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Credit explained

How much do you know about credit? Get to grips with some credit basics, or find information and support, by reading our handy credit guides.

Get a basic understanding

There are lots of credit types to choose from, depending on your immediate and longer-term needs. If you’re planning to borrow money, it’s important to understand how credit works first.

What is credit? What is credit?

What do lenders look for?

To make a decision on a credit application, it’s usual for lenders and other service providers to complete credit checks, assessing your reliability as a borrower, and the risk of lending to you.

What is a hard or soft credit?

Credit score basics

What is a credit score and how does it work?
What is a good credit score?
What is a bad credit score?
Can credit cards be used to build your credit score? 

Your credit score

Check Your Credit Score
What affects your credit score?
Why has my credit score gone down?
How to improve your credit score

Know where you stand with Halifax

Sign up for ‘Your Credit Score’ to see your credit score with TransUnion. It’s free to check and won’t harm your credit score.

More on Your Credit Score

Which option is right for me?

Our online borrowing options tool could help you to decide which type of credit might suit you.

Borrowing options tool

Support with the cost of living

With the rising cost of living, it's natural to worry about your money. To help you manage your money, we have some useful tips and tools. 

Help with money worries

Help me manage my money