What is a credit score?
When you apply for a loan, you can expect the lender to check your credit history, current debt and income so they feel confident you can repay the loan.
Your credit score is a number that sums up the information on your credit report. It tells the lender whether or not you are a trustworthy borrower.
A poor credit score can make it hard to obtain a loan with a competitive interest rate.
What is a good credit score?
Your credit score takes into account information like the number of credit applications you’ve made and the amount of money you’ve borrowed. It also notes your history of repaying debts on time.
A typical credit score will fall between zero and either 1000 or 1200, depending on the credit reporting agency. The higher the score, the better!
Check out this credit score table from Equifax so you know where you stand:
- Excellent: 853 – 1,200
- Very good: 735 – 852
- Good: 661 – 734
- Average: 460 – 660
- Below average to average: 0 – 459
If your credit score is over 661, you'll likely be able to secure an interest rate between 6.53% - 16.99% per annum on a personal loan. Scores below 660 are likely to attract a higher rate.
Checking your credit score is a worthwhile exercise. It can help you negotiate better deals or understand why a lender rejected you. If you spot any errors in your credit report, you can fix them for free by contacting the credit reporting agency.
Comprehensive credit reporting
Around 50 major Australian lenders, including Plenti, use ‘comprehensive credit reporting’. This means both negative and positive information is included in your report, painting a clearer picture of your credit history.
This is a good thing. If you have the ability to take out a loan, you’re less likely to be held back by one or two negative slip-ups from the past because the lenders will see a more balanced story of your borrowing history, including all the times you DID make payments on time!
Comprehensive credit reporting became mandatory for all lenders on 1 July, 2021.
Give it a polish!
There are ways to clean up your credit report and increase your credit score to improve your chances of being approved for a loan:
- Pay your rent, mortgage and utility bills on time
- Make credit card repayments on time and try to pay more than the minimum repayment
- Lower your credit card limit
- Limit how many applications you make for credit
- All of these things will help your credit score to improve over time.
How can I find my credit score?
You can get a copy of your credit report and credit score for free every 3 months. Check your credit report for free by contacting one of these credit reporting agencies:
- Equifax: phone 138 332
- illion: phone 132 333
- Experian: phone 1300 783 684
Simply call to get your credit score on the spot or access your report online within a day or two. You could have to wait up to 10 days to get your report by email or mail.
Alternatively, you can find out your credit score online for free through government financial guidance site Moneysmart, or financial comparison sites like Canstar.