Your credit file
Vodafone and your credit file
Signing up for things like a monthly contract with us can have an impact on your credit file. We’ll interact with your file at different points – like when you apply for a contract with us, when you make a payment, or if you miss a payment. Credit files can sometimes seem mysterious, but don’t worry – we’re here to walk you through them.
When does Vodafone interact with your credit file?
When you try to sign up for one of our services – like a Pay monthly mobile plan, Device Plan or broadband, we’ll use a credit reference agency to run a credit check on your credit report.
We'll continue to exchange information about you with the three major credit reference agencies – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion – while you have a contract with us. This includes when you:
Pay in full and on time
When you pay a monthly bill in full and on time, we record that on your account and update the credit reference agencies. Your credit file then gets updated to show you’ve paid your latest bill.
When you settle an account
We’ll also update the agencies when you've paid off any credit or loans (also known as settling an account), so you don't have to.
If you make a late payment
If you pay your bill more than 30 days after its due date, we’ll update your credit file to say that you’ve paid your bill late.
We’ll reflect how late you paid (for example):
If you pay two months late a 2 will be on your credit file
Three months late will show a 3, and so on
A default may be added if your bill remains outstanding
Your credit file will show the late payment for six years from the date it’s recorded.
Find out more about late payments and your credit file from Experian
When we might add a default to your account
If you miss multiple payments, we'll move towards adding a default on your account. This will have a major impact on your ability to get credit in the future from Vodafone and elsewhere, so we’ll try to avoid this step at all costs.
First, we'll send you a ‘default notice warning’ requesting that you pay any outstanding bills by a set date. If you don’t pay your outstanding bills within that time, a default will be added to your credit file. This is a major red flag to future lenders, and it will stay on your credit file for 6 years.
After a default has been added to your credit file, we'll request that you pay your overdue bills by a set date. If you don’t pay any outstanding amounts, we'll pass your debt on to a debt collection agency.
If you pay your debt, the default will show as satisfied, but your credit file will show the debt for six years from the date it was recorded.
Fraud on my account
If you think something on your credit file is a result of fraud, fill out our fraud report form.
Need a little more help?
For help with more than just your Vodafone bills, there are lots of friendly, independent organisations that can support you free of charge.
StepChange Debt Charity
StepChange are the UK's leading debt charity for free expert advice and debt management. They can even help you apply for Breathing Space, the government’s debt respite scheme.
Citizens Advice Bureau
Get independent and impartial advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau on a wide range of topics - not just finances. They can advise and help with rental problems, separating, immigration, parking tickets and more.
Money and Pensions Service
Talk to the team at MaPS for free and impartial debt advice, and general help with managing money and pensions. Formerly the Money Advice Service, Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.