Challenge your credit record.

Some things in life are indeed free.  South African consumers are entitled to one free credit report each year. This is obviously only your own credit report. If you feel that your report is in any way inaccurate, then this is what you should do:

1. Contact the credit bureau concerned and raise an objection or lodge a complaint. The major credit bureaux are TransUnion ITC or Experian;
2. Once your objection or complaint has been lodged, the relevant credit bureau then has 20 days in which to resolve your issue;
3. If it is not able to do so, you may then refer the matter to the Credit Information Ombudsman;
4. Should the ombudsman not be able to resolve the matter, the National Credit Regulator will intervene on the request of the ombudsman.

Some useful contacts: TransUnion ITC ( 0861 482 482); Experian (0861 105 665)