C
Credit
Credit Bureau
These are organizations that keep track of your entire credit history — every loan you took, every payment you made or missed, every default or judgment against you. The main ones in SA are TransUnion, Experian, ITC, and Compuscan. Lenders check these bureaus before saying yes or no to your application.
Usage Examples
"Nomsa pulled her free annual credit report from TransUnion and found an old unpaid account still showing as a default. She disputed it and TransUnion removed it within 30 days. Turns out she'd settled it two years ago."
"When Bongani applied for a home loan in Sandton, the bank checked him at Experian. They found a judgment from a store card he'd defaulted on in 2021. That single judgment made getting the bond hectic — he had to settle it first."
"Lerato wanted to know her credit score. She checked with Experian and TransUnion separately because different bureaus sometimes have slightly different records. Smart move — Experian had a dodgy inquiry she never made."