Hi! My credit score has been on the low side since I missed multiple payments resulting in my internet being cut off nearly four years ago (this was a mistake on my part - I moved temporarily from my main residence and thought I'd cancelled the direct debit but clearly didn't). For a while I was 'very poor' on Equifax, then gradually rose up to 'fair'.
I recently got my first ever credit card with the aim of increasing my score a bit before remortgaging early next year (never had one before and haven't actually used it yet). I just checked Equifax and my score has dropped 150 points back to 'poor'! Literally nothing else has changed on my report. I've paid all bills and my mortgage etc on time, no debt, no unauthorised overdraft use, absolutely nothing. The only thing I can possibly think of is that I would have had a hard credit check for the credit card - but surely that wouldn't lead to a 150 point drop?? Aargh help!