Your credit check explained

Updated: 1 June 2026

To protect our business and our customers, and to meet our regulatory responsibilities, we carry out credit and affordability checks on all applications. As an FCA-regulated firm, we must ensure that customers can reasonably afford their monthly payments and that we manage financial risk responsibly.

Will applying affect my credit score?

No. We only perform soft credit checks, which do not affect your credit score and are not visible to lenders. Soft searches are used widely across the financial industry and simply provide us with a snapshot of your credit file to help verify your identity and assess affordability.

Who do we accept?

Our aim is to make access to children's bikes as affordable and inclusive as possible, and we accept the vast majority of applicants. However, there are situations where we may not be able to approve an application.

Will I pass?

The only way to know for certain is to apply. However, the following situations usually mean we cannot approve an application:

  • You have an active County Court Judgment (CCJ)
  • You do not have a UK credit file
  • You do not have a UK bank account (required for Direct Debit payments)

We may also decline an application based on additional checks designed to protect customers and prevent fraud, including:

  • Multiple orders placed in a short period
  • Multiple high-value items ordered together
  • Orders linked to multiple or inconsistent addresses
  • Outstanding arrears on previous or current Pedal Plan agreements
  • Applicants from locations far outside our distribution or service areas

These checks help us ensure responsible lending and protect both customers and our business.

Where does the information come from?

We use Creditsafe Business Solutions Limited to perform our soft credit checks. Creditsafe obtains consumer credit and identity data from its data partner TransUnion International UK Limited, one of the UK's major credit reference agencies.

If your application is declined and you believe this is incorrect, you can request a copy of your credit file directly from TransUnion International UK Limited. This is free of charge and typically takes less than 30 days.

Sometimes credit files contain errors or mixed information, so if you:

  • Pay your bills on time
  • Are registered to vote
  • Have no CCJs

…it may be worth checking your file to ensure everything is accurate.

If I don't pass, can I apply again?

Yes. You are welcome to reapply once your circumstances have improved or any issues on your credit file have been resolved.

For free and impartial financial guidance, you can visit MoneyHelper, the UK government-backed service that replaced the Money Advice Service.

What if my financial situation changes while I'm a customer?

We understand that circumstances can change. You can cancel your Pedal Plan at any time. There is a small cancellation fee within the first 12 months to help cover costs, but we always keep this as low as possible.

Once your bike is returned, your monthly payments will stop.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact us — we will always work with you to find a fair and reasonable solution.

Supporting Vulnerable Customers

We recognise that some customers may need additional support due to personal circumstances such as health conditions, disabilities, financial difficulties, or major life events. If you consider yourself a vulnerable customer, or if you feel you may need extra help at any stage of the application or during your Pedal Plan agreement, please let us know.

Telling us about a vulnerability will not affect your ability to apply or your likelihood of being accepted. It simply allows us to:

  • Communicate with you in a way that works best for you
  • Take your circumstances into account when assessing affordability
  • Provide additional support if your situation changes
  • Work with you to find fair and reasonable solutions if you experience financial difficulty

Any information you share with us about your circumstances will be handled sensitively and in line with our Privacy Policy.

If you would like to discuss your situation or need extra support, please contact us and we will do our best to help.