Check my credit score > This is what a Credit Karma score of 561 means

This is what a Credit Karma score of 561 means

Wollit Team4 minutes read · Updated 24th April 2025

Credit Karma is a website that offers a free service that lets you check your credit scores and reports. In the UK, Credit Karma uses TransUnion’s scoring system, which ranges from 0 to 710. TransUnion’s range is different from other credit agencies like Experian and Equifax, which have their own scoring systems.

This means that your 561 score means something different on Credit Karma than on ClearScore or Experian.

If your score is 561 on Credit Karma, then you fall in the “Poor“ category on TransUnion. This is the second-lowest credit score band and it can limit your options for things like loans, credit cards, or mortgages.

Why is my credit score 561 on Credit Karma?

A low credit score can be due to many reasons, but usually if you’re in the “Poor” category then it’s down to three things:

• You might have recently missed paying a few bills, or maybe even defaulted on a loan some time ago. This is called “having bad credit”.
• You might have recently moved to the UK and there’s simply no data for TransUnion to understand if you’re a responsible borrower – your home country credit history won’t transfer to the UK. This is called “having a thin credit file”.
• Or you might simply be new to credit for other reasons, like just turning 18. Another thin credit file situation.

How bad is it to have a 561 credit score on Credit Karma?

TransUnion (where Credit Karma gets your score from) is the UK’s third largest credit reference agency. Still, plenty of banks and lenders rely on it when reviewing your credit application.

Your 561 credit score might not be in the absolute lowest credit score range, but it can still limit your options for credit quite a bit:

• You might still be refused by most large lenders.
• You might be asked to bring in supporting documents for your credit application, for example additional payslips or bank statements. You may also be asked to bring in a guarantor.
• And even if approved, it will be by specialised lenders who will charge very high interest rates and fees, and offer low credit amounts, low credit limits, or cards with no rewards or cashback.
• When renting, it’s possible that letting agencies might ask for a larger deposit.
• When opening a bank account, you might not be offered an overdraft option. You’ll be limited only to basic bank accounts or prepaid debit cards.
• If you’re looking to get a mobile phone contract that comes with the latest device, you might be refused as well since this counts as a loan for the phone’s value.

How can I improve my 561 Credit Karma score?

Your credit score might be poor, but you really shouldn’t despair.

First of all, having a “Poor” credit score on TransUnion doesn’t mean that you’ll have one on Equifax or Experian. Each agency gets slightly different data and calculates your score differently. So check those scores as well to see where you stand.

Second, it’s also possible to simply have errors in one credit file – if your Credit Karma score is much lower than what you see on ClearScore or Experian, check your TransUnion credit report and correct anything that might seem off.

Finally, time works in your favour. If your low credit score is the result of some mistakes in the past, their impact will diminish over time. Lenders tend to focus more on your recent credit history, too.

And if your low credit score is simply because you’re new to credit, then having credit agreements where you make payments on time could improve your credit score fairly quickly.

This is where an app like Wollit can help.

Wollit helps rebuild your credit by reporting your monthly subscription as loan repayments to all three major credit agencies, including Equifax, which Credit Karma uses. This improves your credit history, the key factor affecting your score.

On top of this, Wollit can also report your rent payments to your credit file. While this won’t appear in your Credit Karma account (as Wollit reports rent to Experian for now), it can still make a difference. It will show lenders that, despite past mistakes or very little credit history, you consistently pay your bills on time.

Eventually, taking these steps should help you improve your approval chances for the financial products that you need.