How Long Does It Take to Repair Your Credit Score in Australia?

Quick Answer: Credit repair timelines in Australia depend on the method. Professional removal of unlawfully listed defaults takes 30–90 days and produces immediate score improvement on removal. Rebuilding through consistent on-time payments under CCR takes 6–24 months for meaningful improvement. Natural expiry of defaults takes up to 5 years. The fastest path combines both: remove what can be removed first, then rebuild on a clean foundation.

The honest answer to "how long will this take?" depends entirely on what's on your file and how you choose to address it. Some clients see their score improve by 200+ points in under 45 days. Others work through a 12-month rebuilding process. Most end up somewhere between.

This guide gives you real, honest timelines — not marketing promises — so you can plan with accurate expectations.

The Three Credit Repair Timelines in Australia

Most people achieve the best outcome by combining the first and third approaches: challenge anything challengeable first, then rebuild on the cleanest possible foundation.

Timeline 1: Professional Default Removal (30–90 Days)

When a default was listed in breach of the Privacy Act 1988 — no Section 21D pre-listing notice, listed during an active dispute, incorrect amount, statute-barred debt — a formal legal challenge can be lodged. ACS handles this process from assessment to confirmation.

The typical timeline:

• Days 1–7: Free assessment, file reviewed, breach grounds identified
• Days 7–14: Formal challenge drafted and lodged with credit provider
• Days 14–30: Credit provider responds (some acknowledge quickly, others push back)
• Days 30–60: If contested, escalation to bureau dispute process or AFCA
• Days 45–90: Removal confirmed; bureau updates the file; score improves immediately

ACS's average resolution time across all cases in 2025 was 47 days. Straightforward cases — no notice issued, immediately documentable — often resolve in 21–35 days. Complex cases involving creditor disputes can take the full 90 days through escalation.

Score improvement is immediate. There is no gradual rebuild period after a removal — the entry disappears and the score reflects its absence at the next bureau update cycle, typically within days.

Timeline 2: Rebuilding After Defaults (6–24 Months)

If defaults cannot be removed (lawfully listed, not yet expired), rebuilding through positive credit behaviour is the path. Under Australia's Comprehensive Credit Reporting (CCR) regime, 24 months of repayment history is now visible to lenders — meaning positive behaviour actively lifts your score, not just prevents further damage.

The rebuilding timeline looks like this:

The key actions driving this timeline (check your own reports free at Equifax and Experian): 1. Pay every bill on time via direct debit — no exceptions 2. Stop all new credit applications until score recovers 3. Reduce credit card utilisation below 30% of available limits 4. Close high-fee unused accounts gradually, not all at once 5. Monitor your file monthly through the free bureau apps

Real Case Study: Jerome, Darwin — Two Paths, One Outcome

Jerome, 45, a government worker from Darwin, came to ACS with two separate issues: a $480 default from a gym membership company (three years remaining on the 5-year clock), and a cluster of six credit enquiries from a period of financial stress 18 months earlier.

On assessment, we found the gym company had listed the default while Jerome's formal written dispute about contract terms was still open — a Credit Reporting Code breach. Four of the six enquiries had been made by a broker accessing multiple lenders without individual consent for each.

We lodged challenges on both. The default was removed on day 39. Three of the four broker enquiries were removed within 21 days; the fourth took 44 days.

Jerome then began his rebuilding phase: six months of zero missed payments across his two credit cards and car loan. At the 6-month mark his Equifax score had moved from 407 (at the start) to 661 — crossing into the Good band for the first time in over three years.

Result: Jerome's Equifax score moved from 407 to 661 across a total of 8 months — a 254-point improvement. The removal phase (default + enquiries) contributed approximately 180 points in the first 44 days. The rebuilding phase contributed the remaining 74 points over the following 6 months. He was then approved for a balance transfer credit card with a mainstream bank. Subject to individual assessment; results may vary.

Factors That Affect How Fast Your Score Recovers

• Number of negative entries — one default removes in 30–90 days; four defaults require sequential or parallel challenges
• Creditor cooperation — some creditors acknowledge breaches immediately; others require AFCA escalation, adding time
• Strength of evidence — documented disputes, written records, and complaint reference numbers speed resolution significantly
• Remaining file composition — a file with a single default that's removed will show a bigger score jump than one with a removed default plus multiple remaining enquiries
• CCR participation — not all lenders report to CCR yet; those that don't contribute less positive repayment data to your file

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does credit repair take in Australia? Professional removal of unlawfully listed defaults typically takes 30–90 days. ACS's average is 47 days. Rebuilding through on-time payments under CCR takes 6–24 months for meaningful score improvement. The fastest overall outcome comes from combining both: remove unlawful entries first, then rebuild on a clean file.

Can my credit score improve in 30 days in Australia? Yes — if unlawfully listed defaults or unauthorised enquiries are removed. Score improvement happens immediately when an entry is removed from the file, not gradually. A removal on day 30 produces a score increase on day 30 or shortly after as the bureau updates its records. A 100–250 point improvement in 30–60 days is achievable for clients with multiple removable entries.

Does paying off debt improve credit score quickly in Australia? Paying down credit card balances improves your utilisation ratio, which can show up in your score within one monthly reporting cycle — typically 30–60 days. Paying off a default does not remove it; it changes the status to "paid" but the listing remains for the full 5 years. The score impact of paying a default is minimal compared to removing it.

How long after a default is removed does my score improve? Score improvement is immediate — the default is removed, the bureau recalculates your score, and the new score is visible typically within a few days of the removal being confirmed. There is no waiting period or gradual improvement process after a removal. The score jumps to reflect the absence of the entry.

Is 12 months enough to repair bad credit in Australia? For someone with one or two defaults that can be professionally removed, 12 months is more than enough time to achieve a significant recovery — often reaching the Good band (661+ on Equifax) within 3–6 months of removal if other file factors are favourable. For someone rebuilding without removal (lawfully listed defaults), 12 months of consistent positive behaviour typically produces 60–120 points of improvement.

Find Out Your Realistic Timeline

A free assessment from ACS gives you a specific, honest timeline for your situation — not a generic range. We review your file, identify what can be challenged, and tell you what your score could look like in 30, 60, and 90 days.

Australian Credit Solutions is ASIC-licensed (ACL 532003), lawyer-led by Principal Solicitor Elisa Rothschild, and has helped over 5,000 Australians repair their credit files since 2014. No Win No Fee. 98% success rate on accepted cases.

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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.

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