Personal Credit Reports
- How can I obtain a copy of my Personal Credit Report?
- Why should I obtain a copy of my Credit Report?
- What is a Consumer Credit Bureau?
- What types of Information does D&B's Consumer Credit Bureau hold on file about me?
- Who can access my details?
- 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 about other individuals?
How can I obtain a copy of my Personal Credit Report?
D&B adheres to the Privacy Act, Credit Reporting 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.
Any individual can obtain a copy of their own personal credit report online with D&B. D&B is Australia's leading credit information provider and offers Australians a number of services to monitor and manage their credit profile with ease.
When requesting a copy of your credit report online, you are required to provide the following details:
- Family Name, First Name, Middle Name, Salutation
- Current Residential Address
- Date of Birth
- Previous Residential Address
- Driver Licence Number
Instant Access
D&B appreciates that you may require information about your personal credit report in a timely manner. D&B offers an Instant Access service that allows you to view your report instantly online for only $30 or delivered by Express post.
Order your credit report >>
Payment can be made by Mastercard, American Express, Diners or Visa.
Other payment options
If you would like to pay by cheque or money order please download the application form.pdf (38KB), complete and return to:
Dun & Bradstreet (Australia) Pty Ltd
Public Access Centre
PO Box 7405
St Kilda Rd VIC 3004
Please send your payment along with the completed application form to the above address.
Standard Service
This service allows for your personal credit report to be supplied to you free of charge in 10 business days. There are two methods for receiving this report, either via mail or via an online account created specifically for you.
Access the standard service >>
Why should I obtain a copy of my Credit Report?
Understanding your credit profile is a critical first step when applying for credit.By checking your report you can ensure that lenders are getting a balanced, complete view of your financial health. In addition:
- 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
- be notified when your credit report is updated and understand how this may affect your credit rating
- protect yourself from identity fraud and be alerted to any potential fraudulent activity occurring in your name
- have the opportunity to add comments to your file with regard to credit disputes
Experience fair and accurate credit assessments and decisions from prospective credit providers in minimal time.
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 acts, 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 personal 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 personal 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 personal credit report, that their individual personal credit report will be accessed.
D&B may provide a copy of an individuals personal 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 query information contained in my Credit Report?
D&B is committed to handling disputes in a fair, efficient and timely manner. D&B takes ownership of the Dispute Resolution Process to ensure that your query is effectively managed.
When dealing with queries relating to your credit report the below procedures follow:
Step 1. Obtain a copy of your personal credit report
Step 2. Notify D&B's Public Access Centre of the change requested
Notification of change concerning the information contained within your credit report can be made via your online My Account through the Amendment Request option and follow the prompts. Login to your my Account here >>
Alternatively if you receive your credit report via mail, please complete and submit the Amendment Request form. Download here >>
Step 3. D&B will investigate the change requested
Credit Provider
Where the information has been provided directly from the credit provider, D&B requires that you provide relevant documentation to support the required amendment or contact the credit provider directly.
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.
Following these three steps we will provide:
Notification of the outcome of the dispute
Within 14 - 30 days of the change request being lodged, a D&B 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.
I n the event that you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may exercise your right to Appeal to the Privacy Commission.
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.
