C
Credit
Credit Profile
Your credit history lives at TransUnion, Experian, and Compuscan — it's basically a report card that shows every account you've ever opened, every payment you've missed, and every time a lender has checked you out. Lenders pull this before deciding whether to give you money and at what interest rate.
Usage Examples
"Nomsa pulled her credit profile and found an old Edgars card still sitting there from three years ago. She closed it immediately — it was dragging her score down."
"Every time you apply for credit, an enquiry hits your profile. Thandi applied for three loans in one week and tanked her score because lenders thought she was desperate for cash."
"A solid payment history — showing you pay stuff on time, every time — is literally the most valuable thing on your profile. Mpho fixed his record by paying everything on the dot for 18 months."