Understand credit reporting and comprehensive credit reporting (CCR)
Description
Use this article to understand how comprehensive credit reporting works in Australia and how it affects your clients’ credit profiles and lending outcomes.
Use this guide to understand how credit reporting operates in Australia, what information appears on a credit report under comprehensive credit reporting (CCR), and why this matters when assessing your clients’ lending applications.
Credit reporting legislation in Australia
Credit reporting in Australia is regulated under:
Part IIIA of the Privacy Act 1988
Privacy (Credit Reporting) Code 2014
Privacy Regulation 2013
These laws govern how credit information is collected, used, and disclosed. The collection, use, and disclosure of other personal information is covered by the Australian Privacy Principles.
Important
You must only access and use credit report information for permitted purposes and in line with your responsible lending obligations.
What is comprehensive credit reporting (CCR)?
Australia introduced comprehensive credit reporting on 12 March 2014.
Under CCR, credit reports include both positive and negative information about how an individual manages their credit obligations. This replaced the previous system, which focused mainly on adverse events such as defaults and court judgments.
CCR gives lenders greater insight into a client’s repayment behaviour over time, not just isolated negative events.
Who are the credit reporting bodies?
The recognised credit reporting bodies in Australia are:
Equifax
Experian
Illion
Tasmanian Collection Service (Tasmania only)
Lenders may use one or more credit reporting bodies, depending on their credit policies.
What information appears on a credit report under CCR?
A credit report may include:
Personal identification details, including name, date of birth, address history, employer history, and driver’s licence number
Applications for credit, including the type and amount of credit
Account opening and closing dates
Credit limits
Repayment terms and conditions
Names of credit providers and organisations that have accessed the report
Information about applications for commercial credit
Details of guarantees, including defaults under guarantor loans
Credit default information (payments over $150 that are at least 60 days overdue and subject to required notices)
Information about overdue debts that have been paid
Court judgments relating to credit
Bankruptcy and debt agreement information
Payment history information, where permitted
Serious credit infringements
Note
Payment history information can only be supplied to or accessed by licensed credit providers. It cannot be accessed by telecommunications or utility providers.
Information that must not appear on a credit report
A credit report must not include information about an individual’s:
Religious or philosophical beliefs
Health or genetic information
Racial or ethnic origin
Political opinions
Sexual orientation
Trade union or professional association membership
Criminal record
Credit account balances
Understanding repayment history information (RHI)
Repayment history information shows whether repayments were made on time for each reporting period.
Common repayment status codes include:
Repayment History Status Code | Description |
0 | The consumer credit is not overdue. Current up to and including the grace period |
1 | 15 – 29 days overdue |
2 | 30 – 59 days overdue |
3 | 60 – 89 days overdue |
4 | 90 – 119 days overdue |
5 | 120 – 149 days overdue |
6 | 150 – 179 days overdue |
X | 180 + days overdue |
C | Closed – The account is closed, was closed during that period or was not opened yet during that period |
A | Not Associated – The account is open but the subject of the report is not associated to the account |
R | Not Reported – Repayment data was not reported for this period |
P | Pending – Repayment data has not yet been reported for this period (applies only if the period is the month preceding the enquiry) |
T | Transferred – account transferred to another credit provider |
O | Other cases |
Tip
A single missed payment may have limited impact, but consistent late payments can significantly affect a client’s creditworthiness.
Why CCR matters for you as a broker
CCR influences how lenders assess risk, pricing, and product suitability. Understanding CCR helps you:
Interpret credit reports accurately
Set realistic expectations with clients
Identify potential credit concerns earlier
Support responsible lending decisions
It is strongly recommended that you obtain and review a credit report for each applicant so you can assess their financial behaviour before submitting an application.
Benefits of comprehensive credit reporting
CCR can benefit borrowers and lenders by:
Recognising positive repayment behaviour
Providing more information for clients with limited credit history
Reducing the impact of isolated missed payments
Producing more accurate credit scores
Supporting responsible lending conduct
Allowing lenders to differentiate products and pricing
Identifying emerging credit difficulties earlier
Additional learning resources
You can also watch the Tactical workshop webinar for a practical overview of credit reporting.
Need help?
If you need help understanding how credit reporting affects responsible lending or compliance obligations, contact your Partnership Manager or email [email protected].