11/08/2026
Valuable Tips on how to fix a bad credit score
1. Get your credit report first
Before trying to fix anything, find out exactly what is damaging your score.
You are entitled to a free credit report each year from credit bureaus such as TransUnion. Check for:
Missed or late payments
Accounts you don't recognise
Incorrect balances
Defaults or judgments
Incorrect personal information
Credit enquiries you didn't authorise
Get your TransUnion credit report
If you find an error, dispute it with the credit bureau and/or creditor immediately. TransUnion allows consumers to lodge disputes online.
2. Never miss another payment
This is probably the most important habit.
Set up debit orders or payment reminders and make at least the required payment before the due date every month. Payment history is a major factor in your credit score.
Even if you can't pay everything off immediately, don't simply stop paying. Contact the lender and ask about a repayment arrangement.
3. Reduce your credit-card/store-card balances
High utilisation can hurt your score.
For example, if your credit limit is R10,000 and you owe R8,000, you're using 80% of your available credit. Work towards bringing that balance down substantially.
TransUnion recommends keeping balances below roughly 30–35% of the available limit.
4. Don't apply for lots of new credit
If you are trying to repair your score, avoid applying for several loans, credit cards and store accounts at once.
Multiple new credit applications/enquiries over a short period can negatively affect your profile.
Don't take out a new loan just to make your credit score look better. Only use credit when you can comfortably afford the repayments.
5. Deal with old debt instead of ignoring it
If you have overdue accounts, contact the creditors and negotiate.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to:
Negotiate a repayment arrangement
Settle an overdue account
Consolidate expensive debt
Get professional debt counselling if you are genuinely over-indebted
But be careful with companies promising to “remove you from the blacklist” instantly. A legitimate process cannot simply erase accurate negative information because you paid someone a fee.
6. If you're over-indebted, consider debt counselling carefully
Debt counselling can be useful if your monthly debt repayments are genuinely unaffordable. However, it is a formal process, so understand the consequences before entering it.
The NCR specifically warns consumers to make sure they understand the debt-counselling process and to use registered debt counsellors.
You can verify a debt counsellor through the National Credit Regulator's register.
7. Give your profile time to recover
There's no legitimate overnight fix.
Think of rebuilding your credit as creating a new track record:
Month 1–3:
Get your report → correct errors → stop missed payments → start reducing balances.
Month 3–6:
Continue paying everything on time → reduce utilisation → avoid unnecessary applications.
Month 6–12+:
Keep the same behaviour consistently. Your profile can gradually become stronger as positive payment information accumulates. TransUnion recommends checking your report again 30–60 days after paying off debts to ensure the information has been updated.
TransUnion
A simple rule to remember
Pay on time + owe less + apply for less + check your report + be consistent.
If you tell me your current credit score, your monthly income, how much debt you have, and whether you have any judgments/defaults, I can help you build a specific South African 6–12 month credit-repair plan.
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