Credit History in Australia: What It Is and Why It Matters

Quick Answer: Your credit history in Australia is the complete record of your credit behaviour — every loan, credit card, default, court judgement, missed payment, and credit application across your adult life. It's held across three independent bureaus (Equifax, Experian, Illion) and used by lenders to assess your risk as a borrower. Since 2018, positive payment history is also captured under Comprehensive Credit Reporting (CCR). Inaccurate or unlawfully listed entries can be challenged under the Privacy Act 1988.

"Credit history" is one of those phrases that sounds straightforward but contains a lot of complexity underneath. What exactly goes into it? How long does it last? What can you do when yours is damaged? And what does it actually mean for your financial life right now?

This guide answers all of it, in plain Australian English.

What Makes Up Your Credit History?

Your credit history is the sum of everything that's ever been reported to the credit bureaus about you. It includes:

The bureaus collect this data from banks, non-bank lenders, telcos, utilities, debt collectors, and courts. Not every creditor reports to every bureau — which is why your Equifax, Experian, and Illion files can look different.

Positive vs Negative Credit History

Before 2018, Australian credit files captured almost exclusively negative events. A missed payment or default went on the file; consistent on-time payments didn't. The system rewarded only the absence of bad behaviour.

Comprehensive Credit Reporting (CCR) changed that. Now, 24 months of your repayment behaviour — on-time or late — is reported monthly by participating lenders. Good credit behaviour is now actively recorded as a positive, not just the absence of a negative.

This matters for two reasons: it gives people rebuilding from bad credit a faster path to improvement, and it means new borrowers with clean but thin files can build a positive history simply by paying bills on time from day one.

Real Case Study: Mei, Canberra — Thin File, Not Bad File. Home Loan Still Declined.

Mei, 27, a public servant from Canberra, had never missed a payment in her life. She'd had one credit card since she was 21, paid it in full every month, and rented while saving for a deposit. Her Equifax score was 612 — Average — not because of anything bad on her file, but because of what wasn't there.

Her credit history was thin: one card, five years old, with consistently low utilisation. No loan history. Only three credit enquiries in total. Lenders saw a file with insufficient data to give her high confidence marks.

When she applied for a home loan, the bank's automated system flagged her file as insufficient rather than bad. She was offered conditional approval contingent on mortgage insurance — at additional cost — despite a 22% deposit.

ACS doesn't primarily work with thin-file cases, but Mei's assessment helped her understand exactly what was and wasn't there. We advised her to add a second credit product (a car loan through her credit union for a modest amount), maintain six more months of clean payment data, and reapply. She also confirmed her employer data was current on all three bureau files.

Result: Mei reapplied eight months later. Her Equifax score had moved from 612 to 678 — Good — on the strength of the added product, eight more months of perfect repayment history, and accurate employment data. She was approved unconditionally at 6.41% p.a. with no mortgage insurance required. Subject to individual assessment; results may vary.

How Long Does Credit History Last in Australia?

Different elements of your credit history have different retention periods:

• Repayment history (CCR) — always the most recent 24 months. As time passes, old months roll off and new ones are added.
• Defaults — 5 years from the listing date. After 5 years, they must be removed.
• Hard enquiries — 5 years from the date of the application.
• Court judgements — 5 years from the date of judgement.
• Bankruptcy — 5 years from discharge or 7 years from order, whichever is longer.

There is no single "how long does credit history last" answer — each element has its own clock. A default listed in 2021 expires in 2026; an enquiry from 2023 expires in 2028.

When Credit History Goes Wrong

If your credit history contains entries that were listed unlawfully — under the Privacy Act 1988 and Credit Reporting Code — those entries can be challenged and removed. You don't have to wait for them to expire.

The most common grounds for successful challenge are:

1. No Section 21D pre-listing notice issued before a default
2. Default listed while a genuine dispute was still active
3. Incorrect default amount
4. Entry belongs to someone else (misidentification)
5. Enquiry made without your explicit consent
6. Entry has already passed its legal retention period

ACS reviews credit histories and identifies which entries are challengeable. The process runs on a No Win No Fee basis — no charge if we don't succeed. Check your free reports at Equifax, Experian, and Illion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is credit history in Australia? Credit history is the complete record of your credit behaviour held by the three Australian credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and Illion. It includes all credit accounts, repayment behaviour (on-time and late), defaults, court judgements, enquiries, and any serious infringements. Lenders use it to assess your risk as a borrower and determine whether to approve your application and at what rate.

How long is credit history kept in Australia? Different elements are retained for different periods. Repayment history under CCR is kept for a rolling 24 months. Defaults and court judgements stay for 5 years from listing. Credit enquiries remain for 5 years. Bankruptcies stay for 5–7 years. Personal details are kept ongoing. There is no single expiry date for a credit file as a whole — it's a continuous, evolving record.

Can I have a credit history with no debt in Australia? Yes — if you've never borrowed money, you may have a credit file that exists but contains very little data. In Australia, even phone plans and utility accounts can create entries. An empty or thin file isn't the same as a bad file, but it can make loan approval difficult because lenders have insufficient data to assess your risk. Building history starts with any credit product — a credit card used responsibly is the most accessible first step.

How do I fix my credit history in Australia? For inaccurate or unlawfully listed entries — challenge them under the Privacy Act 1988. For building positive history — consistent on-time payments, reduced enquiries, and managed utilisation across active accounts. For rebuilding after defaults — combine professional removal (where grounds exist) with 12–24 months of consistent positive behaviour. The free assessment from ACS identifies exactly which entries can be challenged.

Does Australia share credit history with other countries? No. Your Australian credit file is separate from credit files in the UK, US, New Zealand, or any other country. Credit bureaus operate domestically and don't share data internationally. If you've migrated to Australia from another country, you're starting with whatever history exists in the Australian system — often very little, which means you may need to build from scratch.

Get a Clear Picture of Your Credit History

Whether you need to understand what's on your file, challenge something that shouldn't be there, or map out a rebuilding path — Australian Credit Solutions has helped over 5,000 Australians navigate exactly this situation.

Australian Credit Solutions is ASIC-licensed (ACL 532003), lawyer-led by Principal Solicitor Elisa Rothschild, and has operated since 2014. No Win No Fee. 98% success rate on accepted cases.

Get My Free Assessment → 📞 0489 265 737 🛡️ ASIC Licensed ACL 532003 | ⭐ 4.9/5 from 976+ Reviews | 🏆 Award Winner 2022–2024

Australian Credit Solutions Pty Ltd holds Australian Credit Licence ACL 532003. Credit repair services are subject to individual assessment. Results may vary. This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice.

Related reading: How to Build Credit History → | How Credit Scores Work → | Default Removal Services →