A credit report provides a ‘picture’ of how you use credit. As an example, if you have ever owned a credit card, taken out a finance loan, or applied for a mobile phone plan you will probably have a credit history. Your credit history may include information such as enquiries by companies that you have made an application for credit to, current loans, any defaults, bankruptcies, and details about whether you pay your bills on time. This ‘picture’ is used by credit providers when deciding whether or not to approve an application for credit.
A credit report will show any credit history uploaded on your file and will usually include a credit score which is a representation of your risk to credit lenders. A higher score represents low risk, whilst a lower score represents more risk to a prospective lender.
By getting a copy of your credit report you will be able to see which lenders have made an enquiry on your credit file and what information is being uploaded to your file from lenders that you have a current loan facility with. You will be able to check that all the information uploaded on your file is accurate or make a request for an amendment if you believe there is an error.
Importantly, a copy of your credit report is also a means to assess whether someone has attempted to obtain credit in your name. Requesting a copy of your credit report on a regular basis is a way you can monitor your file to ensure no errors are on your report.
In New Zealand, there is no limit to the number of credit reports an individual can request each year and the obligation is on the agency to deliver them within 10 working days.
If you would like help understanding the process or need assistance in obtaining or interpreting your credit report please contact IDCARE.
For additional support or information, contact IDCARE by submitting a Get Help Form or call 1800 595 160 (Aus) or 0800 121 068 (NZ).
Identity Care Australia & New Zealand Ltd (IDCARE) provides identity and cyber security incident response services (the Services) in accordance with the following disclaimer of service:
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Mon - Fri: 10am - 7pm NZST
AKL: 09 884 4440
IDCARE as a registered charity does not ask individuals to donate or pay for our front line services. We are not a charity that can receive tax deductible donations.
We rely on organisations that care enough about you to care about us to keep our charitable service going. Proudly these organisations are displayed above and on our Subscriber Organisations page.
If you are asked for payment from someone claiming to be from IDCARE, please report this to us using our Report Phishing email.
IDCARE has access to the Department of Home Affairs Free Interpreting Service, delivered by the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National). Access to the Free Interpreting Service is provided to assist you to communicate with non-English speaking people who hold a Medicare card. Please note that the service does not extend to New Zealand citizens or residents who do not hold an Australian Medicare card, or to tourists, overseas students or people on temporary work visas.
New Zealand Relay provides services to help Deaf, hearing impaired, speech impaired, Deafblind and standard phone users communicate with their peers.
A TTY user connects to New Zealand Relay via a toll-free number and types their conversation to a Relay Assistant (RA) who then reads out the typed message to a standard phone user (hearing person).
The RA relays the hearing person's spoken words by typing them back to the Textphone (TTY) User.
The National Relay Service (NRS) is an Australian government initiative that allows people who are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have a speech impairment to make and receive phone calls.
The NRS is available 24 hours a day, every day and relays more than a million calls each year throughout Australia.
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IDCARE acknowledges and Respects the traditional custodians of the land on which we operate across Australia and New Zealand.
This website may contain names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori peoples.