I only found the default when a lender said no. What now?

Start by ordering your free credit report from each credit reporting body so you can see exactly what is listed, when, and by whom. From there we assess whether the listing meets the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 — the minimum amount, the overdue period, and the written notices — and whether the recorded details are accurate.

Which court would a judgement against me be in?

Almost certainly the Magistrates Court of South Australia, which handles minor and general civil claims. We obtain the court record and compare it against the published listing; a mismatch in amount, date, parties or status is a reporting error that can be disputed.

How long can a debt be pursued in South Australia?

Under the Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA), a simple contract debt is generally statute-barred six years after the last payment or written acknowledgement. That is separate from the five-year credit reporting retention period for a default. This is general information, not legal advice.

What free help can Adelaide residents use?

The Consumer Credit Law Centre SA and the Legal Services Commission of South Australia both provide free advice, Consumer and Business Services handles conduct complaints, Uniting Communities and the National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) provide free financial counselling, and AFCA is free. Engaging a paid service is always optional.

What does credit repair cost in Adelaide?

The credit file assessment is free. A OK Credit Repair works on a no win, no fee basis: potential fees are set out in writing before any fee-bearing work begins, and a success fee is payable only where an agreed successful outcome is achieved. Nothing is charged for an assessment that finds no grounds to dispute.

How long do listings stay on an SA credit file?

A default generally stays for five years from the date it was listed, a serious credit infringement for seven years, a civil judgement for five years, and repayment history information for two years. Only listings that are inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading, or that were recorded unlawfully, can be removed earlier.

Credit repair · Adelaide, SA

Credit repair for Adelaide and South Australia.

Free credit file assessment for Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, Gawler and regional SA. We dispute only what is inaccurate or unlawfully listed, with a success fee only on an agreed successful outcome.

The default nobody knew about

Adelaide clients most often come to us over a default they did not know existed — commonly an old telco or utility account — that only surfaced when a lender declined an application. South Australia's relatively stable rental market means those listings frequently trace back to a share house or a service transferred into someone else's name, where the required notices were sent to an address the client had already left. The first step is the same for everyone: get your free credit report from each credit reporting body and see exactly what is listed.

South Australian courts and judgement listings

South Australian civil judgements are entered in the Magistrates Court of South Australia, which handles minor civil claims and general civil claims through a single unified registry structure. We check the court record against what is published on your file before any dispute is lodged, because a mismatch in amount, date, parties or status is a reportable error.

Adelaide matters are generally filed at the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Victoria Square, with suburban and regional filings at Elizabeth, Christies Beach, Port Adelaide, Mount Barker, Murray Bridge, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Whyalla and Mount Gambier.

Judgements relevant to Adelaide files come from the Magistrates Court of South Australia. Where the published listing and the court record disagree, that is a reporting error under the Privacy Act 1988 and can be disputed. Court records can be searched through the Courts Administration Authority of SA.

In South Australia a simple contract debt is generally statute-barred six years after the last payment or written acknowledgement (Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA)).

Areas we cover from Adelaide

We act for clients across metropolitan Adelaide — the CBD and inner suburbs, the north through Salisbury, Elizabeth and Gawler, the east through Norwood and the Adelaide Hills, the south through Marion, Noarlunga and Aldinga, and the west through Port Adelaide and Henley Beach — as well as the Barossa Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula, Murray Bridge, Whyalla, Port Lincoln and Mount Gambier.

What we check on an Adelaide credit file

Telco and utility defaults from a shared or transferred account
Defaults where the notice was sent to a previous South Australian address
Magistrates Court judgements that do not match the court record
Listings still showing after the debt was paid or settled
Repayment history markers that contradict the lender's statements
Enquiries recorded during a rate comparison rather than a real application

Free help available in South Australia

South Australians have free options worth trying first. The Consumer Credit Law Centre SA gives free advice on credit reporting and debt, the Legal Services Commission of South Australia provides free legal help, and Consumer and Business Services handles trader conduct complaints. Uniting Communities offers free financial counselling, as does the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007, and AFCA resolves disputes with financial firms at no charge. We are a paid alternative, not a requirement.

You are never required to pay for help with your credit file. In South Australia you can contact the Legal Services Commission of South Australia and the Consumer Credit Law Centre SA, raise a matter with Consumer and Business Services (CBS) South Australia, or use Uniting Communities financial counselling at no charge.

Outcomes depend on the facts of each credit file. Accurate, complete, current and lawfully recorded information cannot be removed, and we make no representation about credit scores, borrowing capacity or interest rates. Information about courts and limitation periods is general in nature and is not legal advice.

Free credit file assessment

Common questions

I only found the default when a lender said no. What now?: Start by ordering your free credit report from each credit reporting body so you can see exactly what is listed, when, and by whom. From there we assess whether the listing meets the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 — the minimum amount, the overdue period, and the written notices — and whether the recorded details are accurate.
Which court would a judgement against me be in?: Almost certainly the Magistrates Court of South Australia, which handles minor and general civil claims. We obtain the court record and compare it against the published listing; a mismatch in amount, date, parties or status is a reporting error that can be disputed.
How long can a debt be pursued in South Australia?: Under the Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA), a simple contract debt is generally statute-barred six years after the last payment or written acknowledgement. That is separate from the five-year credit reporting retention period for a default. This is general information, not legal advice.
What free help can Adelaide residents use?: The Consumer Credit Law Centre SA and the Legal Services Commission of South Australia both provide free advice, Consumer and Business Services handles conduct complaints, Uniting Communities and the National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) provide free financial counselling, and AFCA is free. Engaging a paid service is always optional.
What does credit repair cost in Adelaide?: The credit file assessment is free. A OK Credit Repair works on a no win, no fee basis: potential fees are set out in writing before any fee-bearing work begins, and a success fee is payable only where an agreed successful outcome is achieved. Nothing is charged for an assessment that finds no grounds to dispute.
How long do listings stay on an SA credit file?: A default generally stays for five years from the date it was listed, a serious credit infringement for seven years, a civil judgement for five years, and repayment history information for two years. Only listings that are inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading, or that were recorded unlawfully, can be removed earlier.

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