CtrlK

Newsletter

Get the weekly finance brief

What changed, what matters, and ideas you can use — once a week. No spam.

Email

Unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to receive emails from Facts Deck.

Finance knowledge, investment insights, and banking expertise — clearly explained.

Email
hello@factsdeck.com
Location
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

Explore

All articles
Guides
Featured
Top stories
Categories
Tags

Topics

All topics
Personal Finance
Investing
Crypto
Banking
Retirement

Tools

All tools
Student Loan
Net Worth
Retirement
Debt Payoff
Budget

Company

About
Authors
Careers
Contact

© 2026 Facts Deck. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer Privacy Sitemap

Home
/
Authors
/
Maya Thornton

Portrait of Maya Thornton

Facts Deck author

Maya Thornton

Credit & Banking Writer

Your credit file is a record, not a verdict.

Credit scores
Credit cards
Current accounts
Student loans

Articles

13

Total reads

32

Topics

6

Writing since

Sep 2026

Profile

About Maya

Maya writes the guides people search for at the worst possible moment: why a score suddenly dropped, whether checking it does any harm, and how to fix an error on a credit file.

She breaks each topic into the specific actions that make a difference, and is clear about the myths that don’t.

Start here

Start here · Maya’s most-read

Monzo vs Starling vs Revolut: The Definitive 2026 Verdict

All three are now fully licensed UK banks with FSCS-protected deposits. Here's how Monzo, Starling, and Revolut actually compare on fees, cash deposits, savings rates, and features in 2026.

Read the article

Byline

Articles by Maya

13 articles · latest September 27, 2026

Personal Finance
Why Did My Credit Score Drop? 9 Common Causes Explained
A sudden credit score drop usually has a simple cause, and many fix themselves within weeks. Diagnose yours in minutes, from card balances and house moves to missed payments, errors and identity fraud.
September 27, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
How Long Does It Really Take to Fix a Bad Credit Score?
Some credit problems clear in weeks, others stay on your file for six years. See realistic UK recovery timelines for errors, missed payments, defaults and CCJs, and what you can do to speed things up.
September 27, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
Does Checking Your Credit Score Hurt It? (The Truth)
Checking your own credit score never lowers it, however often you look. Learn the difference between soft and hard searches, how long searches stay on your file, and how to shop for credit without hurting your score.
September 27, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
Credit Score Simulator: What Actually Moves the Needle?
Some credit tips add real points; most are noise. See which moves matter most, from the electoral roll to card balances, which myths do nothing, and test your own plan in our free simulator.
September 27, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
Best Credit Builder Cards in the UK for 2026
Six UK credit builder cards compared on rate, limit and features, from Tesco Foundation's 29.9% APR to Aqua for poor credit. Find the right card for your situation and learn how to use it to build your score.
September 27, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
Buy Now, Pay Later: Silent Debt Trap or Smart Tool?
54% of UK adults now use BNPL, and roughly half report overspending or missing a payment. With new FCA rules live from July 2026, here's how to tell whether it's costing you nothing — or quietly stacking up.
September 21, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
Should You Overpay Your Student Loan? (Use This Calculator First)
Student loans don't touch your credit score, and your monthly repayment stays fixed regardless of your balance. For many borrowers — especially on Plan 5 — overpaying just hands money to a loan that was heading for write-off anyway. Run the real numbers before deciding.
September 18, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
Student Loan Repayment UK: Plan 1 vs Plan 2 vs Plan 5 Explained
Your student loan plan was decided by when your course started, not by choice — and it changes your threshold, interest rate, and write-off date completely. Here's exactly how Plan 1, Plan 2, and Plan 5 differ for 2026/27.
September 17, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
The Emergency Fund Rule Nobody Follows (And Why 3-6 Months Might Be Wrong for You)
One in ten UK adults have no cash savings at all, and a third have less than £500. The "3 to 6 months" rule isn't misunderstood — it's just too big a leap to start. Here's why the gap exists and the smaller first step that actually closes it.
September 16, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
Best High-Interest Savings Accounts in the UK Right Now
Regular savers are advertising 8% headline rates — but your real return on one is roughly half that. Here's what's genuinely best across easy access, regular savers, notice accounts, fixed bonds, and cash ISAs in September 2026.
September 14, 2026 · 7 min read
Banking
Monzo vs Starling vs Revolut: The Definitive 2026 Verdict
All three are now fully licensed UK banks with FSCS-protected deposits. Here's how Monzo, Starling, and Revolut actually compare on fees, cash deposits, savings rates, and features in 2026.
September 9, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
What Affects Your Credit Score?
Your credit score is built from five specific inputs. Knowing exactly what they are, how much each one weighs, and what you can do about them right now changes everything.
September 3, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
How to Improve Your Credit Score Fast
Your credit score affects your mortgage rate, your rent, and your financial options — and it responds faster than you think. Here's exactly what to do, in order, to move the needle.
September 3, 2026 · 7 min read

Coverage

Beat map

Where Maya’s articles land, by category.

Personal Finance12
Credit Cards8
Guides8
Banking4
Comparison2
Decision Making2

Editorial standards

How we write

1ResearchedWe lean on primary sources wherever we can: official rules, published rates and government data.
2Drafted with AI assistanceWe use AI tools to help research and draft articles. They speed us up. They don’t get the final say.
3Checked and editedThe Facts Deck team fact-checks and edits every article before it’s published.

Author profiles describe each writer’s coverage area. Spotted an error? Tell us and we’ll review it. Facts Deck is for education, not personal financial advice. Read the disclaimer.

The desk

More Facts Deck authors

Michael Genesis IIChief Editor4 articles
James CallowayProperty & Markets Writer16 articles
Serena VossRetirement & Investing Writer13 articles
Nadia CallowayBudgeting & Everyday Money Writer11 articles
Marcus ElliotDebt & Lending Writer8 articles
Daniel OkaforEconomy & Investing Writer6 articles
Elliot OseiCrypto & Digital Assets Writer5 articles
Sophie BennettWealth & FIRE Writer2 articles
Eleanor HartHome Buying Writer2 articles
Dorcas NwosuScams & Security Writer1 article