Credit Score Basics > How to download your credit report from Credit Karma

How to download your credit report from Credit Karma

Credit Karma allows you to get your credit report easily and for free. Here’s a guide on how to view it or even download it from Credit Karma’s website.

What is Credit Karma?

Credit Karma is a global personal finance website launched in 2007 in the US. It was acquired by Intuit, one of the largest accounting software companies in the world, in 2020.

In the UK, Credit Karma works with TransUnion to provide free access to your credit score and credit report. In exchange, Credit Karma earns a commission if you ever take up an offer from any of the partners on its website (for example, a credit card).

How do I download my UK credit report from Credit Karma?

In the UK, you have the right to request a free copy of your credit report from any of the credit reference agencies (CRAs) – Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. This report is called a "Statutory Credit Report".

Usually, to get this credit report, you would have to either apply online or mail a form to the CRAs by post.

Credit Karma makes this somewhat easier. To download your credit report, you just need to sign up for Credit Karma, which will automatically find your latest information from TransUnion.

You can then save a limited copy of your credit report, but only if you use Google Chrome or Safari on a desktop computer.

The way to do that is by clicking "Save As PDF" or "Export as PDF" from within your browser.

Unfortunately, Credit Karma doesn't allow you to save your full credit report or to download a PDF through your mobile phone.

If you want to see your full TransUnion credit report, you can apply online for a copy of your statutory report through TransUnion here. You can also request one from Equifax and Experian on their websites.

Why should I download my credit report from Credit Karma?

It's not really important to download your credit report from Credit Karma or any other app. That's because lenders don't need you to give them a PDF or a printed copy of it – they'll request their own copy from TransUnion (or from whichever credit reference agency they work with) themselves.

However, you should also check your TransUnion report through Credit Karma for a few reasons.

If you know that the bank you're applying for a loan with uses TransUnion for referencing, you'll want to understand what they see.

This is especially important as there might be things in your report that are not accurate or even true. For example, an old address might be listed as current, or a default that has been paid can show as unpaid. These things can slow down your application or even cause it to be rejected.

Getting your credit report from TransUnion (or any of the credit reference agencies) can also take some time. Even if you apply online, you have to wait up to a week to receive a passkey, which you need to use to validate your identity. Only then can you view the actual report.

By giving you free, quick access to even a limited version of this report, Credit Karma can help you determine if there's something wrong without going through the whole process with TransUnion.

Just remember that you don't need to have a PDF copy of your credit report "for your records" – just view it online and take action if needed. That's what's important.

How does Credit Karma get my credit report?

Credit Karma is not a credit reference agency like Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. This means it doesn't collect information about you from banks or different registries like these agencies do.

Credit Karma also has no control over the information it shows you – it all comes straight from TransUnion. TransUnion is the one that receives information about you from banks, lenders, utility providers, local authorities, courts, and insolvency services.

Credit Karma simply requests your credit score and report from TransUnion via a Data Subject Access Request (DSAR), taken on your behalf, and with your consent. If you go to your Search history in Credit Karma, you will see this request as a soft search. Soft searches have zero impact on your credit score – in fact, they can't even be seen by any lenders that may check your credit report.

Is my credit report safe with Credit Karma?

Credit Karma's website says it goes the extra mile to keep your personal information safe. It encrypts the data transmission both when you access their website and when the data is stored.

Encryption means that a hacker can't read your personal details if they somehow gain access to your data. It's similar to the technology that makes sure nobody can open your iPhone if you lose it.

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