Published 13 April 2013 · Last reviewed 1 May 2026
One of the most frustrating things in my job is talking to an applicant and completing lender forms only to find out to their surprise they have a past late payment on a bill or financial commitment. Often the cause can be as simple as an incorrectly set-up direct debit but the ramifications can be devastating.
I recently had a case declined for a £380,000 mortgage for an applicant who had a good occupation, enviable salary and sizeable deposit but because they had a missed payment on a mobile phone for £89 their mortgage was subsequently declined. We had to rush around and find an alternative pronto. Then complete a whole new set of forms and re-apply to another lender to try and save the property going back on the market. This was not only frustrating for me but very nerve wracking for the client who had the additional pressure of a pregnancy and the need to secure that particular property that was nearby to her work and proposed nursery. All of this panic could have been avoided had she spent five minutes to check her credit file.
Please be warned: this sort of carelessness can be expensive. The credit information held on your for a lender is paramount. And, every time you apply your credit file records this and can further harm your chances of securing the next best deal available to you. It is best to be right first time!
Whether you are looking to get a mortgage with myself or another broker/lender the best advice to find out what is on your credit file before you apply. Even if you believe there to be no issues it’s worth checking as information held can be inaccurate or outdated.
- Check your Credit History as reported to Callcredit & Equifax
- Look for differences in what’s been reported
- Identify problem accounts, and take steps to minimise their impact
- See the types of credit reported from your electric bill to your mortgage
- View up to 6 years’ history of your repayment performance
Free Credit Report from checkmyfile
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Important — please read
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Niche Advice Limited has a commercial arrangement under an affiliate programme with Check My File and is remunerated for referrals.
Niche Advice Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 750263). Payam Azadi is a Mortgage Broker and Director of Niche Advice Limited.
The content above is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All cases should be discussed with a qualified mortgage broker before you apply.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate some forms of buy-to-let, commercial mortgages, or bridging loans.