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James had been running a licensed building business in NSW for eight years. At his annual HBCF insurance renewal, he was told his project limit had been reduced — a change that would force him to turn away work he had already committed to. The reason was his personal credit file. A default from a dissolved business entity had incorrectly appeared on James's individual credit profile — an entity mismatch that made his personal file look significantly worse than it should have.

Sarah had been working with her mortgage broker for months to secure finance for her first home. Everything was in order — until a credit check revealed a default she had no idea existed, listed by a telco for an account she'd closed years earlier. Her broker referred Sarah to Edit Credit. We investigated the listing and found it had been recorded after the account was closed and without the required notice being properly issued — a clear procedural breach. We engaged directl

Michael had built a successful construction business over twelve years. When he approached his lender to renew a major equipment finance facility, he was told his application had been flagged — his personal credit score had dropped significantly and the lender wanted to review the arrangement. What Michael didn't know was that a single equipment loan had been recorded multiple times across two of his entities, making him appear far more leveraged than he actually was. The dup

Most people who discover a problem with their credit file start by contacting the lender or the credit bureau directly. When that doesn't resolve the issue, many assume they've run out of options. In reality, there's a further step — a free, independent dispute resolution service with real authority to require financial firms to correct information and pay compensation. That service is AFCA. What is AFCA? The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) is an independent

Every time you apply for credit in Australia — a home loan, a credit card, a personal loan, a buy now pay later account — a record of that application is added to your credit file. These records are called credit enquiries, and they stay on your file for five years. Most people know they exist. Fewer understand exactly how they affect lending decisions, or that some enquiries on their file may not have been authorised at all. What is a credit enquiry? A credit enquiry is reco

Financial hardship can happen to anyone. Job loss, serious illness, relationship breakdown, caring for a family member with a disability — circumstances largely outside your control can make it impossible to keep up with credit repayments. What many Australians don't know is that the law recognises this, and that there are specific provisions designed to protect people in genuine hardship — both now and, in some circumstances, in how past events are assessed. Your right to re

If you've found something on your credit file that doesn't look right, you have options. You can raise a dispute yourself directly with the credit reporting bureau or the credit provider — and in some cases, this is the right first step. In other situations, a professional investigation is likely to get a better result. Here's how to think about which approach fits your situation. What you can dispute yourself The credit reporting bureaus — Equifax & Experian — each have an o

Australia's credit reporting system changed significantly in 2018 when Comprehensive Credit Reporting (CCR) was introduced. Despite that, most Australians still don't fully understand what's being reported about them — or how much has changed since the days when credit files only recorded bad news. What was credit reporting like before CCR? Before CCR, Australian credit files operated on a purely negative reporting basis. The only information recorded was adverse: defaults, c

Most Australians know that a credit score exists and that a lower one is bad. Beyond that, the detail gets fuzzy. What does the number actually mean? How is it calculated? And what can you do if something on your file is dragging it down unfairly? What is a credit score? A credit score is a number that summarises the information on your credit file into a single rating, designed to give lenders a quick indication of how likely you are to repay a debt. In Australia, credit sco

One of the most common questions people have when they discover a negative listing on their credit file is simple: how long will it be there? The answer depends on the type of listing — and in some cases, whether the listing was recorded correctly in the first place. Here's a plain-English guide to the retention periods for different types of credit information in Australia, and what can be done when a listing shouldn't be there at all. Payment defaults — 5 years A payment de

Every broker, accountant, or financial advisor eventually encounters clients whose credit file is getting in the way. A loan that should be straightforward hits a roadblock. An insurance renewal comes back higher than expected. A finance application stalls because of a listing that doesn't look right. The question is what you do with that client next. The problem with the current options Most referral options for credit-impaired clients carry risk. Unregulated operators are c

For builders and contractors in NSW, project capacity isn't just determined by your team, your equipment, or your track record. It's also determined by your credit file — specifically, your director's personal credit profile and how it's assessed by HBCF underwriters. Most builders don't think about this until there's a problem. By then, the issue has often been sitting on the file for years. What is HBCF and why does your credit file matter? The Home Building Compensation Fu

Most Australian business owners assume their personal credit history and their company's credit file are separate things. In practice, they're more connected than you might expect — and errors or negative listings on either one can quietly affect what your business can borrow, what it pays for insurance, and which lenders will deal with you at all. This is an area most credit repair services don't work in. Here's what directors and business owners need to understand. Your per

We know that dealing with credit issues can feel confusing, frustrating, and even costly when you're trying to reach a big milestone like buying a home or a car. That's why we're all about empowering you to achieve your financial goals—and the very first step is simple: getting a free copy of your credit history. We recognise that most people don't want to jump on the phone and talk about their debts, so let's keep this straightforward and accessible. Know Your Rights: How to

Facing Financial Hardship? Know Your Legal Rights and What Your Lender Must Do Facing financial hardship can be a frustrating and stressful experience, especially when you feel like you're not being heard. Many people are unaware of their rights under Australian law when they can't make their loan repayments, and this lack of knowledge can leave them feeling powerless. This article will empower you by shedding light on your rights when facing financial hardship and how you ca

It’s a common misconception: applying for a new credit card or a loan is a harmless activity. After all, if you don't take the loan, no harm done, right? Not exactly. While a single application might not cause a problem, applying for too many loans in a short period of time can actually hurt your credit score. This blog post will address the difference between "soft" and "hard" inquiries, discuss the real impact of multiple applications, and provide actionable tips on how to

Did you know the average Australian has a "very good" credit score? Sounds great, right? But here's the catch: almost half of us have...

1. What is a credit default and how does it affect me? A credit default is a negative listing placed on your credit report by a credit provider when a debt of $150 or more is more than 60 days overdue. Defaults can make it significantly harder to get approved for finance — a home loan, car loan, or even a business facility — and in some cases can result in a flat-out decline, even if the amount is relatively small. A single default can also push you into higher-cost lending o

1. Who are the people behind Edit Credit? Edit Credit was founded by Kath Hack and Luke Kennedy, who bring more than 30 years of combined experience from across the credit industry — including roles in lending, credit bureaus, and debt collections. That inside knowledge matters: it means Edit Credit understands not just the rules, but how credit providers, bureaus, and collectors actually operate in practice. The business was built on the belief that people deserve honest, ex

Lisa, a busy woman in her 40s, was offered multiple credit cards by her bank over just six months. At first, it felt like a safety net —...