How your credit history could impact tomorrow’s borrowing plans

If you’ve got a credit card, personal loan, mobile phone plan or utility account, there’s probably a credit reporting agency out there that has a file with your name on it.

Didn’t have a clue about this? Well, you’re not alone—59% of Australians haven’t heard of credit reporting.¹

With that in mind, we’ve pulled together some important information, which you’ll want to read, given that government figures show 30% of Australians who’ve requested their credit report have found mistakes in it.²

What’s in a credit report?

A credit report is an assessment of your credit-worthiness. It contains information³ such as:

Your personal details
The credit cards you hold
Any credit you’ve applied for, including loans where you’ve gone guarantor
Details about your repayment history
Joint applications, if you’ve applied for credit with another person
Unpaid or overdue debts that you have now paid or settled
Defaults and other credit infringements
Bankruptcies, court rulings, debt and personal insolvency agreements
Commercial and business loans you’ve applied for
Credit providers who’ve requested a copy of your report.

Who is collecting the information?

The main credit reporting agencies in Australia are Veda, Dun & Bradstreet, Experian and the Tasmanian Collection Service, and you could have a report with more than one of them.⁴

Credit providers and other bodies send details to these agencies and then credit providers will use the information to assess whether they want to lend to you, and the likelihood you’ll pay what is owed.⁵

Does a black mark on your report matter?

Consumer group Choice says a tarnished credit report could affect your ability to get instant approval on a loan or credit card. You could also be knocked back completely or charged a higher interest rate.⁶

As each lender will assess your credit file against their own policies, there may be instances where some approve your application, while others reject it or delay the process.⁷

How long does information stay on file?

Your repayment history stays on file for two years. So does information about any delay of more than 14 days in credit card, home loan or personal loan repayments.⁸

Default information stays on file for five years. This includes bankruptcy and any instances in which you’ve defaulted on consumer credit, where money owed is over $150 and more than 60 days late.⁹

Does it cost money to access your report?

A credit reporting agency must provide you with a free copy of your credit report once a year and within 10 days of your request. If you want a copy in a shorter time frame though, it could cost you.¹⁰

What if the credit agency has made a mistake?

If you think there’s a discrepancy in your report, contact the credit provider. You can dispute the listing and if they agree it’s wrong, they’ll ask the credit reporting agency to remove it.

If you need further help, contact the relevant Ombudsman service. If that doesn’t work, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner on 1300 363 992.

Can a credit repair company help if you’re in strife?

ASIC says credit repair companies may not always be able to do what they claim. This is because in most cases, information cannot be removed from your credit report unless it’s proven to be wrong.¹¹

These companies can be useful if you don’t have time to look into things yourself, but it’s vital you understand their terms, whether their plan of action is a good financial decision for you and what they’re charging, as fees are often high.¹²

How can you manage debt effectively?

CreditSmart, which was developed by credit experts with consumer advocates and government bodies, suggests the following:¹³

Only apply for credit you need and can repay
Ensure credit providers have your up-to-date details
Tell your credit provider if you’re having money troubles and find out what the options are
Consider rolling debts into one consolidated loan
Review your credit report annually
Close down unused credit card accounts
Review your statements for incorrect or suspicious transactions.