What Does a Credit Score of 475 Mean in the UK?
Published 21st of January 2013·Updated 23 April 2026
Reviewed by: Reviewed for accuracy April 2026
A credit score of 475 means something completely different depending on which credit reference agency produced it. With Experian, 475 falls in the "very poor" category. With Equifax, 475 sits in the "excellent" band. The number only has meaning in the context of the scale it was taken from.
Short Summary
The UK has three main credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each uses a different scoring scale with different maximum values and different category thresholds.
A score of 475 from Experian (scale 0-999) indicates very poor credit, while 475 from Equifax (scale 0-700) indicates good to excellent credit. The same number means opposite things.
No lender sees the score number you see on your consumer credit report. Lenders run their own internal scoring using the raw data on your file. Your consumer score is a useful indicator, but it is not what decides your application.
Focus on improving your underlying credit behaviour rather than chasing a specific number. On-time payments, low credit utilisation and correcting errors on your file are the three most effective actions.
What does 475 mean with Experian?
Experian uses a scale from 0 to 999, where 999 represents excellent credit. Their scoring bands are:
| Experian score | Category |
|---|---|
| 961-999 | Excellent |
| 881-960 | Good |
| 721-880 | Fair |
| 561-720 | Poor |
| 0-560 | Very poor |
A score of 475 with Experian falls in the "very poor" band. This is the lowest category and indicates a significant negative history, such as multiple defaults, a County Court Judgement (CCJ), or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA). With this score, most mainstream lenders including high-street banks and building societies are likely to decline applications for credit.
What does 475 mean with Equifax?
Equifax uses a scale from 0 to 700. Their scoring bands are:
| Equifax score | Category |
|---|---|
| 466-700 | Excellent |
| 420-465 | Good |
| 380-419 | Fair |
| 280-379 | Poor |
| 0-279 | Very poor |
A score of 475 with Equifax falls in the "excellent" category, which is the top band. With this score, you should be well placed to access most mainstream credit products, including credit cards, personal loans and mortgages, provided your income and other factors meet lenders' requirements.
What does 475 mean with TransUnion?
TransUnion (formerly Callcredit) uses a scale from 0 to 710. Their categories are:
| TransUnion score | Category |
|---|---|
| 628-710 | Excellent |
| 604-627 | Good |
| 566-603 | Fair |
| 551-565 | Poor |
| 0-550 | Very poor |
A score of 475 with TransUnion falls in the "very poor" category, similar in meaning to the Experian interpretation.
Why does the same score mean such different things?
Each agency applies its own algorithm to the same underlying credit data. They also hold slightly different information, because not all lenders report to all three agencies. The result is that your score will be different with each agency, sometimes significantly so.
This is why asking "what does 475 mean?" without knowing which agency produced it cannot give a reliable answer. Always check which agency you are looking at before drawing conclusions about your credit standing.
What should I focus on instead of the number?
The agencies themselves will tell you whether your score is good, fair, poor or very poor, so you do not need to memorise the scales. What matters more is why your score is where it is and what you can do about it.
The most effective steps are:
- Pay every bill and credit agreement on time, every month
- Keep your credit card balances below 30 per cent of your credit limit
- Register on the electoral roll if you have not already
- Check your credit file for errors and dispute anything inaccurate
- Avoid making multiple credit applications in a short space of time
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a credit score of 475 good or bad?
It depends entirely on which agency gave you the score. With Experian (scale 0-999), 475 is very poor. With Equifax (scale 0-700), 475 is excellent. Always check the agency's own rating alongside the number.
Do lenders see the same score I see on my credit report?
No. When a lender checks your credit, they receive the raw data from your credit file and apply their own internal scoring model. The score you see on your consumer report is a guide for you, not the number the lender uses to make their decision.
Can I check my credit score for free?
Yes. You can check your Experian score for free via the Experian website. Your Equifax score is free via ClearScore. Your TransUnion score is free via Credit Karma. All three services are genuinely free with no requirement to pay for a subscription to see your basic score and report.
How quickly can I improve a very poor credit score?
If you have serious negative markers such as defaults or a CCJ, meaningful improvement takes time, typically one to two years of consistently clean behaviour. Smaller improvements can appear within two to three months of correcting errors, getting on the electoral roll, or reducing credit card balances.
Does checking my own credit score affect it?
No. Checking your own credit file or score is a soft search and has no effect on your credit score whatsoever. Only hard searches, which happen when you formally apply for credit, can affect your score.