Your credit profile contains your personal details, where and how many times you've applied for credit, as well as information on your paying habits. Whenever you apply for credit, the creditor will check your profile and decide whether to give you credit based on the information they receive from the credit bureau.

If you have a bad credit history, it impacts on your credit profile for years to come. Different credit problems are kept on record for different lengths of time:

• liquidations & sequestrations - ten years
• court judgments against you - five years
• negative records (eg unpaid accounts) - three years
• collection records and administration orders - until the debt is settled.

When you apply for credit, the creditor will check your credit rating with the credit bureau, and if you have a bad credit history, they will refuse to give you credit. This is referred to as "black listing".

You can get your credit profiles from the major credit bureaus for a fee (the fees depend on the information you are requesting). The credit bureau will be able to answer your questions about your credit rating, and whether there is anything you can do to improve your rating.

There are two major credit bureaux in South Africa:

ITC
Tel: 021 401 4200
www.transunionitc.co.za

Experian
Tel: 011 463-3930 / 6070
www.experian.co.za

If you do not get the information you require, or are not satisfied, you can contact: