Your credit report is a crucial part of your financial profile. It helps lenders decide whether to approve your loan or credit card application—and what interest rate to offer you.

If you’ve never checked your credit report, now is the time.

Here’s how to access your free Equifax credit report in Australia, step by step.

Your free equifax credit guide

What Is a Credit Report?

Your credit report is a record of your credit history. It includes:

  • Your personal details (name, DOB, address)
  • Credit accounts (home loans, credit cards, personal loans)
  • Repayment history
  • Defaults, judgments, and bankruptcies
  • Credit enquiries (when you’ve applied for credit)

Lenders use this report to assess your risk as a borrower.

Who Is Equifax?

Equifax is one of Australia’s three main credit reporting agencies (along with Experian and illion).

They collect your credit information and create a report and credit score. Lenders use this data to evaluate your application.

If there are errors on your report, it could hurt your ability to get approved for a loan—or land you with a higher rate.

That’s why it’s worth checking at least once a year.

Are You Eligible for a Free Credit Report?

Yes. Under Australian law, you’re entitled to one free credit report every 3 months from each credit bureau.

You can also request a free report if:

  • You’ve been declined credit in the past 90 days
  • You’ve had a correction made to your report recently

So if you haven’t checked your report in the past 3 months, you’re eligible for a free copy—no strings attached.

How to Get Your Free Equifax Credit Report

Here’s how to request it online in under 10 minutes.

Step 1: Go to the Equifax Website

Visit: https://www.equifax.com.au/personal/products/credit-report

Click on “Get my free Equifax credit report”.

Couple unlocking free equifax report

Step 2: Fill in Your Details

You’ll need to provide:

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Driver’s licence or another ID
  • Residential address history for the past 3 years
  • Email address and phone number

Make sure your details are accurate and match what lenders have on file. Even a minor typo can cause delays.

Step 3: Submit ID Documents

Equifax needs to verify your identity.

You can upload documents such as:

  • Driver’s licence
  • Passport
  • Medicare card
  • Utility bill

Follow the instructions carefully and make sure all images are clear.

Step 4: Wait for Verification

If your identity is verified instantly, you might get access to your credit report right away.

If further checks are needed, it can take up to 10 business days.

Equifax will email your credit report to you as a PDF.

What You’ll See in Your Report

Once you receive your report, you’ll be able to review:

  • Your credit score (0 to 1,200 range)
  • Any open credit accounts under your name
  • Your repayment history for the past 2 years
  • Any defaults or late payments
  • Past credit applications
  • Public records (bankruptcies, court judgments)

Take your time to go through it carefully. Look for:

  • Loans or accounts you don’t recognise
  • Incorrect late payments
  • Incorrect personal information
  • Suspicious enquiries

What to Do If You Spot an Error

Errors happen. But they can damage your credit score—and your ability to borrow.

If you find a mistake:

  1. Contact Equifax directly: https://www.equifax.com.au/contact
  2. Provide clear details and supporting documents
  3. Equifax will investigate the issue (usually within 30 days)
  4. You’ll be notified of the outcome

If you’re unhappy with the result, you can escalate to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).

Tips to Maintain a Healthy Credit Report

Checking your report is the first step. But what you do next matters more.

Here’s how to keep your credit record clean:

  • Pay bills and loans on time—this is the biggest factor
  • Avoid applying for multiple credit cards or loans in a short period
  • Keep older accounts open if they show good history
  • Reduce your credit limits if you don’t need them
  • Don’t ignore defaults or missed payments—talk to the lender and try to settle

These habits can improve your credit score over time and boost your chances of loan approval.

Why It Matters

Let’s say you’re applying for a home loan. Two people with the same income and deposit can get completely different outcomes based on their credit report.

One might get a sharp rate from a big bank. The other might be forced to use a second-tier lender with higher rates—or even get rejected.

Knowing where you stand puts the power back in your hands.

Should You Pay for Credit Monitoring?

Equifax offers paid services like credit alerts and monthly credit score tracking.

You don’t need to sign up for these to get your free credit report.

But if you’re actively working on your credit score or suspect identity theft, these services can be helpful.

Ask yourself:

  • Am I planning a major loan in the next 6–12 months?
  • Have I been the victim of fraud before?
  • Do I want to be notified the moment my credit file changes?

If yes, it could be worth the extra cost.

How Often Should You Check?

At a minimum: every 3 to 6 months.

If you’re applying for finance soon, check 3 months ahead. That gives you time to spot issues and fix them before the lender sees your file.

You can stagger your checks across the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, illion) every few months to monitor your credit more regularly.

Final Thought

Your credit report can be the difference between a fast approval and a hard no.

Checking it is free. Fixing errors is free. And the peace of mind is priceless.

Get on the front foot. Take 10 minutes today and grab your free Equifax credit report.

You’ve got nothing to lose—and a better financial future to gain.

Want help improving your credit or getting loan-ready?

Reach out to us and we’ll walk you through your options.

Let’s get your finances sorted.

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