Changes to how we store consumer reports

November 5, 2026

From 1st December 2026, consumer credit reports will be removed from the CreditWorks report library three months after purchase.

Until now, consumer reports on individuals, including reports on directors, have stayed in your report library indefinitely. That is changing. Commercial reports are not affected and will stay in your library as they are now.

The change brings how we store personal information in line with the Privacy Act, and with our agreement with Equifax, who supply the consumer credit information in these reports.

Why we’re making this change

The Privacy Act requires that personal information is only kept for as long as it is needed. A consumer report supports a credit decision at a point in time. Once that decision is made, it should not be held indefinitely.

It also reduces risk. Recent data breaches have shown the harm caused when personal information is kept longer than it needs to be. Information that is no longer held cannot be lost or misused.

What this means for you

  • In mid November, we’ll email you a list of any consumer reports in your library that are due for deletion, followed by a final reminder in late November.
  • On 1st December 2026, all consumer reports older than three months will be deleted from your report library.
  • From then on, each consumer report will be removed automatically three months after purchase.
  • Commercial reports are not affected.
  • You can download any reports you want to keep from your library before they are deleted. Any copy you keep is your responsibility under the Privacy Act.
  • If you have a large number of reports to download, our team can help.
  • If you need to check someone again after their report is removed, simply run a new report.

Frequently asked questions

Which reports are affected?↓
Consumer credit reports on individuals, including reports on directors. Commercial reports are not affected.
When does the change start?↓
On 1st December 2026, all consumer reports older than three months will be deleted. After that, each report is removed three months after purchase.
How will I know which of my reports will be deleted?↓
In mid November, we’ll email you a list of the consumer reports in your library that are due for deletion on 1st December.
Can I keep a copy of a report?↓
Yes. You can download reports from your library at any time before they are deleted. Any copy you keep is your responsibility under the Privacy Act.
Why is CreditWorks making this change?↓
The Privacy Act requires that personal information is only kept for as long as it is needed. It is also a requirement of our agreement with Equifax.
Can a deleted report be recovered?↓
No. Once a report is deleted, it cannot be recovered. You can run a new report at any time.

If you have any questions about this change, or need help downloading your reports, our team is here to help.

CreditWorks Group provides extensive, real-time credit data and historical insights, helping businesses understand the deeper credit risks and payment behaviours of their customers. Our secure and comprehensive services ensure that companies can make informed decisions based on a complete picture. Discuss with us today how we can help you with comprehensive credit reporting and monitoring of your customers.

Please note that due to the vast amount of data required to produce these reports, most of which is accessed from a multitude of external sources, there is an inevitable time delay in their generation. However, we prefer to defer their publication in favour of ensuring greater accuracy.

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