How is my credit report used when I apply for credit?

When you apply for credit either with a phone or utility company or a loan with a bank or finance company, they generally assess both the information on your application as well as information on your credit report against their own lending policies to make a decision on whether they will give you credit. 

As part of completing your application, you will have given a lender, phone or utility company permission to view your credit report held by a credit reporting body such as Equifax.

It's important to know that Equifax does not decide who should get credit, however, the information we provide may form part of the lenders' decision making.