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If you've ever applied for a loan or credit card or signed up for a mobile phone plan or utility contract, you should have a credit score and report. When you apply for credit, this is what lenders use to judge your ability to manage loans and repay them on time. By checking your credit report and credit score, you can keep an eye on your own credit position and see how likely it is that you may be approved for your next loan or credit card.
Finder lets you check your credit report and credit score for free and then track it in your account. To do this, click on the button below. This guide will then take you through what you need to know about your credit file, including tips to improve it.
If you want to request a copy of your credit report and score, you have a few options:
For free with finder. You can request your free credit report and score through Finder. The credit score is provided by Experian and contains a detailed report of your financial history. You can check back at any time and you'll also receive notifications whenever anything changes on your report, so you can stay on top of your finances.
For free with a credit bureau. You can order your credit file once a year for free from one of the credit bureaus (including Equifax, Experian and illion). The free report is delivered to you within 10 days. You can also order it if you've been rejected for credit in the previous 90 days.
By paying a fee. Credit reporting bodies such as Equifax, Experian and illion also offer credit monitoring services and other packages that can have your credit file and credit score delivered to you more regularly. For Equifax, the packages start at $79.95.
What is my credit score?
Your credit score is generated by the credit bureau that holds your credit file and it gives lenders an additional way to understand your credit behaviour. Your Experian Score, from credit reporting bureau Experian, is a number between 0 and 1,000. The higher your number is, the better your credit position is. Learn more about your credit score here.
What's on my credit report?
Your credit report contains information about your credit history, including any loan applications you've made, personal information and your repayment details. Here's a quick breakdown of the information you'll find on there:
Personal information such as your name, address, where you work, your gender and your driver's licence details.
Details of your consumer credit accounts. This could include a credit card, personal loan, home loan or phone plan. It also includes any applications made in the last five years, the type of accounts they were, the date those accounts were opened and closed, their credit limits, monthly repayment histories and any details of overdue accounts.
Information regarding commercial credit, which includes credit enquiries and overdue credit accounts.
If you're listed on a loan as a joint applicant, this will be on your credit file.
Information on public records such as the National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII) such as bankruptcy notes, court writs and judgements, personal insolvency agreements and directorship or proprietorship information.
If you have overdue debts or have missed payments on loans or utility bills or have any serious credit infringements it will be listed on your file.
Credit reporting bureaus access different sources of information, so not all credit reports will be the same. If there is information missing in your report or information that is incorrect, you can contact either the bureau or the credit provider which is responsible to get your report up to date.
Why is it important to check my credit report?
Limits risk of identity theft. People with your personal or financial information can apply for loans or credit cards in your name and damage your credit. If you check your credit file regularly, you can check for any irregularities and report these to your credit bureau, the financial service provider or the police as soon as possible.
Fix incorrect negative listings. Sometimes, financial providers mistakenly put incorrect listings on credit reports. This may be an entire listing that is not yours, such as a default, or a listing that appears twice. By checking your file regularly you have the chance to fix it. You can see our guide to removing black marks for tips if you find any incorrect listings on your report.
Improve your score. Checking your credit report and score gives you a greater understanding of your finances and what you can to do improve them. For example, you may realise you can consolidate multiple debts into one card with a 0% balance transfer offer or reduce your credit limit on one of your accounts to improve your score. You can either fix your credit report yourself or contact a credit repair company if you'd like professional help removing any incorrect negative listings.
Have more questions about checking your credit?
Credit enquiries are listed on your credit file, so even if you don't accept a loan that you are approved for it will be listed on your credit file.
Making too many loan applications in a short space of time can look bad on your credit file and lower your credit score. This is because you're seen as a higher risk to lenders and it can make it more difficult to access credit.
Each credit bureau has their own credit score, for example, Experian has the Experian Score, so your score will not be the same with each one.
If you check your credit report with finder you can access it at any time in your finder dashboard. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
If you want to order your credit report directly from the bureau, you can order a free copy of your credit file once a year or up to 90 days after you have a credit application rejected. You can also pay to receive your credit file multiple times a year from credit bureaus or purchase a package or credit monitoring service to keep an eye on your credit file.
You will need to provide your personal information and identification documents, such as your driver's licence, to prove your identity.
Elizabeth Barry is Finder's global fintech editor. She has written about finance for over six years and has been featured in a range of publications and media including Seven News, the ABC, Mamamia, Dynamic Business and Financy. Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Communications and a Master of Creative Writing from the University of Technology Sydney. In 2017, she received the Highly Commended award for Best New Journalist at the IT Journalism Awards. Elizabeth's passion is writing about innovations in financial services (which has surprised her more than anyone else).
Discover tourist hotspots like Adelaide and Kangaroo Valley and best kept secrets such as the Yorke Peninsula and Mount Gambier on your next trip around South Australia.
Yes, you can still apply for a car loan under your name even if you have bad credit. You may want to speak to a lender featured on this page to discuss your options and eligibility for a car loan.
I’m unaware of your financial situation or which providers you applied with, but when you’re not approved for a loan it comes down to you not meeting the minimum eligibility criteria or the lender determining that you will not be able to afford the loan you applied for.
I recently applied for a small NAB home loan of $25K. I have no outgoings (or mortgage) or outstanding credit cards or loans, and an income 14/15 of $70k which was part from my own company as a contractor and part as PAYG from another company.
The loan was rejected.
Can I find out why and will this be recorded on my credit file? If so, how can it get it removed.
finder.com.au is an online comparison service so the reason for your application rejection, and whether or not this will be recorded on your credit file, should be discussed with NAB directly.
I suggest that you review the eligibility requirements for the particular home loan in which you applied for. You might be able to find this information on our NAB home loans comparison page.
To find out what your credit score is you’ll need to order a free copy of your credit report. You can do so by following the link to Veda’s website on this page.
If you decide to apply for a product or service you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product or service and not with us. It’s advisable for you to speak to HDFC bank directly regarding your enquiry.
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Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of banks, insurers and product issuers. We value our editorial independence and follow editorial guidelines.
finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product or service.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan.
Products marked as 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money here.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
Can i have a list of my credit history please?
Hi Maki,
Thank you for your inquiry.
If you wish to get a free credit report you may want to visit this page.
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold
My credit history is bad , can I have a car worth of $30,000 under my name ?
Hi Mustafa,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Yes, you can still apply for a car loan under your name even if you have bad credit. You may want to speak to a lender featured on this page to discuss your options and eligibility for a car loan.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May
Why was my car loan rejected n y i cant get a personal loan from my bank
Hi Debbie,
I’m unaware of your financial situation or which providers you applied with, but when you’re not approved for a loan it comes down to you not meeting the minimum eligibility criteria or the lender determining that you will not be able to afford the loan you applied for.
Hope this helps,
Elizabeth
I recently applied for a small NAB home loan of $25K. I have no outgoings (or mortgage) or outstanding credit cards or loans, and an income 14/15 of $70k which was part from my own company as a contractor and part as PAYG from another company.
The loan was rejected.
Can I find out why and will this be recorded on my credit file? If so, how can it get it removed.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for your enquiry.
finder.com.au is an online comparison service so the reason for your application rejection, and whether or not this will be recorded on your credit file, should be discussed with NAB directly.
I suggest that you review the eligibility requirements for the particular home loan in which you applied for. You might be able to find this information on our NAB home loans comparison page.
Apologies that I can’t be of more assistance.
Thanks,
Belinda
What is my credit rating?
Hi Tina,
You can click through to MyCreditFile’s website to find out your credit score.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Dear Tina,
Thank you for your comment.
Just to confirm, you have come through to finder.com.au. As a financial comparison service, we don’t have access to your credit file information.
Please read our guide to discover how to get a copy of your credit file online.
I hope this has helped.
Thanks,
Sally
Find out what is my credit score.
Hi Jade,
Thanks for your question.
To find out what your credit score is you’ll need to order a free copy of your credit report. You can do so by following the link to Veda’s website on this page.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Why my personal lone application was reject by HDFC bank ?
Hi Shailesh,
Thanks for your question.
If you decide to apply for a product or service you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product or service and not with us. It’s advisable for you to speak to HDFC bank directly regarding your enquiry.
Cheers,
Shirley