What do credit bureaus know about me?

What information do credit bureaus hold?

Credit reports are essential tools that everyone needs to use to create a more secure financial future. They are also valuable to employers especially if they are looking to hire new employees or whether you are trying to secure financing for a home, car, or personal emergencies.

Credit reports contains information about all your current and past accounts and your repayment history on those accounts.

The main credit bureaus in South Africa.

To be able to apply for credit, whether it’s for a business loan or a personal loan, you need to know your credit score and ensure that information in your credit report is error free. The credit bureaus in South Africa: Experian/Compuscan, TransUnion, XDS, CPB and Vericred are the 5 major credit bureaus in South Africa.

How do credit bureaus get your information?

Credit providers such as banks, clothing store accounts, and vehicle financers all send information about your accounts and payment history to the major credit bureaus.

What type of information do credit bureaus get?

• Personal Information: Name (current and previous), Addresses (current and previous), Date of birth, Identity Number, Employer, and other personal data.
• Collections: Accounts sold to (or managed by) third-party debt collectors.
• Public Records: Bankruptcies, previously included judgments and tax information, where appropriate.
• Accounts: Credit obligations (current and previous), Account numbers, Payment history, Current balance, Status (current, closed, past due, lapsed), Credit limit, and Date of account opening.

The Credit Bureaus Must Follow Laws.

You may find it frustrating that companies are allowed to collect sensitive financial information without your permission. Yet you can take comfort in the fact that even though these companies can gather your information and sell it to others, there are some rules in place to protect you.

Now that you know what information credit bureaus collect and report on, get your credit report. Visit Credit Health to securely purchase your credit report online.