criteria we know that you will pass.

Avoid Credit Applications

Applying for credit can sometimes backfire on you, especially if you don’t have a reason for doing so. If you can pay back the credit that you’ve borrowed, it may look good on your application, however, flip the situation on its head, and your credit score could end up in trouble if you fail to meet the credit payment deadline.

During your mortgage application, we strongly advise that you hold off applying for credit. In some cases, you may be able to get away with it, but in other scenarios, lenders may believe that you are struggling for money. They could think that you are putting it towards your deposit or using it to aid your mortgage payments.

Are you registered on the voter’s roll?

Here’s a nice and easy way to improve your credit score; make sure that you are registered on the voter’s/electoral roll. Being registered on the roll shows that you are who you say you are. All you need to do is go to the government’s electoral roll page, it’s easy to get registered from there. This could be a great way to boost your score!

You must provide accurate information when registering on the voter’s/electoral roll, so make sure that everything is filled out correctly. You will need to use your current living address, not your previous address.

The Importance of Updating Your Address

During the mortgage application process, we always recommend that you check that all of your accounts and details are linked with your current address. This won’t affect you as much if you are a first time Buyer in Cambridge and this is your first application.

However, if you are moving home in Cambridge from rented accommodation and you still have your parents address linked with any of your accounts, your lender will pick up on it straight away. This is why it’s important to change your addresses and make sure that they’re up-to-date before applying. Being linked to a wrong address could impact your credit score.

If you go down the broker route, your Mortgage Advisor in Cambridge will help you out with this step. They will make sure that everything is updated with you to ensure that you have the best chance possible of being accepted for a mortgage.

Don’t run too Close to Your Maximum Limit

Maxing out your credit card(s) each month will heavily impact your credit score. Your lender will like it if you can pay off your credit card balance each month as it shows that you can manage your money.

If a lender can see that you are exceeding credit card limits and always dipping into your overdraft, they may think that you don’t take your finances seriously. This could threaten your ability to get accepted by them.

Remove financial links to others

If you are still financially linked to an ex-partner or family member, your credit score could be getting harmed without you even knowing. If the account is still active and live, you won’t be able to remove your links. The only way to remove your link is if you get in touch with the credit reference agencies and make a request.

Is it all about your credit score?

Depending on the lender and how strict their lending criteria is, they may be lenient and allow some wiggle room. If there are some personal reasons involved, your lender may be considerate and factor them into your application, it’s entirely up to them what they do.

A mortgage broker in Cambridge like us will always be transparent with you and factor in every bit of detail. Even if you have a score that is on the lower end of the spectrum, our hardworking team of mortgage advisors in Cambridge are still determined to try and secure you a deal that will suit you.

We have access to specialist mortgage deals through our huge panel of lenders; we are sure that we will find one that matches your mortgage needs. If you need further assistance or Credit Score mortgage advice in Cambridge, feel free to book your free mortgage appointment to speak with one of our mortgage advisors in Cambridge.

Date Last Edited: December 6, 2023