How Long Does Information Stay on Your Credit File?

Your credit file is not a permanent record. Most of the information lenders see when they check your report stays there for a set period, then drops off automatically. Understanding how long each entry lasts matters, because a default or a missed payment that is still sitting on your file years later can quietly influence whether you are accepted for credit, and at what rate. Here is how the rules work in the UK.

The six-year rule, explained

The headline rule is simple: most negative information stays on your credit file for six years. That includes County Court Judgments (CCJs), defaults, missed or late payments, and records of insolvency such as bankruptcy. The clock usually starts from the date the entry was recorded, not the date you first took out the credit. So a default registered today will generally stay visible to lenders until six years from now, even if you clear the debt in the meantime.

Credit reference agencies hold and manage this data under rules overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The ICO in particular sets standards for how long personal data can be kept and gives you rights over what appears on your report, including the right to have inaccurate information corrected.

What stays for six years

• Defaults. A default is recorded when you fall behind and a lender formally closes the account. It stays for six years from the default date, even if you later pay it off.
• CCJs. A County Court Judgment stays for six years unless you pay the full amount within one month and apply to have it set aside or removed.
• Missed and late payments. Individual missed payments are recorded as part of your account history and can remain visible for six years.
• Insolvency. Bankruptcy, Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), and Debt Relief Orders typically stay for six years from the relevant date.

What drops off sooner

Not everything lasts six years. Hard searches, which are recorded when you actually apply for credit, usually stay on your file for around one to two years and have less impact as they age. Soft searches, such as the eligibility checks we carry out at Mini Money, are only visible to you and do not affect your score at all. A settled account, where you paid off the credit in full, can stay visible for up to six years after settlement, but it is usually treated more favourably than an account with a balance still outstanding.

Closed accounts and financial associations

Closing an account does not erase it. A closed credit card or loan account can remain on your file for up to six years after it was settled, which is often a good thing if the history is positive, because it shows a track record of repayment. Financial associations, such as a joint account or a joint mortgage with someone else, stay on your file until the link is formally broken, so it is worth checking these if you have separated from a partner or no longer share finances.

How to check what is on your file

The easiest way to see exactly what is sitting on your report is to check your credit report for free with the main agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You can view your statutory report at no cost, and it is worth doing before you apply for credit so there are no surprises. If you spot something that is wrong or out of date, you have the right to dispute an error on your credit report and ask for it to be corrected.

If an entry is accurate but negative, there is not much you can do to remove it early. The best approach is usually to keep making payments on time, keep your credit utilisation low, and let older entries fall away naturally. Free, independent guidance on managing debt and rebuilding your credit is available from Citizens Advice and from MoneyHelper.

Mini Money is a credit broker, not a lender, and we work with a panel of regulated lenders. Checking what could be available to you through us uses a soft search, which does not affect your credit file. Understanding what is already on your report, and how long it will stay there, is a sensible first step before you apply.