Does buy now pay later affect your credit score?
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In short: It can. Since FCA regulation from May 2026, BNPL providers may report missed payments to credit reference agencies. Multiple active plans can also affect mortgage affordability even when payments are on time.
Last reviewed:
Reviewed by Kaiser Khan
On-time BNPL may not always appear positively on your file — but missed payments increasingly do under new rules.
Lenders totalling BNPL commitments during mortgage applications may reduce how much you can borrow.
See BNPL UK rules guide and treat instalments as debt in your budget.
Primary source: legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/39
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