What Is a Credit Bureau and What Information Does It Hold?
A credit bureau is a registered company that collects and stores information about how consumers manage credit, and supplies that information to credit providers to help them assess risk. In South Africa, bureaux hold account information, payment history, enquiries, judgments and debt-review indicators, and consumers have rights to access and dispute their records.
Key Points
- Credit bureaus collect and report credit conduct information.
- They hold account, payment, enquiry and judgment information.
- Consumers have the right to access and dispute their records.
- Bureaus are regulated under the National Credit Act.
What information does a credit bureau hold?
Bureaux hold details of your credit accounts — including types of credit, opening dates, limits, balances and payment conduct. They also record enquiries made by credit providers, court judgments, administration orders and debt-review indicators.
This information is supplied by credit providers and public records, and is used to produce your credit report and score.
Who regulates credit bureaux in South Africa?
Credit bureaux are registered and regulated under the National Credit Act. They must follow rules about what information may be held, for how long, and how consumers may access and correct it.
This regulation is designed to balance the needs of credit providers with consumer rights.
What are your rights regarding your credit information?
You have the right to access your credit report, to be informed when adverse information is listed, and to dispute incorrect information. Bureaux must investigate disputes and correct or remove information that is inaccurate or outdated.
If you believe information on your report is wrong, you can lodge a dispute with the bureau concerned. See our guide on disputing incorrect credit information.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Reviewed by Carolina Guevara Harris
Registered Debt Counsellor · NCRDC3152
Last updated: 17 September 2025
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