Before any mortgage, bridging or commercial finance application, your broker will want to see your full credit report. Not a summary, and not screenshots from a phone app — the complete multi-page PDF. Here is how to get one for free, from each of the UK's three credit reference agencies, without falling into a paid subscription.
Step 1 — Know which report you need
Lenders use one of three agencies: Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. Different lenders subscribe to different agencies, so for a mortgage or specialist finance assessment it is often worth pulling at least two of the three — or a combined report from CheckMyFile, which shows all three side by side.
- Experian — used by many high-street mortgage lenders.
- Equifax — widely used across specialist and buy-to-let lending.
- TransUnion — common with lenders who previously used CallCredit.
- CheckMyFile — all three agencies in one report; ideal for a first review.
Step 2 — Request your statutory free report
You are legally entitled to a free statutory credit report from each agency, at no cost and with no obligation to trial anything:
- Experian: register on the Experian website and request the free statutory report.
- Equifax: order the free statutory report directly from equifax.co.uk.
- TransUnion: request your free report through the TransUnion website.
You will need to verify your identity — name, address history for the last three years and date of birth. The report is usually available immediately online.
Step 3 — Download the full PDF, not the app view
Most agencies show a friendly summary in their app or website dashboard. That is not what underwriters need. Look for the option to download or print the full report as a PDF — it is often labelled "Download report", "Printable report" or found behind the print option in your browser.
The full PDF runs to many pages and includes every account, search, balance and payment history, plus any notices of correction or associations. That is the document your broker needs.
Step 4 — Using CheckMyFile for all three agencies
CheckMyFile gives you Experian, Equifax and TransUnion data in a single report, which makes it the quickest way to see everything a lender might see. It offers a free trial that includes the full report download.
Sign up, verify your identity, download the complete PDF — and then cancel the trial straight away. The trial converts to a paid monthly subscription automatically if you leave it running.
Step 5 — Check it before you send it
Open the PDF and read it. Look for:
- Addresses you do not recognise, or an old address still linked to accounts.
- Financial associations with ex-partners or family members.
- Missed payments, defaults, CCJs or arrangements to pay.
- Searches you did not authorise.
Anything wrong can be corrected free of charge by raising a dispute with the agency. Fixing errors before you apply is far easier than explaining them afterwards, and it can make a real difference to the terms a lender offers.
Step 6 — Send the PDF to your broker
Send the complete PDF file through securely, exactly as downloaded. Your broker will review it, flag anything a lender might query, and match your profile to the lenders most likely to approve. At Acorn.finance that review is a soft search — it never affects your credit score.
This guide is general information, not financial advice. All finance is subject to status, lender criteria and valuation. Commercial mortgages, unregulated bridging and business loans are not all regulated by the FCA. Acorn.finance is a trading style of Paul Thompson, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA #660207).