Food delivery services can feel like a life saver when the fridge is bare or you’re simply lacking motivation to cook, but can frequent use affect your credit score?

Those who have been through a home loan application process will likely already know that mortgage lenders assess applicants’ bank and credit card statements to get a clearer picture of their spending habits.

One of the factors the lender will consider is the frequency in which the applicant buys takeaway food, including the use of food delivery services, such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Menulog.

If their statements show unreasonably regular usage, this could suggest to lenders that they are less financially responsible than an applicant who might, for example, choose to do a weekly grocery shop and put any leftover money into savings.

This process is just one of the steps lenders take to practise responsible lending.

But while your Uber Eats habits might have an impact on the strength of your home loan application, you may be interested to learn that they won’t affect your credit score – at least not directly.

In fact, none of the things you choose to spend your money on will have a direct impact on your credit score. It’s the manner in which you pay off your purchases that will.

How using your credit card for takeaway could affect your credit score

Using your hard-earned cash for your food delivery splurges is one thing, but using your credit card can often lead to other potential consequences.

It’s safe to say that the major food delivery services make it very easy for you to simply hit the “order now” button, sit back and relax, and wait for the doorbell to ring before you even need to move from the couch. The way they make this possible is by allowing you to store your debit or credit card details in the app instead of asking you to re-enter them each time you order. It’s pleasingly convenient, and it really adds to the overall ease of the experience.

The issue is, if it’s your credit card that’s linked to your account, you are growing your debt each time you hit that button. If you’re a responsible credit card user who pays off their balance in full before the due date each month, then you might not have too much to worry about.

On the other hand, if you find it difficult to stay on top of your bills and don’t make a habit of monitoring your spending, you could risk missing payments and potentially fall into a debt spiral.

This is when your takeaway purchases can start to wreak havoc on your credit score – when overspending leads to defaults that are recorded on your credit file.

Plus, even if you’re paying the minimum amount due each month, you’re still likely paying interest charges on last month’s mid-week pizza, which can be an unpleasant realisation.

What does affect your credit score?

Along with defaults, there is a range of positive and negative credit events and behaviours that can affect your credit score, including the following:

So, even though Uber Eats and Deliveroo won’t directly affect your credit score, it’s still important to consider the potential consequences of overuse for the sake of your financial wellbeing.