How to Check Credit Bureau Records

By Mav OT •  Updated: 03/24/24 •  5 min read

Potential lenders and other groups use the information a credit bureau collects about your borrowing past from different lenders to decide if they should lend you money. A credit record and a credit score are then made from this information.

Companies called “credit bureaus” keep track of and share information about people’s credit records. Lenders and creditors use credit reports and scores

to decide whether to give you money. They get this information from credit bureaus by making requests. Government bodies, insurance companies, and landlords can also get in touch with credit bureaus.

The goal of these questions is to help lenders decide whether to give credit. Before giving out loans, lenders like to see a history of good credit use. Credit reporting companies use a mathematical formula to combine all the information in your credit report to give you your credit score. There are other things to think about besides this three-digit code. 

This blog post will walk you through the other branches of credit bureaus. It will also explain how to check credit bureau reports, what happens when an individual is reported to a credit bureau, ways of seeing your credit history, and more. 

How to check credit bureau records

Would you like to know more about your credit number or your current financial situation? Looking at the information that your credit company keeps on file is an easy and necessary step to taking care of your money responsibly in South Africa. To do it, follow these steps:

Choose a credit bureau with a good name: There are several reputable credit companies in South Africa, such as TransUnion and Experian. 

These businesses give you thorough credit reports and information about your financial past.

By law, you can get a free credit report from each of the three big credit bureaus once a year. You will be able to look at your credit information and make sure it is correct this way.

You can access your credit report by going to the credit bureau website you picked. If you go to the section meant for consumers or people, you will find information on how to ask for your report. 

Give the needed information Most likely, you will need to give personal information like your ID number, contact information, and forms of identification to get safe access to your credit report.

Make sure you give yourself enough time to read your credit report carefully once you have it. Check to see if there are any errors or strange things that could affect your credit score.

Find out what your credit score is. Your credit score, which shows how creditworthy you are, will be on your credit record.
You should know what your credit score is. That being said, knowing your score could help you make smart choices about your money.

One thing you can do to improve your financial health and take responsibility is to look at the records that your credit company keeps. Your level of knowledge about your credit history is directly related to how well you can handle your money and work toward your financial goals.

How can I see my entire credit report history?

You can see your entire credit report history with just a few clicks here and there. The credit report history is a detailed overview of your credit score. It reveals the time you got your credit, the entire transaction, and how you have built your credit score over time.
Seeing your entire credit report history is very simple, but you must first identify your credit bureau or where you got your credit application done. This will give you a lot of oversight on the platform. However, in most cases, when one receives his credit, he or she knows the platform to access the credit report. 

You can view your entire credit report history by logging into your credit platform. Navigate to find the details report, click to view and download as the report is mostly in a CSV form or PDF and can be easily downloaded. 

This report will give everything you may need from your credit history.

How do I clear my name from the credit bureau in South Africa?

Clearing your name from the credit bureau means erasing your entire information. But the question is; why would someone want to clear his or her name from a credit bureau? 

It is pretty straightforward to do this. But before you do this, you need to settle every cent of debt on your credit.

Once done, you need to check your credit report from the other credit bureaus. 

To ensure your name has been cleared, you must write to the credit bureau based on your request. Your name should be cleared within 10 to 20 working days. 

What happens when you get reported to the credit bureau?

Only lenders or creditors can make a strong claim and report you to a credit bureau. Usually, the credit bureau investigates when someone reports you. The rationale is to look into your credit to ensure you have not been involved in any fraudulent activities or trying to swerve some debts. This will be a hard time for you to move out of the country or even get other loans to support yourself. 

How long does bad credit stay on your name in South Africa?

A person’s credit past is a very important thing to think about when they are having financial issues in South Africa. Although having bad credit may have effects that last for a long time, it does not stay on your record forever. Bad credit information usually stays on your report for about five years. This data includes details like late payments, defaults, and court judgments. You should easily and strongly consider checking your credit bureau’s information. 

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