Dun & Bradstreet's latest Consumer Payment Priorities Study found that out of the 20% of people who said they would miss a mortgage repayment, 21% were women and older people and 23% were high income households.
Dun & Bradstreet New Zealand general manager John Scott says an individual's payment history is key in determining their credit profile and access to mainstream funds.
"Mortgage lenders, banks, utility companies, telcos and various other lenders all follow the same formula, evaluating an individual's credit history to gauge their financial personality - so it is important to have a good bill-paying record," he says.
"The study highlighted a significant gap in consumer knowledge about the importance of personal finance management."
The Dun & Bradstreet survey was conducted online with 1000 participants.
