Your Right to a Free Credit Report

Under Australian law, you are entitled to one free credit report every three months from each credit reporting bureau. You do not need to pay for your credit report — any service charging you is unnecessary. Your credit report shows your credit history, current accounts, defaults and any credit applications made in your name.

The Three Australian Credit Bureaus

  • Equifax (formerly Veda) — equifax.com.au/personal/products/free-credit-report
  • Experian — experian.com.au/free-credit-report
  • illion (formerly Dun and Bradstreet) — illion.com.au/free-credit-report

Different lenders report to different bureaus — getting all three gives the most complete picture. Each is free once every 3 months.

How to Request Your Free Report

  1. 1

    Go to the bureau's website directly

    Visit equifax.com.au, experian.com.au or illion.com.au. Find the Free Credit Report option — usually prominently displayed. Be cautious of third-party comparison sites that may upsell paid services.

  2. 2

    Verify your identity

    You will need to provide: full name, date of birth, current and recent addresses, and a form of ID (driver's licence number or passport number). This is required to confirm you are requesting your own report.

  3. 3

    Receive your report

    The report is typically available online immediately or within a few business days by email or mail depending on the bureau.

Free Credit Score Apps

For your credit score (a number summary of your creditworthiness) rather than the full report: CreditSmart (free, from the Australian Retail Credit Association), GetCreditScore (free, powered by Experian) and Credit Savvy (free, powered by Experian) all provide your score for free without affecting it.

Checking your score does NOT affect itChecking your own credit report or score is a "soft inquiry" and has zero effect on your credit score. Only credit applications (when a lender checks your score) are "hard inquiries" that can temporarily reduce your score.
Check for errorsCredit report errors are more common than most people realise. Check for: accounts you did not open (identity theft), incorrect defaults, wrong personal details, or debts that should have been removed. Dispute any errors directly with the bureau — they are legally required to investigate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scores vary by bureau but generally: 800+ is Excellent, 700–799 is Very Good, 625–699 is Good, 550–624 is Average, below 550 is Below Average. Equifax scores range 0–1,200; Experian 0–1,000; illion 0–1,000. Each has different scales but similar relative interpretations.
Pay all bills on time (payment history is the biggest factor). Reduce credit card balances. Avoid applying for multiple credit products in a short period. Keep old accounts open — credit history length helps. Check for and dispute any errors. Improvements take 3–12 months of consistent behaviour to show in your score.