Illion Credit Score Australia — How It Differs from Equifax

Quick Answer: Illion (formerly Dun & Bradstreet) is one of Australia's three credit bureaus — alongside Equifax and Experian. Illion's consumer credit score runs on a scale of 0–1,000. Your Illion score may differ significantly from your Equifax score because different lenders report to different bureaus, and each bureau uses its own scoring algorithm. Checking your Illion report separately is important — a default may appear on your Illion file but not your Equifax file, or vice versa. If incorrect entries appear on your Illion credit file, Australian Credit Solutions can dispute them under the Privacy Act 1988. 98% success rate. No Win No Fee. ASIC ACL 532003. Industry Excellence Award 2022, 2023 & 2024. 4.9/5 from 976+ reviews. Over 5,000 Australians helped since 2014.

Most Australians have heard of Equifax. Far fewer know that Illion — Australia's third major credit bureau — may hold an entirely different picture of their credit history.

What Is Illion?

Illion (formerly Dun & Bradstreet Consumer, rebranded in 2018) is a credit bureau operating in Australia and New Zealand. It collects consumer credit data from lenders and utilities, maintains credit files, and generates credit scores used by Australian lenders in their credit assessment processes.

Illion's consumer credit score runs from 0 to 1,000:

Illion's free credit report is accessible at creditreport.com.au — a free report is available at least once every 3 months.

How Illion Differs from Equifax and Experian

Different reporting networks: Lenders choose which bureaus they report to. A lender might report to Equifax and Experian but not Illion — or to all three. Your Illion file may contain different information than your Equifax or Experian file.

Different scoring algorithms: Even with identical underlying information, Equifax and Illion will produce different scores because they weight factors differently. A 650 Equifax score does not translate to 650 on Illion's scale.

Different lender subscriber base: Some lenders access only one bureau. If the lender you're applying to checks Illion but your file there has a default that's not on Equifax, you may be declined despite having a clean Equifax file.

Which Lenders Use Illion in Australia?

Illion is commonly accessed by:

• Telecommunications providers (Telstra, Optus — though this varies)
• Utility companies (some energy providers)
• Some fintech lenders and specialist lenders
• Some rental assessment platforms
• Some personal loan lenders

Major banks most commonly use Equifax as their primary bureau, though many access multiple bureaus for comprehensive assessments. For professional assistance, see professional credit score improvement.

Why You Must Check Illion Separately

Many Australians check their Equifax score (via GetCreditScore, Finder, or directly) and assume they've covered their credit health. If a lender accesses your Illion file for their assessment — and there's a default on Illion that doesn't appear on Equifax — you'll be declined without understanding why. For more, see our guide on equifax credit score australia: what it is and how it works.

This is one of the most common sources of confusion when Australians are declined for credit after checking their Equifax score and finding it acceptable.

Case Study: Emma, Sydney — Illion Default Hidden From Equifax Check

Emma, 31, a marketing manager from Newtown in Sydney, had checked her Equifax score (641 — Good) and believed her credit was fine. She was declined twice for personal loans. Both lenders had accessed her Illion file — where a $790 AGL energy default from 2022 appeared. The AGL default was on Illion but not on Equifax (AGL had reported to Illion only for this particular account).

Australian Credit Solutions pulled all three bureau reports in the initial assessment. The Illion AGL default had been sent to Emma's previous Glebe address — she'd moved to Newtown 6 months before the notice. Default disputed on Section 21D grounds with Illion. AGL removed the default within 38 days. Emma's Illion score improved from 489 to 601. Personal loan approved at standard rate the following month.

Emma paid nothing until we succeeded.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Illion credit score in Australia? Illion is one of Australia's three major credit bureaus (alongside Equifax and Experian). The Illion credit score runs on a scale of 0–1,000. Illion maintains a separate credit file for each Australian based on data reported by lenders and utilities that subscribe to Illion's network. Your Illion score may be significantly different from your Equifax score because different lenders report to different bureaus. For more, see our guide on experian credit score australia: what it is and how to improve it.

How do I check my Illion credit report in Australia? Access your free Illion credit report at creditreport.com.au. You're entitled to a free report at least once every 3 months. The report includes your credit file details, any defaults, payment history, and enquiries recorded by Illion. A credit score is also displayed. You'll need to verify your identity with personal details during the process.

Is Illion the same as Equifax in Australia? No — Illion and Equifax are separate, independently operated credit bureaus. They maintain their own credit files, have different lender subscriber networks, and use different scoring algorithms. The information on your Illion file may be substantially different from your Equifax or Experian file. Most credit experts recommend checking all three bureaus.

Can I dispute a default on my Illion credit file? Yes — you can dispute incorrect entries on your Illion credit file using the same Privacy Act 1988 grounds that apply to any bureau. The dispute is lodged with the credit provider that listed the entry (not directly with Illion as a first step). If the credit provider refuses, AFCA escalation and professional dispute services like Australian Credit Solutions can assist.

Why is my Illion score different from my Equifax score? Your Illion and Equifax scores differ because: (1) different lenders report to different bureaus, so your files may contain different information, and (2) even with the same data, Illion and Equifax use different proprietary scoring algorithms that weight factors differently. A score of 650 on Equifax is not equivalent to 650 on Illion — the scales are different. Always check all three bureaus for a complete picture.

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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.