Ask UKMT

UKMT Team: Official answer

There is no single UK score to aim at. Each agency uses its own scale, and lenders judge your full report, not just the number. Our credit score ranges guide shows what each agency counts as good on its own scale.

Full guide: Credit Score Ranges in the UK

UKMT Team: Official answer

No. Checking your own score is a soft search. Soft searches are visible only to you and do not affect applications. A hard search is different: it happens when you apply for credit, lenders can see it, and several in a short time can lower your chances.

Full guide: Soft vs Hard Credit Search UK

UKMT Team: Official answer

Yes. The free routes in our guide do not ask for card details, and your statutory credit report is free by law. If a site asks for card details to show a basic report, stop and use one of the three agency routes instead.

Full guide: Free Credit Report UK

UKMT Team: Official answer

Each agency holds its own file, lenders report to different agencies, and each agency works out its score its own way, so the three numbers rarely match. Lenders also score you themselves when you apply. What matters is that the information on each file is correct.

Full guide: Free Credit Report UK

UKMT Team: Official answer

With an easy-access cash ISA, yes, at any time with no penalty. With a fixed-rate cash ISA the money is locked for the term, and leaving early usually costs 90 to 360 days of interest.

Full guide: Best Cash ISA Rates in the UK

UKMT Team: Official answer

£20,000 across all your ISAs combined, for the tax year running 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. From April 2027 the cash ISA part falls to £12,000 for savers under 65, which is why this is the last tax year to shelter the full amount in cash.

Full guide: Best Cash ISA Rates in the UK

UKMT Team: Official answer

Six years from the default date, even if you pay it off. Paying it still helps, because lenders can see it is settled, but the mark itself stays for the six years.

Full guide: Free Credit Report UK

UKMT Team: Official answer

For most headline offers, yes. The big bonuses pay for a full switch using the Current Account Switch Service, which moves your payments and closes the old account for you. Part switches usually do not qualify. Every offer on our switch page states which type it needs.

Full guide: Best Bank Switch Offers UK

UKMT Team: Official answer

Yes, up to £120,000 per person, per bank or building society group, under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Two brands can share one licence and one £120,000 limit, so check the group, not just the name.

Full guide: Best Savings Accounts in the UK

UKMT Team: Official answer

It is interest on your interest. Your money earns interest, that interest joins the pot, and next year the bigger pot earns interest too. Time does the heavy lifting, which is why starting small and early beats starting big and late. Try it with your own numbers on our free Compound Interest Calculator.

Full guide: Compound Interest Calculator UK