I THOUGHT my credit score rating was excellent however was shocked once I was rejected for a brand new cellphone contract in October.

I repay my American Categorical bank card in full on the finish of each month and if I ever dip into my overdraft, I shortly clear it.

1 Shopper Reporter, James Flanders, explains how he boosted his credit score rating utilizing a straightforward trick

Regardless that, I haven’t got a mortgage or private mortgage I believed that my credit score file was in respectable form as I’ve by no means missed a cost.

In truth, my Experian credit score rating got here up as a wholesome 999 and I used to be ranked as “Wonderful”.

But, my software for a brand new sim-only contract with Vodafone by way of Carphone Warehouse was cancelled inside seconds of making use of after the agency ran an automatic laborious credit score examine.

Stupidly I might forgotten that there are three credit score reference companies – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion – and you don’t have any concept which one is being utilized by lenders.

I did not realise that Vodafone had run a credit score examine with Equifax, the place my rating was significantly decrease.

My Experian and TransUnion scores are rated as “Wonderful” however my Equifax rating was simply 755 out of 1,000 – translating to a “Good” rating.

Whereas lenders haven’t got to clarify why they reject you, it might have been one of many components that led to my rejection from Vodafone.

How I turned my good rating to glorious

I used to be aghast – however there was a technique to flip it round and in simply three months I might moved my “good” Equifax rating to “glorious”.

I started my search on-line by merely googling “learn how to increase my credit score rating”, however I used to be flooded with generic ideas, together with making certain I used to be registered to vote and ditching accounts which I not use.

As a substitute, I made a decision to check out Loqbox, which guarantees to assist increase your rating by as much as 300 factors inside 12 months – however there is a catch.

You need to borrow money, so you actually ought to solely do that when you’re on prime of your funds and positive you’ll be able to persist with the deal.

Loqbox loaned me £250 for 12 months – however the cash stays locked away in your on-line account.

Over the 12 months, you pay again £20 a month again into your Loqbox account routinely by a direct debit.

It then studies your profitable repayments to all three credit score companies – boosting your credit score rating.

And after simply three months’ price of funds, my Equifax rating rose by 103 factors – from 755 to 858 – nudging me into the “glorious” class.

Sarah Coles, private finance knowledgeable at Hargreaves Lansdown stated in response to my success: “It is a good instance of how comparatively small modifications in your habits could make a very large distinction to your rating.”

“Your rating would possibly undergo when you don’t have any file of borrowing and paying the cash again.

“It feels counter-intuitive, however it may really assist to get a bank card or private mortgage.”

Tom Eyre, co-chief government and co-founder of Loqbox instructed me that 88% of Loqbox members do enhance their credit score rating inside a matter of months.

Clearly, this technique nonetheless comes with dangers – like with each type of borrowing.

Tom stated that round 18% of Loqbox Save prospects have been unable to make repayments.

And lacking a cost could have a damaging influence in your credit score rating, decreasing your probabilities of being accepted for affordable credit score sooner or later.

However if you cannot make a compensation then you’ll be able to cancel your Loqbox Save account and get your a refund with out harming your credit score rating – however you will want to do that earlier than your cost due date.

Any Loqbox prospects which can be nervous about not assembly their compensation schedule ought to get in contact with the agency by way of e mail or by its on-line chat service on its web site.

Different methods to spice up your rating

There are a selection of free and low cost methods to assist increase your credit score rating together with.

For instance, getting on the electoral register proves who you’re and the place you reside which means it is simpler to get credit score when you’re on the listing.

You’ll be able to join by registering to vote on Gov.UK.

It is also very important that you do not make too many credit score functions as a result of a lot of requests in a brief time frame may be seen as an indication of economic misery.

Use a “soft-search” eligibility calculator to point out how possible you’re to be accepted – web sites like MoneySavingExpert.com supply these.

It’s best to all the time pay your payments on time. It is because Late funds are additionally recorded in your file.

When you can try to reduce down your current debt earlier than making use of for brand spanking new credit score as lenders could also be reluctant to lend to you if you have already got a considerable amount of debt.

Utilizing credit-builder bank cards for small reasonably priced purchases can present that you are a accountable spender and it may enhance your possibilities within the eyes of lenders.

It is important to ask your self when you really have to borrow earlier than committing to a brand new bank card or private mortgage.

When you can’t afford to repay a debt you at present have, then it is best to keep away from taking out any extra debt in any respect prices.