Free Credit Repair Australia: What's Actually Free vs What Costs (2026)

Quick Answer: Several genuine credit repair steps in Australia are completely free — including getting your credit reports, lodging disputes with bureaus, contacting creditors in writing, and escalating to AFCA. You do not need to pay anyone to access these rights. However, professional credit repair services — which identify specific legal breaches, prepare formal dispute documentation, and follow up under statutory frameworks — legitimately cost money and are subject to ASIC licensing. The No Win No Fee model means you only pay if successful. Be very wary of companies promising "free" credit repair that charge large hidden upfront fees.

The appeal of free credit repair is obvious. If you're already in financial difficulty, the last thing you want is another expense.

So let's be completely honest: some of this genuinely is free. Some of it legitimately costs money. And some companies claiming to offer "free" credit repair are not being straight with you.

This guide breaks down exactly what's what.

What You Can Do Completely Free

1. Get your credit reports

All three Australian bureaus are legally required to provide you with a free credit report on request:

• Equifax — free annual report + paid score
• Experian — free credit score and report
• Illion — free credit report

You can access all three at no cost. Get all three — different lenders use different bureaus, and a negative entry might appear on one and not the others.

2. Lodge a dispute with the bureau directly

Every credit bureau has a disputes process. You can lodge a complaint about an inaccurate or unlawful entry directly through their websites or by phone at no cost. They are obligated to investigate.

3. Write to the credit provider directly

You can contact the creditor who listed the default — by email or certified mail — and request they investigate the listing and provide evidence that it was listed in compliance with the Privacy Act 1988. They must respond. This is free.

4. Escalate to AFCA

If the credit provider doesn't resolve your dispute, you can escalate to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) at no cost. AFCA's service is free to consumers and binding on member financial firms.

5. Escalate to the Privacy Commissioner

For breaches of the Privacy Act 1988, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at no cost.

These are your rights. You don't need to pay anyone to exercise them.

What Legitimately Costs Money

Professional credit repair involves work that takes expertise and time:

A legitimate credit repair firm — ASIC-licensed, operating on No Win No Fee — charges only when they succeed. The administration fee (to cover report pulling and assessment costs) is the only upfront cost. Success fees apply only if a listing is removed.

This is not the same as a company that charges $1,500 upfront and then does what you could do yourself for free.

The DIY Credit Repair Process: Step by Step

If you want to attempt this yourself at no cost, here's the correct process:

1. Get all three credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and Illion
2. List every negative entry — creditor, amount, date listed, current status
3. For each default: write to the creditor requesting the original Section 21D notice they issued before listing
4. Review the notice — was it sent to your current address? Was the amount correct? Was the notice period a full 30 days?
5. If you identify a breach: write a formal dispute letter to the credit provider citing the specific breach under the Privacy Act 1988
6. Send a copy of your dispute to the relevant bureau requesting a dispute notation on your file
7. If no response in 30 days: escalate to AFCA (for financial firms) or the TIO (for telcos)
8. Keep copies of all correspondence

This process works. It's just slower and has lower success rates than professional representation, because creditors know individual consumers are less likely to escalate effectively and have less knowledge of statutory obligations.

Warning: "Free Credit Repair" Scams to Avoid

Some companies advertise "free credit repair" but then:

• Charge large upfront fees before doing any actual work
• Charge monthly subscription fees for access to a "dashboard" that just shows your credit score
• Promise to create a "new credit identity" for you — this is illegal in Australia
• Claim to remove any listing regardless of grounds — this is impossible legitimately

Signs of a legitimate credit repair firm:

• ASIC ACL number — verifiable at asic.gov.au
• Named solicitor responsible for the work
• No Win No Fee — pay only on successful removal
• Clear, honest assessment — tells you which entries have grounds and which don't
• 4.5+ stars from hundreds of independent verified reviews

Signs of a problematic firm:

• No ASIC licence number provided
• Large upfront fee before assessment
• "Guaranteed" removal of any listing regardless of circumstances
• Pressure to sign quickly before you've reviewed the terms

Real Case Study: Wei, Darwin — DIY Attempt Then Professional Success

Wei had a $440 Vodafone default that had been on her file for 14 months. She was a 29-year-old nurse wanting to buy her first property.

She first tried the DIY route. She wrote to Vodafone requesting the Section 21D notice. They sent her a copy — dated 28 days before the listing, not 30. She wrote back citing the breach. Vodafone responded saying they considered their notice compliant. She escalated to the TIO. The TIO investigation took 4 months and returned inconclusive.

At 18 months, still with the default on her file, she contacted Australian Credit Solutions.

We reviewed the same notice and identified an additional breach — the notice had been sent to an email address Wei had not provided to Vodafone as a contact address. Their own records showed her primary contact was a mobile number and a different email. This was a second ground, stronger than the timing argument.

We lodged a formal dispute on both grounds. Vodafone acknowledged the address breach within 11 days. The default was removed at day 19.

Wei's Equifax score moved from 511 to 688. She applied for a $410,000 home loan. Approved at 6.24%.

She only paid when we succeeded.

Get a free assessment from Australian Credit Solutions →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really remove a default from my credit file for free in Australia? Yes — you can lodge disputes with bureaus and creditors at no cost, and escalate to AFCA or the Privacy Commissioner for free. The DIY route works when the breach is clear and the creditor acknowledges it. When creditors dispute your claim or are unresponsive, professional representation with legal expertise typically resolves the situation faster and more reliably.

Is it worth paying for credit repair in Australia? If a paid credit repair firm operates on No Win No Fee, the risk is low — you only pay if they succeed. The question then is whether the cost is less than the financial benefit of the removal. Removing a default that unlocks a home loan at 6% instead of 9.4% on $400,000 saves hundreds of thousands of dollars. A professional success fee in that context is clearly worthwhile. Subject to individual assessment.

What is the AFCA and how can it help me fix my credit? AFCA is the Australian Financial Complaints Authority — the external dispute resolution scheme for financial firms. If a financial firm (bank, lender, insurer) won't resolve your complaint, you can escalate to AFCA at no cost. AFCA's determination is binding on member firms. For telco defaults, the relevant body is the TIO (Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman).

Are there free credit repair services in Australia? Financial counsellors (available through the National Debt Helpline — 1800 007 007) can provide free advice on your credit situation. They don't typically conduct formal credit repair disputes but can advise on options and rights. Your ability to dispute inaccurate entries yourself with bureaus and creditors is also free. Professional credit repair services — involving legal representation and formal dispute management — charge fees, but the No Win No Fee model means you only pay on success.

How do I know if a credit repair company is legitimate? Check their ASIC ACL number at asic.gov.au before engaging. A legitimate firm will provide their licence number upfront. Verify independently. Ask who the qualified professional responsible for the legal work is — it should be a named solicitor. Ask for a written fee agreement. Legitimate firms don't charge large upfront fees before doing any work.

Start With a Free Assessment

Our credit assessment costs you nothing. We review your file, identify every potentially removable entry, and tell you honestly what the grounds are and what's achievable — before you commit to anything.

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

Related Reading:

• DIY vs professional credit repair
• How to remove a default from your credit file
• Default removal services Australia

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.