Knowledge base

Expertly Written Guides to help you make informed financial decisions.

Our in depth knowledge base covers UK credit, debt, financial difficulty, plus more. All are researched against current 2026 law and FCA rules, with periodic updates to ensure accuracy.

How UK credit scores actually work
CREDIT & BORROWING

How UK credit scores actually work

There is no single UK credit score. Three agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) run separate databases on separate scales. The score in your app is rarely the one your lender will actually see.

8 min read Foundational
Priority vs non-priority debts: what to pay first
MANAGING DEBT

Priority vs non-priority debts: what to pay first

Priority debts can take your home, your energy supply or your liberty. Non-priority debts can damage your credit file. The order you pay matters enormously when money is tight: ignoring a priority debt has worse consequences than missing a credit card payment.

8 min read Actionable
Signs you are in financial trouble
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY

Signs you are in financial trouble

Half of UK adults have experienced problem debt; 44% told no one. The signs build over months: minimum payments, missed direct debits, credit for essentials. Spotting them early changes everything.

9 min read Actionable
How to improve your credit score in 12 months
BUILDING A BETTER LIFE

How to improve your credit score in 12 months

Improving a UK credit score is rarely about doing one big thing. This guide sets out a realistic 12-month framework, the actions that produce results within weeks and the popular pieces of advice that make almost no difference at all.

12 min read Practical
How the FCA protects consumers
REGULATION & RIGHTS

How the FCA protects consumers

A regulated firm can be ordered to refund interest, remove default markers from your credit file and pay compensation without you ever attending court. The mechanism is the FCA rulebook every authorised firm must follow.

10 min read Foundational
Self-employed borrowing: what lenders want to see
LIFE EVENTS

Self-employed borrowing: what lenders want to see

Approval rates for well-prepared self-employed applicants are no different from employed applicants with comparable income. The difference is documentation. SA302s, Tax Year Overviews, business bank statements and Open Banking together give the lender what they need.

10 min read Practical
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