“If you have cut ties with an ex-partner, you should ask credit agencies to add a ‘notice of disassociation’ to your file.”

Old, unused accounts can impact a credit score

A large overall credit limit, even if unused, can be seen negatively by some lenders – as even though a person isn’t indebted, they have the potential to borrow a substantial amount.

Ms Thornhill said: “If you’ve applied for several credit cards over the years, you might not need them all. If that’s the case, it’s best to close those unused accounts. This will help you to manage your borrowing.

“Maintaining active accounts, on the other hand, can benefit your credit score. The longer you’ve had credit accounts that you’ve used responsibly, generally the higher your credit score.”

How to utilise a credit limit to rebuild a credit score

People spending up to their credit limit each month can give lenders the impression that they’re struggling to manage their money, which can negatively affect a credit score.

However, there are ways people can use their limits to increase their scores instead.

Ms Thornhill said: “To improve your credit score, try to keep your credit utilisation – the percentage of your available credit limit that you use – relatively low.

“For example, if you have a credit limit of £2,000 and you use £500, your credit utilisation is 25 percent. This will help signal to lenders that you can manage your money responsibly.”