Credit reporting agencies are private companies that compile information about a consumer for the benefit of their members. Information is gathered from many sources, including finance companies, retailers, credit unions and real estate agents who can also be members of that agency. A member of a credit reporting agency therefore feeds information in and, by virtue of membership, may retrieve information out of any agency file.

Other sources of information are the list of default judgments obtainable by anyone (for a fee) from the State Attorney-General, Government Gazettes and court registries.