How to Get a Free Credit Report in Australia (2026 Step Guide)

Quick Answer: You can get a free credit report in Australia directly from all three bureaus — Equifax at equifax.com.au, Experian at experian.com.au, and Illion at creditreport.com.au. Under the Privacy Act 1988, you're entitled to one free report per bureau per year, plus a free report within 90 days of being declined credit. Reports are delivered within 10 business days (standard) or available instantly for online accounts. Always check all three — your files differ across bureaus, and different lenders check different ones.

Your credit report is one of the most financially important documents about you — and most Australians have never read it. Lenders, telcos, landlords, and even some employers use it to make decisions about you. If there's an error, a debt listed in the wrong amount, or an account you don't recognise, you need to know about it.

The good news: checking your own credit report is free, easy, and does not affect your credit score. This guide takes you through the exact steps for all three Australian bureaus, tells you what to look for when you read the report, and explains what to do if you find something that shouldn't be there.

The Three Australian Credit Bureaus

In Australia, credit files are held by three separate companies. They're independent from each other — a lender who reports to Equifax may not report to Experian or Illion, and vice versa. This means the information on each file can differ significantly.

When you apply for a home loan, the bank almost certainly checks Equifax. When you apply for a phone plan, Telstra or Optus typically check Illion. Checking only one bureau gives you an incomplete picture.

1. How to Get Your Free Equifax Credit Report

1. Go to equifax.com.au
2. Select "Get My Free Credit Report" (not the paid subscription product)
3. Create an account with your name, date of birth, and email address
4. Verify your identity — you'll need a driver's licence or Medicare card, plus a recent bill or bank statement for address verification
5. Request your free report — standard delivery within 10 business days, or instant if you sign up for their online dashboard product (free tier available)
6. Download and review your report in full — save a copy

Equifax also offers a credit score product (separate from the full report). The score is available instantly in the online account; the full detailed report with all listed entries takes 10 days via standard delivery.

2. How to Get Your Free Experian Credit Report

1. Go to experian.com.au
2. Click "Get Your Free Credit Report"
3. Register with your full name, date of birth, email, and residential address
4. Verify identity using a driver's licence or Medicare card number
5. Choose delivery — online account for faster access, or postal delivery within 10 business days
6. Review your report — download or print for records

Experian also provides an ongoing free credit score monitoring product. The full report (with all listed accounts and enquiries) requires a separate request from the score alone.

3. How to Get Your Free Illion Credit Report

1. Go to creditreport.com.au
2. Select "Get Free Credit Report"
3. Enter your personal details — name, date of birth, address history
4. Verify identity — Australian driver's licence or Medicare card, plus current address
5. Choose delivery — digital or post (10 business days standard)
6. Download your report once available

Illion's report is particularly important to check if you've ever had issues with a telco or utility company — they're the primary bureau used by this sector.

When You're Entitled to a Free Report

Under the Privacy Act 1988, you have the right to access your credit report for free in several circumstances:

If you've recently been declined for credit — a loan, phone plan, or even a rental — request your free report from all three bureaus immediately. The bureau the lender used will show you exactly what they saw when making their decision.

Real Case Study: Marcus, Darwin — Found a Default That Wasn't His

Marcus, 29, from Darwin, had never checked his credit report. He'd applied for a car loan after starting a new job and was declined. His Equifax score was 388 — well below the lender's minimum threshold.

He requested his free Equifax report under the Privacy Act 1988 (he was within 90 days of the declined application). What he found was a $1,240 default from an energy provider in Western Australia — a state he'd never lived in. The account name associated with the default was similar to his but had a different middle initial.

This was a clear case of misidentified information — a common occurrence where credit files from two people with similar names or shared addresses get cross-contaminated in bureau databases.

Marcus contacted ACS. We reviewed the file, confirmed the misidentification through documentation, and lodged a formal correction request with Equifax citing the Privacy Act 1988 and Credit Reporting Code — which requires bureaus to maintain accurate, up-to-date information.

Result: The default was removed in 19 days — one of the fastest resolutions we've seen, because the evidence was clear-cut and unambiguous. Marcus's Equifax score moved from 388 to 681. He reapplied for the car loan and was approved at 9.1% p.a. Had the error remained, he would have been paying a specialist rate of approximately 21% for a $28,000 loan — an interest cost difference of approximately $14,600 over the 5-year term. He only paid when we succeeded. Subject to individual assessment; results may vary.

What to Look For When You Read Your Credit Report

Reading a credit report for the first time can be overwhelming. Focus on these key sections:

1. Personal information — check your name, date of birth, addresses, and employer are correct. Errors here can cause misidentification issues.
2. Credit accounts — every credit account ever opened in your name. Look for accounts you don't recognise.
3. Repayment history — under CCR, your last 24 months of payment behaviour is recorded. Look for months marked as missed or late that you believe were paid.
4. Defaults — listed with the creditor name, amount, date listed, and status (paid/unpaid). Any default you weren't notified about before listing may be unlawful.
5. Court judgements — formal debt enforcement. Verify these are genuinely yours.
6. Credit enquiries — every application for credit in the last 5 years. Look for enquiries you didn't authorise.
7. Credit infringements — serious breaches. Very uncommon; if present, review carefully.

What to Do If You Find an Error

1. Document it — screenshot or print the section of the report showing the issue
2. Gather evidence — receipts, correspondence, bank statements, anything that supports your position
3. Contact the credit provider first — the company that listed the entry has the ability to correct it directly. Put the complaint in writing.
4. If unresolved, lodge with the bureau — each bureau has a dispute process; use it in writing
5. Escalate to AFCA if needed — the Australian Financial Complaints Authority handles unresolved credit disputes
6. Get professional help for complex cases — if the creditor disputes your challenge or multiple entries are involved, a free credit assessment with ACS can clarify your options

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a free credit report in Australia? Request your report directly from the three bureaus — Equifax at equifax.com.au, Experian at experian.com.au, and Illion at creditreport.com.au. Under the Privacy Act 1988, you're entitled to one free report per bureau per year, plus free reports within 90 days of a credit application being declined. No credit card is required for the standard free report.

How long does a free credit report take in Australia? Standard delivery is within 10 business days. Both Equifax and Experian offer instant or near-instant access to your credit score and report through their online accounts (free tiers available). Illion's online delivery is typically faster than the stated standard timeframe.

Do I need to check all three credit bureaus? Yes — each bureau holds a different version of your file because different lenders report to different bureaus. A default might appear on your Equifax file but not Experian. The lender you're applying with will check whichever bureau they're contracted with, so you need to know what's on all three.

Does getting my free credit report affect my credit score? No. Checking your own report is a soft enquiry and has absolutely no impact on your credit score. Only hard enquiries — made by lenders when you apply for credit — affect your score.

What should I do if I find an error on my credit report? Contact the credit provider who listed the entry first — in writing — and request correction. If they don't resolve it within 30 days, lodge a dispute with the relevant bureau. For complex cases or creditors who won't cooperate, professional credit repair through ACS can apply the legal framework of the Privacy Act 1988 to compel resolution.

Can I get more than one free credit report per year in Australia? Yes — you're entitled to additional free reports if you've been declined credit within the last 90 days, if a correction has recently been made to your file, or if you have reasonable grounds to believe the report contains errors. These entitlements are separate from the annual free report.

Found Something on Your Report That Shouldn't Be There?

A free assessment from Australian Credit Solutions tells you within 24 hours whether any entry on your credit file can be challenged under the Privacy Act 1988 — and what removing it could mean for your score and borrowing options.

Australian Credit Solutions is ASIC-licensed (ACL 532003), lawyer-led by Principal Solicitor Elisa Rothschild, and has helped over 5,000 Australians identify and remove unlawful credit file entries 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 Improve Your Credit Score → | Default Removal Services → | Credit Enquiry Removal →