What Is Repayment History Information on Your Credit File?

Quick Answer: Repayment history information (RHI) is a monthly record of whether you paid your credit accounts on time or were overdue, recorded by Australia's three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and illion — under the Privacy Act 1988. In Australia, RHI stays on your credit file for 2 years. On-time payments lift your credit score; late payments lower it. If RHI on your file is inaccurate, you can dispute it and the bureau must investigate within 30 days under the Privacy Act 1988.

Your credit file records more than defaults and missed payments. Lenders also share a month-by-month snapshot of how you've managed your debts over the last two years — and this data, called repayment history information (RHI), directly affects your credit score. Most Australians don't realise it's there, let alone that they can dispute it if it's wrong.

What Is Repayment History Information (RHI)?

Repayment history information is a monthly record of whether you paid on time or were overdue on eligible credit accounts, reported to Equifax, Experian, and illion under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), Part IIIA. Under Australia's comprehensive credit reporting (CCR) framework — which progressively mandated RHI sharing from 2019 — credit providers are required to report RHI for eligible accounts. The Privacy (Credit Reporting) Code 2025, which commenced on 25 March 2025, sets the current standards for what can be reported and how.

RHI covers consumer credit products: home loans, personal loans, car loans, and credit cards. For each month, the record indicates whether your payment was made on or before the due date, or how many days overdue it was. There is no distinction between "slightly late" and "very late" on the face of the record — both generate a negative mark for that month.

What accounts generate RHI? Any credit account held under Australia's CCR regime — principally consumer credit from banks, credit unions, non-bank lenders, and major credit card issuers who participate in CCR reporting.

How Long Does Repayment History Information Stay on Your Credit File?

Repayment history information stays on your Australian credit file for 2 years under the Privacy (Credit Reporting) Code 2025. After 2 years, each monthly mark should roll off your file automatically. This is significantly shorter than the 5-year retention period for a default listing, which makes RHI a more forgiving category of credit information — provided it's accurate.

Source: Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), Part IIIA; Privacy (Credit Reporting) Code 2025.

The window rolls month by month. A mark recorded in October 2024 should no longer appear on your file after October 2026. If RHI entries older than 2 years are still visible, that is a retention error — and a legitimate basis for a dispute under the Privacy Act 1988.

What Does Repayment History Information Look Like on Your Credit File?

When you access your credit file through Equifax, Experian, or illion, RHI typically appears as a month-by-month grid for each reported credit account. Each cell indicates your payment status for that month — on time, or overdue by a certain number of days.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) oversees how credit reporting bodies handle this data under the Privacy Act 1988. Each bureau displays the information slightly differently, but the underlying data follows the same standard: a standardised record of payment behaviour going back 24 months.

Positive RHI counts. A two-year run of on-time payments on a home loan or credit card is a meaningful trust signal to future lenders. It tells them that even if earlier events on your file aren't ideal, you're managing your current obligations responsibly.

How Does Repayment History Information Affect Your Credit Score?

Repayment history information is one of the most heavily weighted factors in an Australian CCR-era credit score. All three bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and illion — incorporate RHI into their scoring models under the Privacy Act 1988 framework. Your payment behaviour over the most recent 24 months has a direct, ongoing effect on your score.

Consistent on-time payments build credit. Repeated late payments erode it. The good news is the rolling 2-year window: a difficult period from three or more years ago no longer drags on your score, provided you've been on top of things since.

The link to defaults. Negative RHI is the warning sign; a formal default listing is the more serious outcome. If an account reaches 60 days overdue and the debt is at least $150, the creditor may also list a default separately — a listing that stays on your credit file for 5 years, not 2.

What Is the Difference Between RHI and a Default?

These two types of credit information are related but quite different in how they work and how long they last:

You can have negative RHI on an account without a default — for example, if you were 30–45 days late on several payments but never reached the 60-day threshold. A defaulted account will also show negative RHI for the months leading up to the listing.

Can You Dispute Inaccurate Repayment History Information?

Yes — and this is worth acting on. Under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Privacy (Credit Reporting) Code 2025, you have the right to dispute any inaccuracy on your credit file, including RHI. Common errors include:

• Processing errors: a payment was received on time but applied a day or two late by the creditor's system, generating a false late mark
• Direct debit failures: your direct debit failed due to a bank or system issue rather than your own conduct, but the creditor recorded you as overdue
• Hardship arrangements: you were on an agreed payment arrangement and payments made under it were incorrectly classified as late
• Retention errors: RHI marks are still visible more than 2 years after they were recorded
• Identity errors: RHI from someone else's account has been attributed to your file due to a name or address mix-up

When you lodge a dispute, the bureau is required to investigate within 30 days under the Privacy Act 1988. If the creditor cannot verify the accuracy of what they reported, the bureau must correct or remove the entry.

For more complex cases — errors across multiple accounts, entries the creditor keeps disputing, or RHI that reappears after being corrected — getting specialist help makes a real difference. Australian Credit Solutions (ASIC ACL 532003) investigates whether credit file entries were recorded lawfully and runs formal disputes where the law allows, through our default removal and credit file correction services.

What to Do If Your Repayment History Information Is Incorrect

1. Pull all three credit files. Equifax, Experian, and illion can each hold different information. Under the Privacy Act 1988, you're entitled to a free copy from each bureau once every three months, or within 90 days of being declined credit.

2. Note each error specifically. Identify the account, the month, what's recorded, and why you believe it's wrong. Bank statements, payment confirmations, and direct debit records are your evidence.

3. Lodge a dispute with the bureau directly. Each bureau has an online dispute process. State the account, the month, the correct payment status you're claiming, and attach your documents.

4. Escalate if needed. If the bureau's response is unsatisfactory, you can raise a complaint with the OAIC, which handles credit reporting privacy complaints under the Privacy Act 1988. Free support is also available through MoneySmart (moneysmart.gov.au) or the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 if financial stress is part of the picture.

5. Seek formal help for complex disputes. Where errors are systemic or the creditor is uncooperative, a formal dispute with legal backing is the most effective path.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is repayment history information (RHI) on my credit file? Repayment history information is a monthly record of whether you paid your eligible credit accounts on time or were overdue, recorded by Equifax, Experian, and illion under Australia's Privacy Act 1988. RHI is reported under the comprehensive credit reporting (CCR) framework and covers the most recent 24 months of payment behaviour on home loans, personal loans, car loans, and credit cards.

How long does repayment history information stay on my credit file? Repayment history information stays on your Australian credit file for 2 years from the date it was recorded under the Privacy (Credit Reporting) Code 2025. Each monthly mark falls off after 24 months. This is shorter than the 5-year retention period that applies to default listings. If RHI older than 2 years still appears on your file, you can dispute it as a retention error under the Privacy Act 1988.

Does repayment history information affect my credit score? Yes — RHI is one of the most significant scoring factors in Australia's CCR-era credit model. On-time payments recorded by Equifax, Experian, and illion build a positive credit profile and lift your score over time. Late payments lower it. Because the window rolls forward over 2 years, consistent on-time payments from this point forward can meaningfully improve your score.

Can I dispute inaccurate repayment history information? Yes. Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), Part IIIA, you have the right to dispute any inaccurate entry on your credit file, including RHI. Lodge a dispute directly with the relevant credit bureau — Equifax, Experian, or illion. The bureau must investigate within 30 days, and if the creditor cannot verify the accuracy of the entry, it must be corrected or removed.

What is the difference between RHI and a default on my credit file? RHI records monthly payment behaviour — on time or how many days late — and is retained for 2 years. A default records a specific overdue debt and stays for 5 years. RHI can be positive or negative; a default is always negative. A default also requires a formal Section 21D pre-listing notice under the Privacy Act 1988 and the debt to be at least 60 days overdue and $150 or more; RHI requires neither.

Does every lender report repayment history information? Major banks, credit card providers, and most mainstream lenders are required to report RHI under Australia's comprehensive credit reporting (CCR) regime as governed by the Privacy Act 1988. Some smaller or non-traditional lenders do not participate in CCR. If you don't see RHI for a particular account on your credit file, that lender may not be a CCR participant.

Can positive RHI help me if I have a default on my credit file? Yes — a 24-month record of on-time payments on other accounts can help offset some of the negative impact of an older default. Australian lenders who use CCR data consider your full credit profile, not just the most negative entry. Consistent positive RHI signals that you're managing your current obligations well, even while an older default runs its course.

What happens to RHI if I dispute an underlying debt? If you have lodged a formal dispute with your creditor about whether a debt is valid, reporting you as late or defaulted while that dispute is on foot may constitute a breach of the Privacy Act 1988. The Privacy (Credit Reporting) Code 2025 sets accuracy obligations, and inaccurate or premature reporting during a live dispute can be grounds for a complaint to the OAIC.

Does repayment history from a joint account appear on my credit file? Yes. If you held a credit account jointly — such as a joint home loan or joint credit card — the RHI for that account may appear on both account holders' credit files. Each holder's file can reflect the joint account's monthly payment status under the Privacy Act 1988 CCR reporting rules.

Can I remove accurate negative repayment history information early? No. If RHI is accurate and within the 2-year retention window, it will remain on your credit file until it ages off. Under the Privacy Act 1988, the right to dispute applies only to inaccurate information. If the information is correct, the most effective path is building consistent positive RHI from this point forward — the rolling 2-year window means your most recent behaviour steadily takes precedence.

What to Do Next

If your repayment history information is inaccurate, start with the free routes: pull all three credit files, check every RHI entry against your own records, and lodge a dispute with any bureau where something doesn't match. The 30-day investigation window under the Privacy Act 1988 is a legal obligation on the bureau — not a courtesy.

For disputes that are more involved — errors the creditor keeps contesting, multiple accounts affected, or marks that reappear after being corrected — formal support is the more effective path. Australian Credit Solutions investigates whether credit file entries were recorded lawfully and disputes the ones that weren't, where the Privacy Act allows. There's no cost to find out where you stand.

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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.

Related reading: Comprehensive Credit Reporting Explained → | How Long Does a Default Stay on Your Credit File? → | How Long Do Late Payments Stay on Your Credit File? →