Can your bad credit affect your partner?

If you’ve got bad credit and are wondering if it might affect your partner, you’re not alone.   

Whether you’re thinking about marriage, moving in together or just managing finances as a couple, it's totally normal to have questions about how your financial histories might impact each other.   

What you need to know   

Will getting married affect your credit rating?   

No, getting married doesn’t affect your credit score. If you're tying the knot, your partner’s credit rating won’t impact yours or vice-versa.   

What about changing your name?   

If you're thinking that changing your name - say, after getting married - will give you a fresh start in terms of your credit score, that’s not the case.   

Changing your name won’t change your credit rating. 

Joint financial products   

There’s no such thing as a ‘joint credit score’. Your credit score will only affect your partner when it comes to shared financial products like a joint bank account or debt taken out in both your names e.g. a mortgage or car loan.  

If either one of you has bad credit, you may struggle to get approved for shared financial products.   

How to improve your credit score  

If your credit score isn't where you want it to be, there are steps you can take to boost it.  

Simple actions like making repayments on time, avoiding too many credit applications and even registering to vote can all help boost your score.