If you are a borrower with a history of unsatisfactory credit transactions, the lenders will describe your credit history as “adverse". The expressions “poor credit", “bad credit" and “sub-prime" all describe exactly the same situation. This leads to a number of questions; what credit information is collected about you, where does it come from and how bad must your credit history be for it to be labelled as “adverse"?

It's the credit agencies like Equifax and Experian which collate information about you and then process it. They are then legally entitled to sell the information to anyone with an authorised purpose as defined by Law. This includes banks, building societies, credit card companies, other lenders, landlords, employers, any government agency and anyone you have ordered a product or service.

And you'll be simply astounded what information the credit agencies hold about you!

A typical computer file will store your name, address, date of birth and social security number. It will also include your previous addresses, whether you are registered on the voters' roll, details of your current and previous employers. They also hold crucial information relating to your monthly payments on your mortgage, hire purchase agreements, loans and any credit cards you have. Then their computers will store information from the public records. If you have any Court judgements in respect of your debts, then the details will all be on their files. The file is topped off with details of all the times you apply for credit.

All this data is gathered from two chief sources: the Public Records offices and records supplied by financial institutions from throughout the UK. You can't escape their watchful eye. Quite honestly, the agencies are recording your credit history from the first day you show on their computer screens.

The credit agencies then sell this information to anyone to whom you've applied for credit. As part of their service, they'll also credit score your data. This enables your lender to make a statistical based decision whether to award you credit. So within this credit vetting process, your credit score becomes crucial.

Under credit scoring your credit history is statistically judged and awarded a number of scoring points. The more points you have, the better your credit rating. These points measure the probability that you will repay any credit provided to you. The system is based on the principle that it's possible to predict your future credit performance by examining your credit history and statistically comparing it with the performance of other applicants who have similar characteristics. The points score allocated to you then makes it possible for your prospective lender to calculate the level of risk in your application and lessen the element of subjectivity in their lending decision.

So now we revert to our first question - When is a credit history labelled as being “adverse"?

In practice it's not the credit agencies but the lender that decides. Each lender has it's own lending policy through which they define the level of credit risk which is acceptable to them. If your credit score reaches a certain level, then you 'pass' their credit screening. If you don't score sufficient points, the lender may either refuse your application or offer you a smaller sum than you had applied for or offer you a higher interest rate. The decision is always theirs - after all it is their money! But as lenders each have different lending policies, your credit score could be acceptable to one but not to another.

However, we can tell you some of the main “black marks" that will harm your credit score - the last two being by far the worst:

You're not on the Voters Roll where you claim to be living.

Multiple applications for credit

Payments that are over 30 days late on your mortgage or other loans

Arrears on your mortgage or other loans

County or High Court Judgements for debt

Repossession

Recent Bankruptcy (undischarged bankrupts will always be refused credit)

Lending policies are central to a lenders business and as such are highly confidential but on mortgages especially, some will indicate that certain black marks might be acceptable.

All things considered, by reading this article, you should know if there is a likelihood that you will be judged as an “adverse credit risk", But in the end you cannot be absolutely sure unless you've been refused by a main line lender. If you do get turned down you'll have to apply to a sub-prime lender who is more likely to accept you, especially if you own your own home - but you'll definitely be charged a higher rate of interest for the privilege.

All in all, it's essential to build up a good credit profile that will reflect in your credit score. This then gives you access to a wide range of credit facilities at reasonable interest rates. So please remember, if you need a loan, make sure you can afford it before you sign up and then maintain a perfect payment record.