In an attempt to help more people get onto the property ladder, the Government has instituted a series of Help to Buy schemes that can assist first-time buyers with purchasing a home. One of those is the Shared Ownership Scheme – and to help you get an idea of how that works, TotallyMoney have put together this straightforward guide.
If you were hoping to get a definitive answer, we have to let you know that it’s more complicated than that. A number that could seem like a good credit score with one agency might be a poor credit score with another. We’ve done our best to crack the code, so you don’t have to.
In the UK, there’s no such thing as a universal credit score. The three credit reference agencies and your scores won’t be the same with each credit reference agency, because their credit score ranges are also different. This guide should clear this up.
What is a credit score? Let’s not pretend understanding different credit terms isn’t sometimes confusing. This guide should help clear things up.
The important thing to remember is that a credit score is different from a credit rating. In short, a credit rating is an assessment of your creditworthiness; a credit score is a number that reflects this.
What is a credit check? Many throw this term around quite often, but do any of us truly know what it means and what it entails? Read on for an explanation of what a credit check is and much more.
Many people use terms such as “credit data”, “credit file”, “credit report”, and “credit score” interchangeably. While in context most would understand what you mean, they do all mean different things. That’s why we’ve prepared this guide about credit reports, to help clear up some of the confusion.
Whether you’re new to credit or simply lost in the sea of information there is on the subject, let’s not pretend understanding it is easy. It’s not, and if you’re in a position where improving credit is necessary, you must be confident that any efforts you put in will have the desired effect. That’s why we’ve come up with these five credit-improving tips to set you on your way.
If you haven’t used credit responsibly in the past, your credit score might be a bit out of shape. And if you’re hoping to be accepted for credit in the future, it’s important you think now about how to fix a bad credit score.
Rejection is never easy — and sometimes, it’s hard to see where exactly you’re going wrong.
Here, we look at what you can do if you’re often turned down for credit. Follow these steps to increase your chance of finding out what YES feels like.
A healthy credit score has many benefits. Not only are you more likely to get accepted for the best offers and lowest interest rates for credit cards and loans, it can stand you in good stead for the future.
For example, it will be much easier to get the mortgage you want if you work now to improve your credit score.
What’s more, even if you don’t need credit right now, it’s good to know it’s an option should that change.
If you’re looking for help on how to improve your credit score, you’re in luck. We’ve come up with 11 tips to set you on your way.
There’s a lot of advice out there on how to build credit. But with so much information about, it can be hard to find what’s useful for you in all the deluge.
In this guide, we divide building credit into two sections: what to do if you’re new to credit, and what to do if you’ve managed credit poorly in the past.
With more of us using contactless technology and transacting online, the potential for someone else to spend in your name is higher than ever. That’s why we’ve put together this guide: to let you know what to do if you’re a victim of credit card fraud, and to help you take steps so it doesn’t happen again.
You might think: checking your credit report — why bother? The truth is, checking your credit report could be vital for keeping or getting your credit rating in good shape. But what should you be checking for? This guide clears that up.
Some may think: I don’t need credit, so why does it matter if I have a bad credit history and rating? The truth is, even if you don’t need credit right now, life can take an unexpected twist at any time. And in such a situation, it’s good to know you have credit available should you need it.
You could be entitled to £100s, or possibly £1,000s, back from your credit card provider for missed payment charges or going over the top of your credit limit.
Read this guide to find out if you can claim your money back.
If you’re going overseas, choosing the right credit card before you go is essential. Plastic is the cheapest, most convenient, flexible way of spending money abroad. Find out how to pick the best card for your travels with this guide.
Fixed-rate mortgages offer the security of knowing exactly what you’ll pay each month but you’ll probably pay a premium for that luxury. Find out if a fixed-rate mortgage is for you with this guide.
Tracker mortgages tend to offer you lower rates in return for taking a chance on mortgage interest rates stay low. But, if rates start to rise you’ll be hit with higher repayments. Find out if a tracker mortgage suits your needs with this guide.
Some lenders offer special deals for people with bad credit who are looking for a loan. However some deals can end up costing you a lot, so use our guide to make sure you know what you’re looking for.
Some lenders offer special deals for people with bad credit who are looking for a loan. However some deals can end up costing you a lot, so use our guide to make sure you know what you’re looking for.
Homeowner loans can help you secure large amounts of money, however there is a huge amount of risk involved when borrowing against your home. Find out more in our guide.
Unsecured loans do not require you to put down any form of collateral when you borrow. That way if you do end up missing payments or defaulting you won’t lose your house or car. However, to compensate for this lenders usually charge higher interest rates. Is an unsecured loan for you?
Thinking of buying a house? The size of your deposit is key to saving tens of thousands of pounds over the life of your mortgage. Here we explain the importance of saving as much as possible before you buy a home, and how you can make your cash grow.
Buying a house is an expensive business, but it’s possible to do it with a small amount of savings. In this guide we explain everything you need to know about buying with a low deposit, including how to find the cheapest deal.
Instead of throwing away thousands of pounds a year on rented accommodation, maybe it’s time you invest and take your first step onto the property ladder.
Thieves hundreds of millions of pounds a year from cards in the UK. Some scams are sophisticated, but others are more old-fashioned with fraudsters stealing money in really simple ways.Read this guide to find out how to keep your credit card safe from credit card fraud.
Money transfer credit cards allow you to transfer money from your credit card to your current account. They are a fantastic way to cut your interest on existing loans, overdrafts, and in some cases, pay-day loans. Read our guide to find out how to make the most of money transfers.
A good credit rating can help you secure better deals, cheaper interest rates and save you £1000s of money over your lifetime.
With deposits higher than ever, buying with help from your parents may seem attractive. But it’s fraught with difficulty.
A discount mortgage can lure borrowers in with tantalising low interest rates,, but there are downsides to consider. Is a discount mortgage for you?
Find out how Section 75 can help you. It provides extra protection for anything you buy with a credit card that costs more than £100.
Pick the wrong mortgage and you could end up paying £1,000s in unnecessary fees and interest. But finding the right mortgage isn’t difficult and once you know the basics the mortgage world will become a lot easier to navigate. Read on to discover the key to picking the right mortgage for you.
A lesser-known gem of the mortgage world, offset mortgages allow you to reduce the amount of interest on your mortgage by using your savings. Read out guide to find out how.
When you take out a mortgage you must choose how you are going to repay it. You can either go for an interest-only or a repayment mortgage. Read our guide so you can make an informed decision about how to pay back your mortgage.
Choosing the right mortgage can save you £1000s, but where to start? This guide will teach you how to use brokers and comparison websites to find the best mortgage deal.
You can actually give ten time more to charity by switching from a charity card to a better credit card.
It’s hard, but not impossible. If you work for yourself and are looking to remortgage or buy a new home, find out how you can get the right mortgage for your circumstances with this guide.
Having bad credit and no credit are two very different things. Find out how to build your credit score if you are young or new to the country.
Find out who you need to tell and what you need to do to protect yourself from fraudsters if you card is lost or stolen.
Your dreams of buying your perfect home can often be curtailed by a lender’s tight purse strings. If you are struggling to borrow as much money as you would like read on for tips on how you can make yourself more attractive to lenders and increase your chances of getting a bigger loan.
From shared ownership to lender schemes, learn about the many options available to you when trying to get up on the property ladder.
It’s a great mystery to some of us, but understanding your credit score can give you a better idea of what lenders are looking for and increase your chances of being accepted.
When used correctly a credit card can save you money on interest, how you make one-off purchases and even improve your credit score.
Picking the right buy-to-let mortgage can make all the difference between profit and failure for landlords. Pick the perfect mortgage and make top up your income after you’ve read our guide.
Yes, there really are eight (at least). Find out how the new world of online credit comparison is helping people save money and get great deals on credit cards the never knew they needed.
You could be getting hundreds of pounds worth of rewards every year with the right rewards card.
Rejection hurts, so find out how you can get a specialist card so you can spend and start rebuilding your credit score.
Find out how a 0% purchase card can help you save on a major purchase. Just make sure you can pay the balance back within the introductory period.
Discover the cheapest way to pay off small debts. If you move your credit card debts on to a 0% balance transfer card you could pay no interest for over two years.
Credit cards aren’t just for borrowing, they can actually save you money. Find out how you can spend and save with a cashback card.
Discover the cheapest way to pay off small debts. If you move your credit card debts on to a 0% balance transfer card you could pay no interest for over two years.
Making the minimum repayment on debts might seem like it is costing you next-to-nothing each month, but in reality you might be paying a lot more back than you need to.
Beware anything that claims to be ‘free’. Fee-free mortgages can have higher interest rates than other mortgage options. Find out what you need to know when considering a fee-free mortgage.
Seen as a sign that you’ve ‘made it’, premium credit cards can actually be a sign that you are wasting your money. Find out what they do and how they should be used.
Payday loans work on the assumption that you desperately need to borrow a small amount of money that you will pay back on your next pay day. Find out what you need to know about payday loans and their alternatives.
Don’t worry — the definition of “credit report” isn’t as scary as the name suggests.
In this guide, we look at exactly what a credit report is, and explain how you can get one for free
We think that the best way to compare balance transfer cards is by the interest saved by switching your current balance or balances minus any applicable charges or fees over the length of the 0% offer.