Can I get a UK credit report if I live abroad?

So, you’re wondering if you can get a UK credit report even though you’re living abroad? Totally get that, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher, isn’t it? I mean, what if you need to, say, rent a flat when you visit, or maybe apply for a loan? Credit scores are such a pain, aren’t they? But the good news is, yeah, you probably can!

If you’ve lived in the UK anytime in the last six years – that’s the magic number – then you’re in luck. You can totally request one. Now, there’s a slight catch. It’s not like, you know, a super-quick online download. Nope, this is old-school. You have to request it by post. Remember snail mail? Yeah, that’s the ticket. Which is a bit annoying, I know, especially if you’re used to instant gratification online. I once tried to order something from a company that only did mail order, and honestly, the wait felt like an eternity.

Anyway, once you send off your request, they’ll send you a copy of your statutory credit report to your current address – wherever that happens to be in the world. They say it should arrive within 28 days. Fingers crossed it comes quicker than my last mail order catalogue – that took ages! But hey, at least you’ll have that vital piece of paper eventually. Hopefully before you need it. That would be a bit of a nightmare, right?