When you apply for credit in Australia, the credit provider will usually ask for your permission to obtain and access the information on your credit report. The information helps them determine how you manage repaying other credit obligations and process a decision to approve your application.

An Experian Credit Score represents our view of how a credit provider may see the information on your Experian Credit Report. Your Experian Credit Score is a number between 0 and 1,000. The higher your score, the healthier your report is.

Your Experian Credit Score can be useful guide. It gives you an idea of how credit providers may view your Experian Credit Report and the information contained in it when assessing your application for credit. Remember, your Experian Credit Report is only a portion of what is considered in assessing your credit application.

Excellent 800 - 1,000 This indicates an excellent Experian Credit Score and is well above the average.
Very good 700 - 799 This indicates a very good Experian Credit Score and is above the average.
Good 625 - 699 This indicated a good Experian Credit Score and is in the average.
Fair 550 - 624 This indicates a fair Experian Credit Score.
Below average 0 - 549 This indicates a below average Experian Credit Score and is likely to be considered a poor credit score by a credit provider.

 

Your credit score isn’t set in stone – it’s dynamic that can change with certain kinds of financial behaviour. It can go up or down over time, so it’s important to regularly check your credit report.

 

How your Experian Credit Score is calculated

Your Experian Credit Score is calculated applying a statistical algorithm that uses past events to predict future behaviour. Each credit bureau uses a slightly different algorithm and does not disclose in detail how this is calculated.

There are however key attributes that are used to generate your credit score such as the type of credit provider who have made enquiries on your report, the type of product you have applied for, your repayment history, the credit limit of each of your credit products and the number of credit enquiries and any negative events.

Credit History

Credit enquiries

Credit accounts

Credit limits

What could negatively impact on your Experian Credit Score

There are a few things that could have a negative impact on your Experian Credit Score:

Large number of credit applications in a short space of time Defaults Court judgements
Open accounts with debt collection agencies Missed payments
Short term credit (e.g. pay day lenders) Bankruptcy actions

 

Information that is not factored into your Experian Credit Score

A credit bureau must not include on your credit report any personal information recording your:

Political, social or religious beliefs or affiliations

Sexual preference or practices

Criminal record

Lifestyle, character or reputation

Medical history or physical handicap

Bank balances

Race, ethnic origins or national origins

Dependants
Financial Hardship Information
From July 1 2022 ‘financial hardship information’ was introduced to protect consumers’ credit history. A financial hardship arrangement is made between you and your lender to adjust your repayments due to an issue with your ability to repay.During an arrangement, your credit report will show a payment arrangement “flag” alongside that month’s repayment history information. Any financial hardship arrangements you had before 1st July 2022 will not be reported. Visit CreditSmart for more information.

 

Checking your Experian Credit Report does not affect your Experian Credit Score

Checking your own Experian Credit Report creates a special kind of enquiry, commonly known as a soft enquiry, which is recorded in the File Access Record portion of your Experian Credit Report. This type of enquiry has no effect on your Experian Credit Score.

 

How often your Experian Credit Score changes

Your score may change, increase or decrease, over time for several reasons including but not limited to:

New information reported to us This could be additional information from existing financial institutions and or / new financial institutions that begin supplying information to us.
Old information has dropped off your file We can only hold credit information for prescribed periods of time and once that time is up, the information is automatically removed from your file.
The information on your file ages The age of a piece of information may impact your score. So, you may not see any change to the data on your file but see a shift, a decrease or increase, in your score.
Periodically we will update the algorithm used to calculate credit scores As the data reported to credit bureaus changes, we occasionally need to fine tune the algorithm to ensure it continues to be relevant.

 

A score may go up or down because of new information, but this is not always the case. For instance, if you already have a very low credit score, a new default may not lower your score any further; similarly, if you already have a very high credit score, continuing to make your payments on time may not always increase your score.

Pay on time

Check report

Limit applications

Avoid -ve entries

Improving your credit score

The higher your credit score the healthier your credit file. This is because a high score indicates you have a history of managing your credit sensibly and making repayments on time. It pays to proactively manage the health of your credit score.

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