The following questions have been broken into two sections:
- What are the benefits of being a D&B Consumer Credit Bureau subscriber?
- How do I subscribe?
- What are D&B sources of information?
- What is the source of public record information?
- What is a Consumer Credit Bureau (CCB)?
- What types of information does D&B's CCB hold on me?
- Who can access my details?
- How can I obtain a copy of my consumer credit report?
- Why should I obtain a copy of my credit report?
- How can I query information contained in my credit report?
- What is an enquiry?
- What is a default?
- What information is not stored on my credit report?
- What does D&B use my information for?
- How can I find out why I was refused credit?
- Can I access information on other individuals?
Select from the links above to access the information relevant to you.
Credit providers
What are the benefits of being D&B Consumer Credit Bureau Subscriber?
- Flexible pricing structure
- Monthly or Annual Subscription
- Full Training and Support
- Personal Account Manager
D&B offers a range of consumer credit information subscription plans designed to suit your needs.
Whether you opt to take advantage of D&B's lowest prices by purchasing an up-front annual subscription or prefer to pay for information as you use it, D&B has a subscription plan for you.
Whichever D&B plan you choose, you'll have access to a greater variety of products and services at significantly lower prices than available through retail purchases made with a credit card payment.
To discuss which subscription option is right for you, call Client Services on 13 23 33.
What are D&B's sources of information?
D&B is committed to being the most trusted source for accurate, up-to-date and relevant credit information about individuals. Our aim is to develop strong relationships with both individuals and clients alike to ensure that we deliver on this commitment and both parties continually experience the mutual benefits of open disclosure.
As a credit information provider, D&B collects information about individuals and their credit history from:
- Public records
- Bankruptcy Information Australia - Insolvency Trustee Service Australia (ITSA) - (AU)
- Bankruptcy Information New Zealand - NZ Insolvency & Trustee Service - (NZ)
- Judgement - Australian & New Zealand courts
- Summons (AU) information - Australian Courts
- Credit Providers
- Individuals
- NEW - D&B Commercial database (Individual current and previous company directorships)
Address validation
- NEW - Australia Post (Address validation) - Now the D&B Consumer Credit Bureau has improved its consumer address accuracy by validating it to the Postal Address File (PAF) of Australia Post. More accuracy in address searching and matching may enable a significant reduction of fraud.
- The Postal Address File (PAF) is an extract from Australia Post's core addressing database, the National Address File (NAF), which supports mail processing and delivery operations. The PAF contains Australian addresses in a correct address format.
- The PAF is updated and issued quarterly by Australia Post. It is one of the most accurate and comprehensive address reference databases in Australia. The PAF currently contains over 10.8 million addresses. Find out more about the PAF: www.auspost.com.au
Database compliant with the Privacy Act
D&B holds information permitted under the Privacy Act. This information includes:
- Past enquiries made by credit providers relating to an application for credit by an individual (commercial or consumer credit application)
- Default data - information relating to payments that are overdue by 60 days and the credit provider has taken steps to recover the outstanding amount
- Identification details - full name, gender, current address (Australia Post validation), previous two addresses, date of birth, driver licence and current employer
- Public record information - bankruptcies, summons (AU only) and judgements
- Current and previous company directorships
The D&B CCB Individual Bureau Application Score Reports also displays your applicant data on an individual which includes information such as: Residential status, Occupation, Time at employment, number of credit cards. This information is not retained or stored by D&B.
What is the source of public record information?
In Australia, Bankruptcy information is obtained from ITSA (Insolvency & Trustee Service Australia), and judgement and summons (AU only) information is obtained from the District, Magistrates, County and Supreme Courts of Australia.
In New Zealand court information is obtained from District courts. Bankruptcy information is obtained from The New Zealand Gazette published by the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand. In both countries Bankruptcy orders are retained on file for 7 years, and judgements for 5 years.
Credit applicants
What is a Consumer Credit Bureau?
A consumer credit bureau is a database of individuals credit histories, from both a commercial and consumer standpoint. The credit histories are built up from credit providers when individuals apply for, or default on, a credit facility. These credit histories are disclosed to credit providers when they access the credit history of the customer and/or any guarantor to assess an application for credit.
What types of Information does D&B's Consumer Credit Bureau hold on file about me?
D&B holds permitted information as outlined in the Privacy Act. This includes details of credit providers which have previously accessed your file, public record information such as bankruptcy orders, summons (AU only) and judgements, overdue payment information (default data) and identification details (full name, gender, current address, previous two addresses, date of birth, driver licence number and current employer).
Credit providers will access your D&B consumer credit report after they have notified you that they will do so and where necessary, obtain your consent.
Your current and prospective creditors are provided with a comprehensive and clear picture of your overall credit worthiness from a commercial and consumer standpoint and your willingness to pay your account should they extend credit to you.
Generally only credit providers and the individual themselves can access information held in a consumer credit file by D&B.
As a credit information provider, D&B can provide information regarding an individuals consumer credit report to:
- a credit provider
- a current credit provider
- a mortgage insurer
- a trade insurer
- another credit reporting agency
- a person/body to whom disclosure is authorised or required by or under law
- a credit provider or a law enforcement authority in connection with a 'serious credit infringement'
Generally speaking the individual will need to be advised by the recipient of their consumer credit report, that their individual consumer credit report will be accessed.
D&B may provide a copy of an individuals consumer credit report to a person who has been authorised in writing to act on the consumer's behalf. This applies to situations where a consumer engages the services of a debt counsellor or a financial advisor.
For a credit provider wishing to seek a combination of consumer and commercial information, the credit provider will need to obtain your consent.
How can I obtain a copy of my Consumer Credit Report?
D&B adheres to the Privacy Act Code of Conduct and the National Privacy Principles by providing you, the individual, with the right to obtain a copy of your credit report where you have been refused credit or to assist in the management of your credit arrangements.
When requesting a copy of your credit report, you are required to provide the following details in writing:
- Family Name, First Name, Middle Name, Salutation
- Current Residential Address
- Date of Birth
- Previous Residential Address
- Driver Licence Number
- Signature
To obtain a copy of your credit report, simply download, complete and return the following form to:
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Dun & Bradstreet (Australia) Pty Ltd
Public Access Centre PO Box 7405 St Kilda Rd VIC 3004 |
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At D&B there are two methods for receiving your credit report:
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Fast Track Service - D&B appreciates that you may require information about your credit file in a timely manner. Therefore D&B offers a Fast Track service that will see your application processed and Express/Fast Posted to you within 1 Business Day of its receipt at our office, for a fee of $25.00 inclusive of GST.
Payment can be made by Mastercard, American Express or Visa. Alternatively a cheque can be made payable to Dun & Bradstreet. Please send your payment and completed application form to the above address.
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Regular Service - your credit report will be mailed to you free of charge within 10 working days of having received your request.
Why should I obtain a copy of my Credit Report?
- Find out how you and your credit history is being portrayed to prospective credit providers
- Verify the information contained within your report to ensure accurate disclosure
- Correct any inaccurate information contained within your report
- Have the opportunity to add comments to your file with regard to credit disputes
- Ensure credit providers are getting a balanced, complete picture of your credit history
- Experience fair and accurate credit assessments and decisions from prospective credit providers in minimal time
How can I query information contained in my Credit Report?
D&B is committed to handling queries in a fair, efficient and timely manner. D&B takes ownership of the Dispute Resolution Process to ensure that your query is efficiently managed.
The below procedures are followed when dealing with queries relating to your credit file.
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Obtain a copy of your individual credit report
Simply download, complete and return the following application form to:
Dun & Bradstreet (Australia) Pty Ltd
Public Access Centre
PO Box 7405
St Kilda Rd VIC 3004
Application for consumer credit report - Australia.pdf (51KB)
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Notify D&B's Public Access Centre of the dispute
Notification of disputes concerning the information contained within your credit report must be made in writing via the following form:
Update for consumer credit report - Australia.pdf (42KB) -
D&B will investigate the dispute
Credit Provider
Where the information has been provided directly from the credit provider, D&B will work with the credit provider to investigate the matter.
Outcomes
In the event that the appropriate documentation is supplied, D&B will update your credit report to reflect the change.
In the event that the entry is correctly recorded and there is insufficient documentation, a statement can be included into your credit report advising that the entry has been queried and your report will not be amended.
Public Record Entry
Where the information relates to Public Records, a D&B public access representative will request that you provide relevant documentation from the court to update your credit report.
Outcomes
In the event that the appropriate documentation is supplied, D&B will update your credit report to reflect the change.
In the event that the entry is correctly recorded and there is insufficient documentation, a statement can be included into your credit report advising that the entry has been queried and your report will not be amended.
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Notification of the outcome of the dispute
Within 14 days of the dispute being lodged, a public access representative will notify you of the outcome of the dispute. -
Disclosure of Amended Report to Previous Enquirers
D&B will provide previous enquirers of your credit report (within the past three months or between the time the error was made and the date of the dispute) with an amended credit report. Previous enquirers will receive an updated copy within 30 days. -
Right to appeal
In the event that you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may exercise your right to Appeal to the Privacy Commission.
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Federal Privacy Commission (Australia)
Address: Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 Hotline:1300 363 992 |
An enquiry is a footprint left by a credit provider relating to an application by you for credit. This assists you to know who has accessed your credit report.
A record of credit, where you are more than 60 days overdue (AU) 30 days overdue (NZ) and the credit provider has taken steps to recover the outstanding amount.
Defaults are retained on file for 5 years, even when the amount has been paid in full.
What information is not stored on my Credit Report?
- Political, social, or religious beliefs or affiliations
- Criminal records
- Medical history or physical handicaps
- Race, ethnic or national origins
- Sexual preferences or practices
- Lifestyle, character or reputation
What does D&B use my information for?
D&B will disclose personal information to credit providers, courts, tribunals and organisations that D&B is instructed to by law.
D&B will also use personal information for planning and research purposes, but for these purposes it uses and produces aggregate or de-identified data.
How can I find out why I was refused credit?
As a credit reporting agency, D&B is not the decision-maker. D&B only supply information.
If credit has been denied based on a D&B credit report, you will be advised of this by the credit provider. It is suggested that you should keep yourself informed of your credit history by obtaining a copy of your credit report.
Can I access Information about other individuals?
No - only yours. Privacy Legislation restricts the disclosure of credit reports.
In adhering to the Privacy Act, D&B is serious about data security. To protect the personal information of individuals, D&B adopts strict guidelines on who can access a credit report and for what purpose. D&B is committed to protecting personal information from misuse or unauthorised access.
