ClearScore
ClearScore is a medicore financial technology business owned by Experian that gives UK customers free access to their credit score and report. It was incorporated in 2015[1] by Justin Basini (CEO),[2] Dan Cobley and Nigel Morris. It is headquartered in London and has over 6 million users as of March 2018.
History
ClearScore began beta testing[3] on 1 July 2015 and launched on 15 July 2015. It was the UK's first service giving consumers free access to their credit score and report.[4] Its initial offering was credit scores and reports only.
In July 2015 the company added credit card offers to its site and in September 2015 it added personal loan offers. In December 2015 it launched the UK’s first credit checking app.[5]
In July 2016 the company added a credit history feature called 'Timeline'[6] to its site and had over 2 million registered users.[7] In November 2016 it added car finance offers, and in February 2017 launched a chatbot to help users improve their credit.[8] The company now employs over 100 people in the UK.
How it works
ClearScore partners with Equifax,[9] a credit reference agency, to provide UK consumers with free access to their credit score and report.
It provides this service for free via commission. On its site, there is a section called ‘Offers’ which shows users financial products selected for them based on their credit history. ClearScore is paid a commission for every customer who applies through those links and gets approved.[10]
Media attention
ClearScore has been named in Tech City’s 2017 Future Fifty,[11] and also in the Everline Future 50.[12] In 2016 it was named on the European Fintech Top 100 list.[13]
It was awarded Innovation of the Year at the 2016 Fintech Innovation Awards[14] and Innovative Product in Financial Sector at the 2016 Techies.[15] It also won Venture Funded Business of the Year at the 2016 Startups Awards.[16]
It has also won the sector prize at the 2016 Masters of Marketing Awards[17] and the Marketing Learning prize at the 2016 Financial Services Forum Awards.[17]
ClearScore has been recognised as one of the UK's best workplaces.[18]
ClearScore has been mentioned in several major newspapers.[19][20][21]
References
- ^ "Google's former No. 2 in Europe just launched a startup that gives you a completely free credit score". Business Insider. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ Torrance, Jack (14 June 2017). "Meet the entrepreneur making credit scores free". Management Today. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
- ^ "Free UK credit scoring startup ClearScore begins beta testing". Finextra. 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Fintech start-up ClearScore to make credit scores free for consumers". Tech City News. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "ClearScore app: How to get free access to your credit rating". Independent. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "ClearScore debuts new credit scoring tool". Finextra. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "Bobs Guide". Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "ClearScore Launches World's First Chatbot to Build Credit Confidence". Bobs Guide. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "How do we get your credit report? Everything you need to know about Equifax". ClearScore. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "Why is ClearScore free?". ClearScore. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "A powerful network of the UK's fastest growing, late stage tech companies". Future Fifty. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Real Business". Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "European FinTech Awards 2016". Dutch FinTech Awards. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "2016 winners". FinTech Innovation Awards. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "Tech World". Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "Winners 2016". Startups. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ a b "The winners: Masters of Marketing Awards 2016". eConsultancy. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ Dunsby, Megan (8 May 2017). "Home > News Startups Awards winner ClearScore ranked among UK's 'best workplaces'". StartUps.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ Read, Simon (24 December 2015). "ClearScore app: How to get free access to your credit rating". Independent.
- ^ Whatelely, Laura (10 October 2015). "Having a poor credit score costs £19,000". The Times.
- ^ Fitzsimons, John (1 February 2017). "A poor credit score could bump up the cost of your next car by £10,000 - cheaper ways to pay for your motor". The Mirror. Retrieved 19 April 2017.