Each credit bureau has its own scale for generating credit scores. Equifax, for example, uses negative score codes in special circumstances where a positive score cannot be produced. There are several reasons you might be seeing a negative score, including: You’ve filed for bankruptcy in the last 5 years You have a serious default recorded on your credit file You or your company are in a state of insolvency i.e. unable to pay your debts The credit bureaus don’t have enough information about you to provide a score The credit bureaus think you’re dead