FAQ's
What is a commercial credit report?
It’s a detailed analysis of a business or an individual's credit history, capturing critical information about past credit enquiries, payment records, and financial liabilities. Built on extensive data from multi-sourced environments like financial institutions, ASIC, ABR, and court registers, it provides a comprehensive 360-degree view of a company's financial stability and overall risk profile.
When should I use a commercial credit report?
Before onboarding any new customer, supplier, or trading partner to evaluate their reliability and establish appropriate credit limits. Leverage credit reporting during regular portfolio health checks to spot emerging risk signals, update payment terms, and proactively mitigate the risk of bad debt across your existing business relationships.
How can Equifax commercial risk reports help my business make safer lending decisions?
Our reports combine deep data assets with sophisticated AI algorithms to give you a clear, 360-degree view of a business's financial health. By using our predictive insights and next-generation scores, you can more easily and accurately assess business stability, guide credit terms and help protect your cash flow by reducing exposure to bad debt.
What makes the next-generation Equifax commercial scores more predictive?
Our enhanced credit scores leverage over a decade of pioneering AI and machine learning built on modern cloud capabilities. The models feature recalibrated data points - such as company size and specific tax default amounts - to deliver a significant uplift in score predictability and help you identify risk early.
How do credit reports help me spot hidden risks like phoenixing?
We have deployed sophisticated AI algorithms designed to analyse high-velocity market signals and spot poor trading practices. By linking a company's data to its directors and their related interests, we expand your line-of-sight to capture up to 12.3% of adverse applications, compared to just 3.1% when looking at the standalone company level.
Can I monitor my existing customers and suppliers for changes in risk?
Yes. Our automated monitoring and alerts track your portfolio 24/7, eliminating the element of surprise. You will receive real-time notifications about critical changes - such as new court actions, tax defaults, or risk rating fluctuations - allowing you to proactively adjust your credit terms.
What kind of data sources are included in an Equifax commercial report?
Our insights are built on Australia's most comprehensive corporate database, covering 90% of active commercial entities. We consolidate data from over 75 diverse sources, including ABR, ASIC, the ATO, PPSR, trade payment histories, and the unique data assets of the Equifax Commercial Credit Bureau.