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Knowing how to check credit scores and reports is a practical skill for staying on top of your finances.

Your credit score isn’t just for banks or lending institutions. We know that a good credit score is highly useful when negotiating interest rates and loan terms, while a poor credit score benefits from a clear understanding of why it’s been lowered by credit reporting agencies. But did you know that you can access this information easily?

If you’re planning to take out a loan, your credit score is a factor in whether or not your application gets approved. With that in mind, MONEYME can show you how to check credit scores in minutes and for free, as well as provide you with insights on what they mean.

Before we can answer questions like ‘What is my credit score?’ we should first answer ‘What is a credit score?’ 

A credit score is a number used by banks, money lenders, and credit providers when they are assessing your loan or credit card application. They use this score to determine your reliability or trustworthiness as a borrower, which can be a critical factor when it comes to deciding if your application should be approved or denied.

The information in your credit report can include your name, address, date of birth, and employer, as well as past and present loans and repayment histories. This means that your credit score will include information on any defaulted loans or late payments as well. It may also include any bankruptcies or court judgments.

Your credit score is calculated using personal and financial information collected from a variety of sources, which is also disclosed in your credit report.

So, what is a good credit score? Depending on what method the credit reporting agency uses to calculate your credit score, your score can range anywhere between 0 and 1,000 or 0 and 1,200. Generally speaking, the higher the number, the better your score will be.

A credit score check is a great way to know what your current score is, even if you don’t plan on taking out a loan or using a credit product.

It’s also a practical strategy when applying for loans, as knowing what your score is can give you an idea of whether or not your desired loan amount has a good chance of being approved. This is because your lender may use your credit score to determine whether to approve your loan and how much money they are willing to lend you.

The better your credit score, the less risky you’re likely to be seen as by your money lender. Thus, knowing how to check your credit score can be useful in indicating how you handled your debts in the past, at present, and how you may handle them in the future.

According to the Australian Government Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website, a credit reporting body is obliged to give you a free copy of your consumer credit report every three months.

You can also request free access to them if your credit-related personal information has been corrected or you’ve been refused credit in the past ninety days.

If you’d like to request copies of your report for reasons outside of these (e.g. requesting your credit report twice in three months), you may be charged a small fee by the reporting agency. In most cases, you can access your report online within a few days, but it can take up to ten days if you want your report mailed through the post or emailed to you directly.

That being said, if you’d like to learn how to check credit scores without having to directly contact these credit agencies, then the MONEYME Credit Score tool is a great option for doing so. With the MONEYME app, you can check your score in minutes and get personalised insights on your credit report – all for free. You’ll also get access to tips and tricks to improve your score, as well as special offers.

To get started, simply download the MONEYME app (available in the Apple and Google stores) and complete the account registration process by typing in your personal information, such as your name, number, email, DOB, address, and driver’s license number (optional).

After checking your credit score, you might be interested in learning how to improve your credit score.

Your credit report contains reported information about your credit history, so if your credit score appears lower than you expected, you should check that the reported details regarding your credit activities are accurate.

Check for points such as whether the amount of debt is correct or if all repayments have been recorded accurately. Also, make sure no debts are reported twice. You can also look up resources on how to check credit score reports more thoroughly on government websites like MoneySmart.gov.au. 

If you do find that the credit reporting agency has mistakenly reported a repayment or loan, get in touch with them right away so that they can correct the error. Similarly, if your credit provider has reported inaccurate information, contact them with the necessary details and ask them to get the incorrect details removed.

It may take some time for your lender to report your information to the credit reporting body, so you might not see any changes to your credit score right away. If it has been a while since any progress on your request has been provided, don’t be shy about following up on your request. 

Another method is to make sure you pay back your bills and repayments by their due date. If possible, you can set up automatic payments to minimise the likelihood that you’ll forget or miss your payments.

If you’re already managing multiple credit cards, loans, and other financial obligations, consider consolidating your debts to make your repayments easier to manage. Provided the single monthly repayment on your debt consolidation loan is lower than that of your current repayments, and you don’t end up paying out more over time due to a longer loan term, it’s likely the most suitable choice to help you become debt-free sooner. 

Finally, the number of loan applications you make may also impact your credit score, as applying for multiple loans could be a red flag to a potential credit provider. If possible, space out your loan applications months apart and try to avoid applying for multiple loans at the same time, even if they’re spread across various lenders or banks.

Taking control of your finances begins with understanding your credit score. The best way to improve your credit score is by demonstrating consistent, positive credit behaviours, and knowing how to check credit scores is just one way of doing so.