Understand what's inside your credit report.
Your credit report contains information about your financial history that may be considered when you apply for borrowing. Learn what a credit report shows, how to check it, how to spot inaccurate information and what you can do to keep your credit profile up to date.
What is a credit report?
A credit report is a collection of information about your borrowing and credit history. Credit reference agencies use information supplied by lenders and other organisations to maintain these records.
The information in a report can help lenders assess applications for products such as credit cards, loans and mortgages. However, each lender can have its own criteria and assessment process.
Your credit report is different from the credit score you may see through a credit reference agency or financial service. A score is a numerical assessment based on information in your report.
Because different credit reference agencies can hold different information and use different scoring models, your reports and scores may not always look identical.
Regularly reviewing your credit information can help you identify errors, unfamiliar activity and outdated details before they cause unnecessary problems.
What information can appear on a credit report?
The exact information available can vary between credit reference agencies, but a report can contain several important categories.
Credit Accounts
Details of credit accounts can include account type, opening date, current balance or status and information about how the account has been managed.
Payment History
Your report can show information about whether payments have been made according to the terms of your credit agreements.
Credit Applications
Applications and credit searches can appear on your file. Hard searches can be visible to lenders and may form part of their assessment.
Personal Information
Names, addresses and other identity information can help agencies and lenders connect your credit history with the correct individual.
Public Records
Certain public-record information can appear on credit files, depending on the circumstances and the information held by the relevant agency.
Financial Associations
Certain financial relationships can be recorded where you have a relevant joint financial connection with another person.
Look beyond the score and review the actual information.
When checking your credit report, focus on the details that make up your financial history rather than only the number shown by a credit reference agency.
How to check your credit report
A regular review does not need to be complicated. Work through the key areas systematically.
Get access to your report
Use an appropriate credit reference agency or credit-report service to access the information available about you.
Confirm your identity details
Check that your name, addresses and other personal information are correct and current.
Review your credit accounts
Look through accounts, balances, statuses and payment information to identify anything unusual.
Check recent searches
Review recent applications and credit searches to make sure they are familiar to you.
Challenge incorrect information
If something appears inaccurate, contact the relevant lender or credit reference agency and follow its dispute process.
Found an error? Do not ignore it.
Incorrect information can create confusion when you apply for credit. Review the source of the information and use the appropriate correction process.
Common information to check
Small inaccuracies can be worth investigating, especially when they relate to accounts or identity.
What to do about an error
The correction route depends on where the information came from and what appears to be wrong.
Treat your credit information as sensitive financial data.
Your credit report can contain information that should be protected carefully. Use reputable services and avoid sharing account credentials or sensitive information unnecessarily.
Your credit report should work for you, not confuse you.
A regular review can give you a clearer understanding of the information held about your financial history.
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Credit Report FAQs
Clear answers to common questions about credit reports, credit history, errors and checking your file.
Know what is in your credit file. Make your financial picture clearer.
Review your credit information, check for inaccuracies and understand the financial history that may be considered when you apply for credit.