I’ve never applied for credit. Do I have an Equifax Credit Report?

Most people think of credit cards, personal loans or mortgages when credit is mentioned but there are also less obvious forms of credit. Any business that provides payment terms of at least seven days can be a credit provider. Utility companies and telecommunication providers are often credit providers. So are retailers that offer ‘buy now, pay later’ deals.

Even if you’ve never had a credit card, or paid off a mobile phone in instalments, or had an account with a utility provider, you might still have a credit report. If you’ve rented a TV, or gone guarantor for a loan or been a company director, you will probably have a credit report.

Any business that provides a good or service up front and gets paid for it more than a week later is entitled to access your credit record (as long as you’ve put in a request for them to provide you with something on credit).