If you are having problems getting credit and cannot check your credit score, you may be what’s considered either ‘credit-invisible’ or a ‘thin-file’ consumer.    

In this article, we’ll explain the difference between having a thin file and being credit invisible and how either of these things might impact you. We will also detail the steps you can take to create a credit report, build your credit score and improve your financial confidence. 

Credit invisibility means you do not have any credit history with one of the UK’s three Credit Reporting Agencies  (CRAs): Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

In the age of social media, cookies, data collection and personalised advertising and targeting, being invisible from an identification and credit perspective might seem like an attractive position. However, having your information registered with a CRA, such as TransUnion, can have a significant and positive impact on your ability to meet your financial and or lifestyle goals.