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

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

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

Despite the fact that, I haven’t got a mortgage or private mortgage I believed that my credit score file was in first rate form as I’ve by no means missed a cost.

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

But, my utility for a brand new sim-only contract with Vodafone through Carphone Warehouse was cancelled inside seconds of making use of after the agency ran an automatic exhausting credit score test.

Stupidly I would 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 test 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 do not have to elucidate why they reject you, it could have been one of many components that led to my rejection from Vodafone.

How I turned my good rating to wonderful

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

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

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

You must borrow money, so you actually ought to solely do that should you’re on high 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 via a direct debit.

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

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

Sarah Coles, private finance knowledgeable at Hargreaves Lansdown mentioned in response to my success: “This can be a good instance of how comparatively small adjustments in your habits could make a very massive distinction to your rating.”

“Your rating would possibly endure should you don’t have any document of borrowing and paying the cash again.

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

Tom Eyre, co-chief govt 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 mentioned that round 18% of Loqbox Save clients have been unable to make repayments.

And lacking a cost could have a destructive impression in your credit score rating, decreasing your possibilities of being accepted for reasonable credit score sooner or later.

However if you cannot make a reimbursement 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 may want to do that earlier than your cost due date.

Any Loqbox clients which might be apprehensive about not assembly their reimbursement schedule ought to get in contact with the agency through e mail or via its on-line chat service on its web site.

Different methods to spice up your rating

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

For instance, getting on the electoral register proves who you might be and the place you reside that means it is simpler to get credit score should you’re on the record.

You may join by registering to vote on Gov.UK.

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

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

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

When you can try to lower down your current debt earlier than making use of for brand 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 probabilities within the eyes of lenders.

It is vital to ask your self should you truly 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’s best to keep away from taking out any extra debt in any respect prices.