Free Credit Report – Get a Free Copy of Your Credit File

There’s a simple and easy way to stay on top of what’s happening in your credit file, and it won’t cost you more than a postage stamp and a couple minutes of your time.  Your credit file report will be posted to you within 10 days.

Order a copy of your credit file

Receive email alerts whenever specific changes occur on your credit file for 12 months. You also receive a copy of your credit file despatched within one working day..

Receive your credit file with information on:

• Details of consumer credit enquiries
• Details of overdue consumer credit accounts
• Commercial credit enquiries
• Details of overdue commercial credit accounts
• Bankruptcy & Court Judgements
• Writs & Summons
• Information on your current relationship with a credit provider

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Why would you want to know what’s in your file, you ask? Perhaps you’re a bit unclear on what it contains and how it affects you?  Let’s do a quick refresher about the importance of your credit file, regardless of whether you actually use credit a lot or not.

First of all, a word of warning, with all the scams going around.

Never, ever look for credit reporting agencies (or credit bureaus) on the Internet. There are lots of fake websites out there trying to hook you with the promise of a free online credit report. There’s no such thing.

Unsolicited emails with links or offers of free credit reports are likely scams as well – don’t click on them or respond.  The only legitimate agencies offering free credit reports offer them sent to you by mail.

Have you ever applied for credit or a loan? If so, then a credit file existing under your name.  Credit reporting agencies legally collect this information from any credit providers that you’ve applied for credit from. Any credit providers that you apply for subsequent credit or a loan from can then check on your credit rating, which is based on your personal track record of paying back debt owed.

Personal information typically on file will be your name, date of birth, current and any previous addresses, employment history, and driver’s license number.  All applications you’ve made for credit or loans will be there, along with details of any defaults or other infringements, such as where you’ve been overdue by 60 days or more making a payment, and where a debt collection activity has started. Legal items like court judgements, bankruptcies, and personal insolvency and debt agreements will also be listed.

All of these entries are kept on your file for five to seven years.  Just like your c.v. is used by potential employers to determine your value as a candidate employee in their firm, the credit file is used by other firms offering credit that you’ve applied for.  

Unlike the job search comparison, though, where your c.v. is scrutinized and probably checked up on behind the scenes to ensure what you say on it is truthful, no-one double-checks that the information in your file is accurate!  

This shocking point opens the door to all sorts of possible errors in your file, which could lead to you being denied credit.  Imagine you’re ready to take out a loan for a car, or sign a mortgage for a home, and your credit report comes back in less than glowing terms.

While a less than stellar credit history caused by your own behaviour isn’t something that can be erased (despite what so-called “debt improvement” companies might imply that they can provide for a fee), your credit file details cannot be changed unless proven to be in error.  

In this day and age of financial crime, one of the most commonest is fraudulently applying for credit using another person’s basic information. As the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce says, checking your credit file at least once a year is one of their points to protecting your identity from theft.

While not as nasty as someone using your identity to run up debts or borrowing money, there is the more mundane chance of error – information about you may have been incorrectly entered or reported.

Your address may need updating, or corrections to your name or date of birth might be necessary.  More importantly, a debt might be listed twice or the amount reported incorrectly.  

Most important to your credit rating is if you have ever missed a repayment on a loan, but were never 60 days or more in default, but it was incorrectly reported to the credit reporting agency.

While you can choose to pay a fee to get your credit file report faster, if you’ve got a couple weeks to spare, you just need to write or fax to  Veda Advantage Public Access via:

Mail: PO Box 964 North Sydney NSW 2059

Fax: (02) 9278 7333

Include the following information in a signed request:

• Your full name, date of birth, and driver’s licence number.
• Two forms of identification including a copy of your driver’s licence, passport, birth certificate or Proof of Age card, as well as a document issued by an official body which includes your name and address (i.e. rates notice, utility bill or bank statement)
• Current and previous residential addresses
• Your current employer or a previous employer
• The name of the organisation to which you last applied for credit
• A daytime telephone number
• How you would like your file sent to you, via post, fax or email

You can also get a free credit file report from Dun and Bradstreet using their application form and mailing it to:

Dun & Bradstreet (Australia) Pty Ltd

Public Access Centre

PO Box 7405

St Kilda Rd VIC 3004

Tasmanian residents can use the Tasmanian Collection Service application form and mail it to:

Tasmanian Collection Service

GPO Box 814,

Hobart TAS 7000

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