Posts

Does Credit Score Go Up If You Don't Use It?

Your credit score won't improve simply by avoiding credit use. While many people believe that staying away from credit cards and loans protects their financial standing, this approach can actually hurt their credit score over time. Credit scoring models need to see consistent, responsible credit management to assess your creditworthiness. Complete credit inactivity provides limited evidence for lenders to evaluate your ability to handle credit responsibly. Key Takeaways Credit inactivity doesn't improve your score - Credit scoring models require ongoing responsible usage to maintain and build scores Unused accounts may be closed - Credit card issuers often close accounts with no activity, which shortens your credit history Optimal utilisation is 1-10% - Using a small amount of available credit shows responsible management Regular small purchases work best - Monthly transactions followed by full payments demonstrate active credit management Keep old accounts active - Make s...

How many times can I check my credit score without hurting it in Australia?

Checking a credit score will not hurt it; self-checks are soft enquiries and have no impact, so it’s safe to check as often as needed. Only hard enquiries from actual credit applications can affect the score. Quick answer and why it’s safe Soft enquiries cover personal checks through banks, apps, or credit reporting bodies. These do not influence a score and are not visible to lenders. Hard enquiries occur when applying for credit and can affect a score, which is why frequent self-monitoring is fine any time. How often to check A monthly score check is practical because most providers refresh scores at least monthly. Pair that with a full credit report review every quarter for a deeper look at repayment history, enquiries, and any new accounts. Soft vs hard enquiries (Australia) Soft enquiry: a personal check or a non-lending review; no impact on a score and typically only visible to the consumer. Hard inquiry: a lender check during a credit application; it can lower a score and s...

Can I get a late payment removed?

Short answer: a late payment can be removed if it’s wrong , unfairly listed, or updated under a valid correction or hardship record ; accurate late payments usually stay for 24 months as repayment history, while defaults stay for 5 years. What counts as a “late payment” in Australia Repayment History Information (RHI) records whether repayments were made on time and shows a 24‑month rolling history on eligible credit accounts like credit cards, loans, and mortgages. RHI is often shown as a month‑by‑month chart with codes that indicate on‑time or how many months overdue, and it drops off after 24 months. When removal is possible A late mark can be removed if it’s incorrect, incomplete, out‑of‑date, or misleading under the Privacy Act correction rules managed by credit reporting bodies like Equifax, Experian, and illion, or by the original credit provider. The industry “no wrong door” rule means either the credit provider or the credit reporting body that gets the request mus...