What Affects Your Credit Score?
One of the most common questions people ask is: "What affects my credit score?"
While every lender uses its own criteria when assessing applications, credit scores are generally influenced by information contained within your credit report.
Common credit score factors include:
Payment history
Credit utilisation
Credit account age
Recent credit applications
Types of credit accounts
Information reported by lenders
Understanding these factors can help explain why credit scores change over time and why two people with similar financial circumstances may have different scores.
Why Your Credit Score Might Move Up or Down
Credit scores are not fixed. They change whenever new information is added to your credit report. This may include:
New credit activity being recorded, such as applying for a loan or a credit card
Payments you’ve made on credit accounts
Changes to how much credit you’re using, for example if you are using more or less of your credit limits
New accounts being opened or closed
Updates from lenders
Information being added or removed over time
Because lenders don’t all report to the credit reference agencies at the same time, your score can change at different points throughout the month.
Read More: Why Has My Credit Score Gone Down?
Can You Improve Your Credit Score?
Many people want to know whether they can improve their credit score.
While there is no guaranteed way to increase a credit score, credit scores can change over time as new information is added to a credit report and older information becomes less relevant.
Because every credit file is different, score movements can vary significantly between individuals.
Read More: Can I Improve My Credit Score?
Short-Term and Long-Term Factors That Influence Credit Scores
In the short term, you might see changes from:
Updated balances on accounts
New payments being reported
Credit applications appearing
Corrections to your credit file
Over the long term, your credit file reflects:
Consistent repayment habits
How stable your accounts are
How long you’ve had credit
Overall patterns in your financial behaviour
Think of it like a history of your credit — not a snapshot.
Building Credit vs Changes to your Credit Report
These two things are closely related but slightly different:
Credit report changes = updates being reported by lenders
Building credit = the longer-term pattern created by your financial behaviour
Your score reflects both, but not always immediately.
Tracking Your Credit Report
Because your credit file changes over time, it can help to check it regularly so you understand what’s being reported.
This can help you:
See what’s changed and when
Spot anything that doesn’t look right
Understand what’s affecting your credit score
Keep track of your overall credit picture
Want to understand what's influencing your credit score?
Access your credit report to see the information currently being reported by lenders and monitor changes over time.
Common Credit Score Myths
There’s a lot of confusion around credit scores, so here are a few things that often get misunderstood:
Checking your own credit report lowers your score ❌
Closing old accounts always improves your score ❌
Paying off a balance instantly boosts your score ❌
Having no credit is better than having some credit history ❌
Read More: Credit Report Myths
How Long Do Credit Score Changes Take?
There’s no exact timeline, but here’s a rough guide:
A few weeks: Updated balances or recent activity
A few months: Patterns in behaviour start to show
12+ months: Longer-term credit history becomes more established
It depends on when lenders report and how often your file updates.
Credit scores move because your financial information is constantly being updated. Once you understand what’s driving those changes, it becomes much easier to interpret what you’re seeing over time.
CreditKnowledge is a credit broker, not a lender.
Editorial Disclaimer: This content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. It is not intended to provide personalised recommendations or guarantees of any outcome, including changes to your credit score or approval decisions from lenders. Credit scoring models and lending decisions vary between providers and are based on a range of factors.
This content reflects general information at the time of publication and is not endorsed by any bank, lender, or financial institution. You should always consider your own circumstances and, where appropriate, seek independent financial advice before making financial decisions. Nothing in this content should be interpreted as a recommendation to take, or refrain from taking, any specific financial action.
Page Last Reviewed: 31.05.2026
