PSA: Check your credit!

Credit check

It’s that time again: time to check up on my credit report!

As a commenter wisely pointed out, my recent drama with collections (over $50, of all things) means I should definitely check and make sure that it has been fully withdrawn and isn’t on my credit record. If it is, I’m seriously going to go ballistic.

If you’re not sure how to check your credit report in NZ, here’s how. There are 3 reporting agencies. Below are the current links to request your free credit record:

Check your credit with Veda – allow 20 working days
Check your credit with Centrix – allow 5-10 working days
Check your credit with Dun and Bradstreet – allow 3 working days

You can do it all online – just enter your details and request a copy to be emailed or posted to you. They ask for your name/s, address history, and employment info. You will need the details of your ID (eg driver’s licence info) and may need to upload a scanned copy as well.

NZ credit reports include your personal details, a list of credit enquiries, any default, judgement or insolvency details, and repayment history. The repayment history isn’t exhaustive – not all credit is reported. For example, my 2015 report included my credit card history but did not include my car loan history at all.

Although I was able to obtain my credit score for free back in 2010 when they were first introduced, it seems you can no longer see your credit score unless you pay for it. Not like in the US – where you can easily get your free credit scores in a jiffy. I have no idea what mine is now!

There's more to read, if you want!

4 thoughts on “PSA: Check your credit!”

Reply Jayson @ Monster Piggy Bank September 10, 2016 at 23:32

Thanks for the reminder NZmuse. I am gonna check my credit report online.
Reply Dividends Down Under September 12, 2016 at 10:44

Good reminder NZ, we should probably check our report too. I hope yours comes back all okay!

Tristan
Reply Kelly October 15, 2016 at 21:12

Credit check now. I nearly forgot it. Haha!
Reply Debarati January 7, 2017 at 00:14

Checking our credit is almost of equal importance to keeping a track of our expenditures. Regular credit checking is necessary in order to manage our finances well and to invest our gains in potential high returning schemes. So it is a lesson for many and a reminder for any to look at their credit reports and calculate their credit scores.