If you believe someone has fraudulently accessed or used your personal information (or is likely to do so), you should check your credit file for any suspicious transactions and also request illion to place a Suppression Report on your credit file.
Below are some frequently asked questions around what a Credit File Suppression does and how it affects your credit report.
Check your Credit File
How to do it?
Your Credit File is a secure file illion keeps of applications for credit, and transactions in repaying credit, on your behalf. Credit providers review your Credit Report to determine if an application for credit is likely to be repaid based on your previous behaviour.
Checking your credit report is an important way of determining if any credit applications have been made in your name without you knowing. The way to access your credit report is:
Credit Check – https://www.creditcheck.illion.com.au/
Credit File Suppression
What does this mean?
If an individual has been a victim of fraud or believes they are likely to be a victim of fraud (including identity fraud) they can request illion to place a ban on their credit file using the Credit File Suppression Request form. This also allows for a Credit File Suppression request to be made to the other credit reporting bodies.
Initially a Credit File Suppression will be put in place for 21 days. This will prevent a credit provider from accessing credit reporting information from illion and reduce the likelihood of credit being provided fraudulently.
If a Credit File Suppression is put in place illion will confirm with the individual and inform them when the ban period will expire.
A Credit File Suppression is an important step if your identity has been compromised. Placing a Credit File Suppression on your credit report means illion may not share your credit report or information with any other credit provider (unless we are required to by law) while the Suppression Report is in place.
The initial ban period lasts for 21 days, however you can cancel or extend your ban by notifying us in writing. If a credit provider requests your credit report during this period, illion will explain there is a ban in place and will not provide any information.
Can I extend the Credit File Suppression beyond the initial 21 days?
Yes – you can extend your Credit File Suppression for a 1 year if you need to.
Can I still apply for credit during the Credit File Suppression?
You can apply for credit, however, while a Credit File Suppression is in place a Credit Provider will not be able to access credit reporting information from us, this may limit the Credit Provider’s capacity to make a full credit assessment. If a Suppression Report is in place an individual may authorise us to share their credit information with a specific Credit Provider if required, this authorisation must be in writing.
Should I request a Credit File Suppression at all the credit bureaus?
Yes – you should request a credit report Suppression Report at the two other major providers of credit reports – Equifax and Centrix. You can request this when you complete the illion Credit File Suppression.
Requesting, Extending and Cancelling your Credit File Suppression
Requesting a Credit File Suppression
Placing an extension on your Credit File Suppression
Cancelling an existing Credit File Suppression
During the Credit File Suppression period, if any credit applications or enquires are made by credit providers using your personal details, no credit reporting information will be released to those credit providers. Therefore, you may not be able to access credit during the Credit File Suppression period. Credit providers can still provide us with information on you during the Suppression Report period.
You can however, consent to the release of your credit reporting information during the Credit File Suppression, if you wish to seek credit during this time by filling in the below form.