Credit scores are a big topic, and I’ll try to cover all bases without getting bogged down in the details. Let’s start with what lenders are looking for in your credit score, then tips for increasing your score.

Most banks require a score of 622+.

Credit scores are a quick way for lenders to see whether you’re a safe or risky financial candidate. Your score is checked for a credit card, home loan, car loan, personal loan, a phone contract, applying for a rental property or arranging a hire purchase agreement. So, yep, that number is very, very important.

If your score is too low, you’ll be knocked back for whatever you’re applying for. Why would your score be low? Low scores happen because you’re brand new to credit or you’ve been late on payments, defaulted on a loan or been declined credit in the past.

If you have a higher credit score, this shows you’ve acted responsibly with credit up until now. It’s a green flag for lenders, who’ll go on to check other details like your income, expenses and other debts. While Aussie credit card providers don’t state exactly what score they require, most would say you need a Good, Very Good or Excellent credit score to be eligible. Here’s how the scores break down:

Average, Good, Very Good and Excellent scores by major credit reporters

What Factors Affect Your Credit Score?

Whether you want to maintain a high credit score or build your credit score from the ground up, you need to know what factors affect your credit, both positively and negatively. As you can see from the above tables, each of the three main credit reporting agencies in Australia – Equifax, Experian and illion – have their own credit scoring system, as well as their own way to score consumers. So, how does that work?

Each credit reporting agency collects data about you as a consumer to allow them to build your credit report. Using algorithms to weight that information, they create your credit score, which will change over time depending on how you interact with credit. In essence, your credit score is a numerical representation of the information contained in your credit report at any given time. Potential credit providers can then use that score to assess your creditworthiness.

Well then, what factors affect your credit score? Let’s take a look at what Equifax takes into consideration in order to determine your credit score.

• Type of Credit Provider. There are different levels of risk involved in approaching different types of credit provider, so where you’ve applied for credit will be taken into account.
• Type of Credit. Different types of credit also come with different levels of risk, so whether you’ve applied for a home loan or a payday loan will be significant.
• Credit Amount. The credit limit or size of the loan you’ve requested will also be assessed.
• Number of Credit Applications. Each time you apply for credit, a credit enquiry is recorded on your credit report.
• Pattern of Credit Applications. Using this pattern of credit applications, you will be assessed for potential risk. For example, making lots of applications over a short space of time can negatively affect your credit score.
• Age of Credit Report. With an older credit report, it’s easier to judge you as a consumer. If you are new to credit, you are an unknown commodity, making you higher risk.
• Personal Details. Details, such as your age, length of employment, and time at your current address, all go towards assessing potential risk.
• Defaults. Overdue debts, serious credit infringements and clearouts will likely have a negative effect on your credit score, while a lack of them may positively affect your score.
• Court Writs and Default Judgements. Again, having these will likely reflect badly on you, lowering your credit score, while a lack of them should reflect positively.

source: https://www.equifax.com.au/sites/default/files/EFX_credit-profile-infographic.pdf

How To Improve Your Credit Score

Time to start building your credit score? Let’s get into it.

Step 1. Find Out Your Credit Score

This one is a no-brainer. How can you improve your credit score if you don’t know what it is to start with? You can request a copy of your credit report from any of the three main credit reporting agencies, or you can go through an online provider that specialises in helping consumers get to know their credit.

You will need to provide some personal information when you apply, usually backed up by some form of identification. If you opt for the credit reporting agency route, you can usually apply for a copy of your credit report for free once a year, but paid services are also available. Online providers may also offer their services for free, while others may charge a fee.

Before signing up, be aware of what you are permitting those providers to do with your data, especially when dealing with those who don’t charge a fee. It’s also a good idea to find out which credit reporting agency they take your info from.

Step 2. Correct Any Errors

Your credit report contains a lot of information about you and your financial status. If you want potential credit providers to see you in the best light, it’s a good idea to make sure all the information they see is actually correct.

• If you find an error in your credit report, first report it to the credit reporting agency so they can investigate the matter. If the error is confirmed, it will be corrected within your credit report and updated free of charge.
• If their investigation concludes that there is no error, you can then talk to the credit provider that reported the error. You may need to supply evidence that proves the error is incorrect. However, they must also supply you with evidence supporting their claim.
• If the dispute is still not resolved, you have the option to raise the issue with the relevant ombudsman.
• From there, your last port of call would be the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Bear in mind, you must have attempted the previous three steps before the OIAC will hear your complaint.

Step 3. Make Positive Changes

Aside from correcting any errors on your credit report, the only way to increase your credit score is by making positive changes in the way you deal with credit. Fortunately, with Australia’s system of comprehensive credit reporting, it’s not just bad behaviour that affects your credit score. Your good deeds will also come into play.

• Pay Down Your Debts: By paying down your debts, you reduce your risk as a potential borrower. This is especially true for credit card debts, so work on paying down your balances, reducing your credit limits, and closing cards you don’t need.
• Pay On Time: Always make your repayments on time. Even one missed payment can significantly affect your credit score. However, a long history of making each payment by the due date can go a long way towards increasing your credit score.
• Avoid New Applications: Every time you apply for credit, that application is recorded on your credit report. New credit enquiries – and taking on more debt – can affect your credit score, so try to hold back on new applications if you can.
• Create A Budget: Try to create a budget that cuts out unnecessary spending, which then allows you to pay down debts while creating a buffer fund. This fund could prevent you from having to apply for credit in the future, while also giving you some peace of mind.
• Update Your Details: If you move house, update your contact details, or change jobs, update all relevant parties, including your lenders. Not only is it important your details match up when you apply for credit, you also need to be able to receive bills in order to pay them on time.

Step 4. Monitor Your Progress

How long it takes for you to see improvement will depend on the state of your credit score when you start. The lower your score is, the longer it will take to improve. However, if your credit score is around average to start, you should expect to see improvement in 12-18 months. Keeping a close eye on your credit score can allow you to see it build over time, giving you motivation to keep at it.

It’s also worth remembering that the negative information held within your credit report will drop off over time, helping to increase your credit score as it does. Repayment history drops off after two years, while defaults, clearouts, writs, summons and court judgements are removed after five years. Serious credit infringements such as bankruptcy remain on your credit report for seven years.

Step 5. Get Some Help

Improving your credit takes time and effort – and a little help goes a long way. Which is where services such as Tippla come in. Having recently launched in Australia, online platform Tippla provides a way for Aussies to manage their credit scores, offering insight into what goes into their credit report, as well as how users can build their credit score over time.

Tippla Director, Layton Brooks, describes Tippla as a financial empowerment tool. “Very few people in Australia know how their credit score impacts their lives and we’re here to change that,” Layton says. “We’ve designed our dashboards in a way that allows members to easily digest complicated credit history, check their financial status and learn about credit.”

Disclaimer: The information contained within this post is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser.

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