You can easily check your credit score by obtaining your credit file here

Your final credit score is derived from information held about you from companies like your mobile phone provider, credit card provider, bank etc.

They also have access to public records to check for things like CCJs, bankruptcies and IVAs, plus information held on the electoral roll.

Depending on your score, lenders will either agree to lend you the money or not. Perhaps they’ll agree, but with conditions attached. For instance, you get your money but not as much as you asked for, and at a higher rate of interest.

Any adverse credit events are removed from your record after six years. And the further in the past they happened, the less impact they’ll have now.