This is my review of CheckMyFile.com, a service that provides access to your credit reports from the UK’s main Credit Reference Agencies for a monthly fee.
There are, of course, free ways to access your credit report if you go directly to each agency. However, I still think there is some value in using CheckMyFile, and in this review I’ll explain why I personally subscribe and where it might be useful.
Why I Subscribe to CheckMyFile.com
The main reason I subscribe is simple: my credit history hasn’t always been great.
For much of my adult life I wasn’t particularly good at managing credit. As a result, over the years I’ve had my fair share of defaults, late payments and other negative markers on my credit file. Things are much better now, but those historical issues still show on my reports.
You might reasonably ask why I would even bother checking my credit file if I already know it isn’t perfect. The answer is that I’m actively trying to improve it. An example of where this has helped me is where Lloyds had not correctly updated my default date.
What I’ve learned along the way is that mistakes on credit reports are more common than people think. When errors appear, getting them corrected can sometimes be harder than it should be.
Normally you would contact the lender who reported the information. In one case I did exactly that, but they told me they had already asked for the incorrect data to be removed and suggested I contact the Credit Reference Agency directly.
Why I Used CheckMyFile
Recently I noticed an adverse account on my credit report that should have been removed months earlier. I initially tried to resolve this through TransUnion, whose data is used by the free service Credit Karma.
Unfortunately, disputing information through TransUnion turned out to be more complicated than expected. Even though I had access to my credit report through a free account, raising a dispute required navigating multiple forms and pages, and I eventually gave up.
With CheckMyFile, the process was much simpler.
I sent them a message explaining that there was an account on my TransUnion report that should no longer be there. They asked for some additional information, which I provided, and they then raised the issue with TransUnion on my behalf.
For me, that convenience alone made the service worthwhile.
If the same incorrect data had been reported to all three credit reference agencies, I would likely have had to raise disputes with each one individually. Through CheckMyFile, I could deal with it in one place.
Other Benefits of CheckMyFile
One of the main advantages of CheckMyFile is that it brings together information from all of the main UK Credit Reference Agencies in a single report.
This makes it much easier to see your full credit picture at a glance. You can review all your accounts, both positive and negative, without having to log in to multiple different services.
Technically you can obtain the same information for free by using each agency’s individual service, but that requires checking them separately.
CheckMyFile also provides a credit score based on the information across your reports. Free services also provide scores, but these are usually based on data from a single credit reference agency. Because lenders may use different agencies, seeing a combined view can be useful.
Another feature I particularly like is the ability to download a full PDF version of your credit report. Having everything in one document makes it much easier to review your file for errors. It could also be useful if you need to show your credit history to a mortgage advisor.
What About the Free Credit Report Services?
The free services available in the UK are also very useful and perfectly valid alternatives.
The main difference is that each one typically shows information from only one credit reference agency. By signing up to all of them and checking each report separately, you can still get a fairly complete view of your credit file.
Many of these services also offer mobile apps and notifications when something changes on your credit report.
Personally, I use both the free services and CheckMyFile. The free services are useful for monitoring changes, while CheckMyFile is helpful when I want a full overview or need assistance raising a dispute.
Ultimately, my goal is to improve my credit file enough to qualify for a mortgage in the future.
Free Ways to Check Your Credit Report
If you prefer not to pay for a service like CheckMyFile, you can still check your credit report using these free options:
- Credit Karma – based on data from TransUnion
- ClearScore – based on data from Equifax
- Experian – access your Experian credit report directly
At the time of writing, CheckMyFile also offers a free trial. After that, the service costs £14.99 per month.
Final Thoughts on CheckMyFile
Whether CheckMyFile is worth paying for really depends on your situation.
If your credit file is relatively stable and you don’t expect any errors, the free services may be more than enough. However, if you want a more comprehensive view of your credit reports in one place, or if you’re actively working to fix issues on your credit file, CheckMyFile can be very useful.
For me, the main benefit is convenience. Being able to see everything in one place and raise disputes more easily saves time and frustration.
Longer term, once I’ve corrected the issues on my credit reports, I may decide the free services are sufficient. For now though, CheckMyFile continues to be a helpful tool while I work on improving my credit.
