Can bad credit affect your partner?

If you’ve got bad credit and are wondering how your credit history 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 financial histories and credit scores might impact each other.  

It can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when big decisions like buying a house or applying for loans are on the horizon. 

But understanding how credit works in relationships can help you both navigate your finances with confidence. 

What you need to know  

Will getting married affect your credit?  

No, getting married won’t affect your credit score, or your partner's. If you're planning on marrying your partner and even changing your name, you don't need to worry about their credit rating impacting yours, or vice-versa.  

Your credit score is tied to your individual financial history, not your marital status.  

The only time a person’s credit history can affect the other is if you’re financially linked through things like joint accounts or shared debt, such as a joint mortgage or loan. 

What about changing your name?  

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

Your credit score is determined by your financial actions, not your name. So even if you change it, your credit score will stay the same unless your financial habits change. 

Joint credit and shared financial products  

Although your credit score won’t change just because you’re with someone or married, it can affect your ability to get joint financial products like loans, mortgages, or credit cards.  

The key point to remember is that there’s no such thing as a “joint credit score.” Your credit score will only affect your partner’s finances if you’re linked through shared credit, like a joint bank account, shared debt, or taking out a loan together. 

If you have bad credit, it could make it harder for both of you to get approved for these shared financial products.  

So if you’re the one with bad credit, your partner may face challenges when applying for loans, mortgages, or credit cards together. 

If your credit score isn't where you want it to be, there’s no need to feel embarrassed. Improving it is the first step towards managing money more responsibly. 

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

Managing debt together  

If you're dealing with debt and are concerned about how it might affect your credit score, you're not alone.  

Most debt solutions will appear on your credit file for six years, during which time borrowing from mainstream lenders may be difficult.  

If you come to us for debt advice and we recommend a debt solution, we’ll talk you through the likely impact on your credit score. Then you can decide if you want to go ahead.  

Remember, even if a debt solution has an impact on your credit score for a while, it could also offer you a fresh start financially. Once the debt solution falls off your credit file, you’ll be able to start rebuilding your credit score.  

While your credit score is personal to you, managing finances together as a couple is all about communication, planning and taking action to improve both of your financial futures.