FOLLOW US Follow us on social media
Personal Loans Australia
Australian Personal Loan Resources
Personal Loans Australia :: Articles

5 Credit Killers

What are the top factors that can damage your credit score?

5 Credit Killers

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

A good credit score speaks volumes about your financial habits. It's the evidence most creditors need to evaluate your credit worthiness.
Interestingly, there are some credit killers that even people maintaining good credit scores would unwittingly be a part of, which will be their undoing when applying for credit facilities in the future.
These mistakes may seem to be insignificant, but when the time comes, you may face more problems than you expect.

Avoiding Debt

Creditors need to evaluate your financial history to approve any credit facilities.
If you have no previous or existing debts, it might adversely affect your case, as creditors have no way of checking out how you'll handle the credit you get from them.

Shopping For Rates

Looking around for the best rate may actually turn out to be bad.
Too many inquiries within a short period could damage your credit score.
Usually, if you do more than 3 or 4 inquiries within a single month, you are likely to scare the lenders. For the same reasons, transferring the balances on your credit cards could be a bad idea as well.

Assuming There's a Grace Period

If you are late on a payment by even one day, you are late, period.
Never assume there's a grace period for late payments, because it only affects your credit score negatively.

Closing Old Accounts

Because your relevant transaction history also gets erased when you close your old accounts, your credit history is shortened and it may lower your credit score.
If you want to close your old accounts, close everything except the oldest account, which will leave a longer history.

Co-signing Loans

The obvious problem here is that the primary borrower's mistakes will end up on your credit report as well.

Published: Sunday, 1st Aug 2021
Author: Paige Estritori

Rate this article

Sign in with Google to rate

0 Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.


Personal Loans Articles

How Responsible Lending Checks Work for Personal Loans in Australia
How Responsible Lending Checks Work for Personal Loans in Australia
Responsible lending checks help lenders assess whether a personal loan is suitable for an applicant's needs and affordable based on their financial situation. Here's why lenders ask detailed questions about income, expenses and loan purpose in Australia. - read more
Essential Steps to Take Before Applying for a Loan
Essential Steps to Take Before Applying for a Loan
Before considering a loan application, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of your current financial position. Start by noting down all sources of income, including salary, any additional earnings, or government benefits. This will give you a comprehensive view of your financial inflows. - read more
Personal Loans with a Low Credit Score: What Australian Borrowers Should Know
Personal Loans with a Low Credit Score: What Australian Borrowers Should Know
A low credit score does not automatically stop you from applying for a personal loan in Australia, but it can affect your eligibility, loan options and total cost. Here is what to consider before you apply. - read more

Finance News

Card Spending Trends Keep Personal Loan Planning in Focus
Card Spending Trends Keep Personal Loan Planning in Focus
17 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest retail payments update offers another useful snapshot of how households are managing everyday spending, card use and short-term credit. While payment data is not the same as loan approval data, it can still tell borrowers something important: the way money moves through a household each month can affect how comfortable a lender feels about future repayments. - read more
RBA Lending Rate Update Highlights the Real Cost of Personal Borrowing
RBA Lending Rate Update Highlights the Real Cost of Personal Borrowing
10 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest lending rate statistics are a useful reminder that personal borrowing costs can vary widely, even when the broader cash rate outlook appears steady. For households considering a car loan, debt consolidation loan or unsecured personal loan, the key issue is not simply whether rates are rising or falling. It is whether the loan being offered is affordable, suitable and competitive for the borrower’s circumstances. - read more
Latest Credit Signals Reinforce the Need for Careful Loan Planning
Latest Credit Signals Reinforce the Need for Careful Loan Planning
03 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest financial aggregates add another layer to an ongoing story for personal loan borrowers: consumer credit remains an important pressure point for household budgets, even as interest rate settings stay under close watch. - read more
Click for more Finance News

Need Help Finding a Loan?
Find out now if you qualify and compare rates, offers and options from multiple lenders - without a credit check!
Loan Amount:
Postcode:

All quotes are provided obligation-free by a participating broker from our national referral partner network. We respect your Privacy.

All finance quotes are provided free (via our secure server) and without obligation. We respect your privacy.

Knowledgebase
Loan Application Fees:
Fees that are charged to cover or partially cover the lender's internal costs of setting up a loan approval for a home buyer.


This website is owned and operated by Clark Family Pty Ltd (ACN 010 281 008) as Trustee for the Clark Family Trust (ABN 35 957 893 714), 43 Larch Street Tallebudgera QLD 4228. Clark Family Pty Ltd is an Authorised Representative (AR 1298860) of Unique Group Broker Services Pty Ltd (AFSL 509434). Check our licensing details on the ASIC registers: Clark Family Pty Ltd ACR, Clark Family Pty Ltd AR, Unique Group Broker Services.
IMPORTANT: We act solely as an introducer and refer enquiries to licensed third-party brokers, insurers, and lenders. We do not provide financial product advice or credit assistance. We may receive a fee or commission from these third parties in consideration for the referral. Before any action is taken to obtain a product or service referred to by this website, advice should be obtained (from either the third party to whom we refer you or from another qualified intermediary) as to the appropriateness of obtaining those products having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. Whilst we have our own process for validating the legitimacy of our referral partners, you should independently verify the credentials and licensing of any adviser or provider you engage. Visit the ASIC website for further information.