If you join the free trial with Experian Credit Expert you can have a notice of correction put on your credit file. Basically you make a statement to tell lenders why you have missed, late or defaulted payments. This can go some way to repairing your score faster mines was originally at 298 (Very Poor) I am now up to 542 which is still poor but considerably better. Good luck !! Also try not to apply for credit you know you will be turned down for it makes you look credit hungry putting lenders off.

tduke1 ---- The only way to improve it is to pay all your old debtors. For example I had a cooker from Brighthouse. With glee this weekend I went and repaid my debt with them in full. I am looking at setting up arrangements with other debtors. See if they will give me a reduced amount if I offer to pay in full. I appreciate this may not be possible for some people, but by paying your debts it increases the score on your report. BTW my current score is 294 considered extremely poor by Experian. So the only way is up.... It isn't going to be a quick fix, its easy to fail victim to debt and default slightly harder to repair the damage, but if it was easy then there wouldn't be the problem to start with. :-p

I have read all here. I have just taken out a Vanquis card. I am aware the rates are diabolical, my quoted rate is 59.9%. I agree this is high, it is extortionate. BUT.... I have a dire credit rating due to being a single parent and then sick and then diagnosed with a chronic illness. Financially speaking I actually don't need a credit card I just got paid a decent amount of money to leave my job (then walked straight into another better paid job.) However, I do need to start repairing my credit rating on that note I will spend circa £50 each month and repay in full. The girl on the phone was pushing for me to pay the minimum payment by direct debit and I could "top up" if I wanted to. I said "definitely not, Please ensure you take the full balance each month". and I will be checking that they adhere to this. I will not become a Vanquis victim but I will use them as a vehicle to improve my rating for the next 2 years, after that I will drop them like a hot potato having never paid them any actual interest. I suggest if you do have a Vanquis card and are paying lots of interest that you try to pay an extra £10-£20 a month and you will see the debt shrinking. Minimum payments are designed for the credit card to make lots of money on interest. And this company do prey on the vunerable. Please be careful and just use them as a vehicle to improve not as a back up for large purchases.