The average Australian Equifax credit score is 846 out of a possible 1,200, which lies in the 'very good' range. The Equifax Credit Scorecard offers market-leading insights into the credit habits and Equifax credit scores of Australian consumers.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
At Equifax, we use a score range from 0 to 1,200 to calculate your credit rating. Our credit score range is broken down according to these classifications: below average (0 to 459), average (460 to 660), good (661 to 734), very good (735 to 852), and excellent (853 to 1,200).
The Equifax 2022 Credit scorecard - combining survey data of 1,016 respondents with credit score information for more than two million individuals - found many Australians are establishing more disciplined spending habits. Average Australian's credit score is 846 according to Equifax.
If your credit report shows scores out of 1,200 then as a rule of thumb a score above 853 is excellent while above 661 is good. If your credit report shows scores out of 1,000, above 690 is excellent and above 540 is good.
When you are applying for a mortgage to buy a home, lenders will typically look at all of your credit history reports from the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. In most cases, mortgage lenders will look at your FICO score. There are different FICO scoring models.
More companies use Experian for credit reporting than use Equifax. This alone does not make Experian better, but it does indicate that any particular debt is more likely to appear on an Experian reports.
While the exact range for a bad credit score in Australia can depend on the credit scoring model, usually a score between the range of 300-550 is considered a bad credit score.
As it's the largest of the credit reporting organisations, most Australian banks use Equifax credit scores in their assessments of credit worthiness. However, they can also use information from the other credit reporting organisations, as well as their own internal risk assessment measures.
Minimum score required
While you can get a home loan on a low or average credit score, you'll face a higher APR. We recommend going for the loan once you have a credit score above 630. The acceptable credit score is between 660 and 700, but some lenders might hesitate to offer you a loan.
Your Equifax score is lower than the other credit scores because there is a slight difference in what is reported to each credit agency and each one uses a slightly different method to score your data. Your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion credit reports should be fairly similiar.
Scores from Equifax and TransUnion are equally accurate as they both use their own scoring systems. Both credit agencies provide accurate scores, and whichever your lender opts for will provide suitable information.
The Equifax credit score is an educational credit score developed by Equifax. Equifax credit scores are provided to consumers for their own use to help them estimate their general credit position. Equifax credit scores are not used by lenders and creditors to assess consumers' creditworthiness.
The Equifax Credit Score ranges from 280-850.
No credit score from any one of the credit bureaus is more valuable or more accurate than another. It's possible that a lender may gravitate toward one score over another, but that doesn't necessarily mean that score is better.
ClearScore is different from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion as it doesn't collect the information itself. Instead, it has been created as a way to let consumers access their scores for free, rather than paying the monthly fees charged by the credit reference agencies themselves.
Most negative items should automatically fall off your credit reports seven years from the date of your first missed payment, at which point your credit scores may start rising. But if you are otherwise using credit responsibly, your score may rebound to its starting point within three months to six years.
Do credit scores matter in Australia? Yes, your credit score is an important measure of your overall financial health in Australia. It's also used by lenders to determine your suitability for things like loans, credit cards and even phone plans.
A credit reporting company generally can report most negative information for seven years. Information about a lawsuit or a judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer. Bankruptcies can stay on your report for up to ten years.
While 13.7 million Australians currently have a credit card, some have run into difficulties accessing this form of credit. Of those who have been denied, unsteady income (36%) is the top culprit, followed by having too much debt (22%) and having a bad credit score (21%).
Some of the major credit card companies that use Equifax include American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Discover, and Wells Fargo. These companies use Equifax to verify your identity, check your credit history, and evaluate your credit score.
What credit score do lenders use? FICO scores are generally known to be the most widely used by lenders.
Experian and Equifax are two leading credit reporting agencies in Australia. They are responsible for collecting credit information, calculating credit scores, and providing credit reports to lenders to help them assess the creditworthiness of potential borrowers.