The cost of bad credit

Learn more about some of the most common challenges of bad credit and what you can do about them.

Written by Vanessa Stewart and Victoria Smith

Published: 22/10/19Published on October 22nd, 2019

Last reviewed: 26/09/23Last reviewed on September 26th, 2023

8 mins read

Having a bad credit score can have a huge impact on your life and could make a big difference when it comes to future life decisions, such as getting a mortgage or even a mobile phone contract. We understand that having bad credit can be stressful and that it can be hard to get on the path to a good credit score - and we’re here to help.

At Aqua, we want to help you to get back on track with credit just like we’ve helped other people. Let’s look at some of the most common challenges with poor credit and what you could be doing to start turning a bad credit score into a more positive one.

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Your partner’s finances

Depending on how you are set up financially as a couple, your partner can have a huge impact on your credit score, and you on theirs. If you have joint bank accounts or a mortgage, you need to be aware of your partner's financial situation as both your credit reports could be affected.

That’s because if you share financial products, the people you share them with can become ‘financial associations’, so lenders will look at both of your credit reports when assessing either one of you for credit. What this means is that if your partner has a poor credit score, their score may have a negative impact on your ability to get credit.

How can you improve this?

Well, the first step would be to sit down with your partner to work out whether it’s the right decision to have your finances connected. As an example, if you are sharing a bank account, you might want to rethink that and create a separate account to avoid your finances being impacted.

The same goes for something like a credit card. Compare your credit histories to work out which one of you has a better score – the person with the higher score is likely be the best person to take out the card.

One of your biggest priorities should be working out what factors are affecting your credit scores and doing what you can to increase the score. You can read more about fixing a bad credit history in our handy how-to guide.

Although, working on your finances as a couple can be easier said than done. If you’re finding it difficult to speak to your partner about money, the Money Advice Service has useful guides to help you navigate this sensitive subject and get on track financially as a couple.

Mobile phones and other household items

Taking out a new mobile phone contract relies on your credit score, so you will need a good credit score to take advantage of most offers.

Getting a mobile phone might not seem like a big financial agreement but the contract provider will still run a credit check on you to work out whether you’ll be able to pay your contract each month. Though the criteria are usually a lot less stringent than bigger credit products, such as a mortgage, poor credit will still likely result in you being turned down for the phone contract.

The same will apply if you are looking to buy a home appliance through finance, such as a fridge or washing machine.

How can you improve this?

There are several short-term solutions you can take while you set yourself on the path to improving your credit score.

For mobile phones contract issues specifically, you can look to pay-as-you-go (PAYG) deals as an alternative. This can be a good option if you have an old phone you can carry on using or if you have the cash to buy a new phone outright and then do PAYG with the new device.

With household items, your best bet is to buy second hand with cash. Consider online resources, such as Facebook Marketplace or eBay, to find items local to you.

Employment

Most employers won’t require your detailed credit history as part of the hiring process so don’t worry, a poor credit history shouldn’t impact your overall chances of getting a job.

However, if you want a job in finance or handling money, it’s likely that the employer will run a credit check. This is generally to protect against fraud, but a poor credit score will often be enough to rule you out of the running.

What can you do?

The obvious answer is to avoid applying for jobs in finance until you have sorted out your poor credit situation. Try to be as honest as possible to prospective employers, that way you aren’t wasting their time or your own. Millions of people have low credit scores, so remember, you’re probably not the only candidate in those circumstances.

It’s important to remember that the ultimate decision on who gets the job is rarely based on the result of the credit history checks. If during the interview process, your credit score is flagged as an issue, don’t lose hope. If you are honest and can show you have made positive steps towards improving your credit score, you may find that the employer will still consider you for the role.

It’s worth bearing in mind that some financial institutions, such as banks and building societies, will likely be running automatic processes to assess candidates and their CVs. This means that the automated system will reject your application automatically if it doesn’t meet their criteria or pass their credit check.

Getting a mortgage

Getting a mortgage with a poor credit score can be difficult, though it isn’t impossible. The exact criteria for a mortgage varies from lender to lender and there are specialist mortgage companies who offer credit to people who are in a poor credit scenario, so it’s worth looking around at all your options.

‘Bad credit’ mortgages, also known as ‘subprime’ mortgages, work in the same way as any other mortgage though you will likely need to take a couple of things into consideration:

1. A higher deposit
   While not guaranteed, you will most likely be asked to pay a higher deposit for your home. This is usually at least 15% of the value of the property but can be much more depending on the lender and your circumstances.
   
2. Reduced mortgages available
   You should expect to have fewer mortgage options to choose from. Not only will your options be reduced, but they are also likely to be more expensive, charging a higher rate of interest than many of the rates you see advertised on the high street.

What can you do?

 The first step is to consult a reputable financial advisor to help you understand your options, and whether a mortgage is even the right decision at this point in your financial life. If you’re certain you want to apply for a mortgage, it’s best to speak to several mortgage advisors to find out what options are available to you.

Most mortgage brokers offer a free initial call to figure out what borrowing and rates could be available to you. Take advantage of this and speak to several advisors from different brokerages before making a decision. This way, you’ll get a better picture of the rates and loan amounts available to you.

Many mortgage advisors work on a commission basis – where the mortgage provider, such as Barclays, or HSBC, pays the advisor a percentage of the total loan taken out – but it’s best to still check whether the advisors charge any additional fees for their service.

If, after speaking with several mortgage advisors, your options are looking drastically more expensive or requiring a higher deposit, you could also consider a guarantor mortgage. A guarantor mortgage is where a family member or friend with a stronger credit history will co-sign the mortgage and bind themselves to the agreement. If you don’t keep up with repayments, by law your guarantor will have to pay it.

There will still be credit checks in a guarantor mortgage, and this includes you, your guarantor and whoever else is on the mortgage. And you’ll usually be asked to put additional collateral against the mortgage, often the guarantor’s property.

Getting a loan

If you have bad credit, then you may find it difficult to get a loan. This is because the lender is taking on additional risk by lending money to someone who may not be able to afford the repayments. In this situation, you might still be able to get a loan, but it will usually come with higher interest rates and more restrictions.

What can you do?

You’re still likely to have options open to you, so make sure you explore them all in detail and only apply for loans you are likely to get a ‘yes’ to and can meet the conditions of repayment. Each full application you fill in will result in a ‘hard search’ on your credit report so it will show up on your credit report.

If you are already an Aqua customer and looking to consolidate debts, our personal loans could be for you.

Renting a property

While there are some similarities between buying and renting, the key difference here is that you will need to deal with landlords instead of mortgage providers. Most landlords will want to run a credit check to see if you can afford to pay the rent each month. 
If you are identified as having a bad credit rating, they’re likely to assume there’s a higher chance you won’t be able to pay every month. In these circumstances, landlords could be less likely to allow you to rent their property.

What can you do?

Being upfront and honest with your potential landlord right from the start is the best place to start. Have a conversation with them to explain the reality of your financial situation outside of just the numbers that are going to come back in your credit report. Remember, lots of people have a history of bad credit and there’s more to everyone than a credit score.

Sometimes offering to pay a few more months in advance can also tip the landlord in your favour and allow you to rent your property.

Other options include getting a guarantor, which works in the same way as it does with a mortgage, and if you have previous landlords, a good reference will go a long way to help build your case.

Contributors

Vanessa Stewart

Vanessa is an editor at Aqua.

Victoria Smith

Victoria is an editor at Aqua.