Londoners are most content with their credit scores, with a third (33%) saying they were happy the last time they checked, closely followed by the South East (31%) and the South West (28%.) Those living in the East of England are the unhappiest, with 11% saying they were not impressed the last time their checked their score. 1 in 10 of those living in the North West came in a close second when it comes to being unhappy with their credit score.
However, Equifax analysis of average credit scores across the UK[1]seems to suggest a disconnect between consumers’ level of happiness or unhappiness with their credit score and their actual score.
Equifax analysis shows that those living in the South West have the highest average Equifax Credit Score of 403. And those living in the North East have the lowest average Equifax Credit Score of 371.
| Region | Average Equifax Credit Score |
| South West | 403 |
| South East | 402 |
| East of England | 393 |
| Scotland | 382 |
| Wales | 379 |
| East Midlands | 378 |
| London | 377 |
| West Midlands | 376 |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 374 |
| North West | 372 |
| North East | 371 |
Shockingly, the latest research from Equifax reveals that over half of Brits have never checked their credit score with a credit reference agency.[2]
You can use this interactive map to see the regional breakdown for different areas of the UK, but here they are in order of best to worst, with average scores for each region:
- Oxfordshire 418
- Berkshire 416
- Hertfordshire 413
- Surrey 412
- Dorset 412
- Gloucestershire 411
- Aberdeen 406
- Powys 405
- Worcestershire 405
- Avon 404
- East Sussex 403
- Wiltshire 403
- Cornwall 402
- Selkirkshire 402
- Buckinghamshire 398
- Kent 397
- Devon 397
- Suffolk 397
- Hampshire 396
- Norfolk 396
- Midlothian 396
- Shetland Islands 394
- Herefordshire 393
- Perthshire 392
- Cumbria 390
- North Yorkshire 390
- Shropshire 388
- Isle of Man 388
- Essex 384
- Cambridgeshire 384
- Middlesex 383
- Caithness 383
- Derbyshire 382
- Leicestershire 382
- Fife 382
- Cheshire 381
- Stirlingshire 381
- Lincolnshire 380
- Channel Islands 380
- Dumfries and Galloway 379
- Nottinghamshire 377
- County Durham 376
- Inverness 376
- Clwyd 375
- London 374
- West Yorkshire 374
- Tyne and Wear 374
- Renfrewshire 374
- Outer Hebrides 374
- Bedfordshire 372
- Staffordshire 371
- Ayrshire 371
- West Glamorgan 370
- Northern Ireland 370
- South Glamorgan 369
- North Humberside 369
- Gwent 368
- Lanarkshire 368
- Northamptonshire 367
- South Yorkshire 366
- Angus 364
- Lancashire 363
- Cleveland 355
- Merseyside 351
“It is clear from our latest research that a significant number of individuals have never checked their credit score, which means that are not putting themselves in the best position when it comes to applying for credit” said Lisa Hardstaff, credit information expert at Equifax. “Not only should people get to grips with their credit scores, but they should also check their credit reports to understand what information is influencing their score.
“If individuals are planning on making an application for credit, they should check their credit report and score in advance. The credit report will give a record of their borrowing history, which could help them decide whether they need to improve or keep up their borrowing habits. And knowing their score and what range it falls in can help to give an indication of how lenders may view their creditworthiness.”
