What is a credit reporting body (aka a credit reporting agency or credit bureau) and what do they do?

A credit reporting body (CRB), often referred to as a credit bureau or credit reporting agency, is an organisation that collects and sells credit information. In Australia CRBs are governed by the Privacy Act. This Act sets out the rules about what information can be collected about you and included in your Credit Report, as well as who can access your Credit Report. Credit reporting information encourages responsible lending by helping ensure credit is only provided to those who are likely to repay it. There are four CRBs in Australia: Equifax, illion, Experian and Tasmania Collection Service.

CRBs are obligated to provide you with a copy of the information they have on you, including your Credit Report for free.

Each CRB, like Equifax, maintains their own set of consumer credit information based on data from credit providers, like banks, financial institutions, telecommunications and utilities companies and publicly available data.

Every CRB maintains its own consumer credit information based on data from credit providers, as well as publicly available data. (Credit providers such as banks, financial institutions, telecommunications businesses and utilities companies and publicly available data such as court writs and judgements relating to credit and bankruptcies.)

Learn more: CreditSmart helps explain credit reporting.