Credit Score Basics in South Africa: What Actually Helps

What a credit score represents

A credit score is a summary of how you’ve managed credit over time. Lenders use it as one input when deciding whether to lend and what rate to offer.

What typically helps

• Paying on time consistently
• Keeping credit utilization reasonable
• Maintaining older accounts (history matters)
• Avoiding frequent new-credit applications

What can hurt

• Late payments or missed payments
• High utilization (maxed-out accounts)
• Many hard enquiries in a short period
• Default judgments or collection actions

Bottom line

Improving a score is usually about consistency and time, not hacks. Build habits: pay on time, keep balances under control, and avoid unnecessary new credit.

Quick recap

• Compare scenarios side-by-side using tools.
• Build buffers to survive rate and cost shocks.
• Confirm exact numbers and rules with official sources.

Suggested next step

Open Rate-Change Impact and run a +1% and +2% scenario. Then use Budget Buffer to set a buffer target that fits your income.