The core topics in this library
This hub brings together plain-language notes on the parts of credit that often cause confusion. You can read about credit scores, what shows on a credit report, how debt review works under the National Credit Act, and how budgeting fits into the picture. The articles are written for everyday South Africans, whether you live in Rosebank, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town or Gqeberha.
If you only want one starting point, begin with the topic that matches your current question. A credit score article helps when you want the basics, while debt review notes make more sense when monthly repayments are already feeling too tight.
Credit scores and credit reports, explained simply
A credit score is a number that helps lenders get a quick sense of risk. A credit report is the fuller record behind that number, showing accounts, repayment history, enquiries and other credit activity. Both are used in South Africa when lenders assess an application, but they are not the same thing.
- A score can change as your account activity changes.
- A report may show late payments, defaults or settled accounts.
- Checking your own report can help you spot errors.
- Old information may still affect how a lender reads the file.
OpenCredit’s notes explain these parts in general terms so you can read your own information with more confidence.
Debt review in South Africa, in plain language
Debt review is a process set out under the National Credit Act for consumers who may be over indebted. It can involve an assessment by a registered debt counsellor, a review of monthly commitments and, where appropriate, a repayment plan that is more manageable than the original set of instalments. The process has formal steps and legal effects, so it is not something to treat casually.
The library covers the usual questions people ask about debt review basics, the counsellor role, application documents, assessment steps, payment plan basics, court order overview and clearance certificate issues. For any personal case, confirm the position with a registered debt counsellor or the National Credit Regulator.
Budgeting notes for monthly money pressure
Budgeting is often the first thing people tighten before they speak to a counsellor. A proper budget is not only a list of bills, it also shows what money comes in, what must go out and where small leaks keep building up. That picture matters whether you live in a city flat in Sandton or in a family home in Midrand.
Our budgeting notes cover practical points like essentials, variable spending, transport costs and the difference between fixed and flexible items. We also look at budget during review, because payment plans still need a household to function, and a plan that ignores basics usually becomes harder to keep to.
- List every monthly commitment, even the small ones.
- Separate essentials from optional spending.
- Keep one clear view of income and deductions.
- Leave room for school costs, fuel or groceries.
Reading the law side without getting lost
The National Credit Act gives structure to consumer credit in South Africa and sets rules around affordability, agreements and debt review. People often hear about consumer rights, court order overview and over indebted signs, but the detail can feel hard to follow at first. The notes in this section keep the language steady and practical.
If you are trying to understand how an application is assessed, why documents matter, or what a formal process may require, these pages give a general map. They do not replace legal advice, and they do not tell you what to do in your own matter.
How to move through the list
Each card in the library points to a specific topic, so you can read in any order. If you want the broad picture, start with credit score basics and then move to credit reports. If your focus is debt pressure, begin with over indebted signs and the debt review pages. If you are already comparing your options, the questions to ask article is a useful place to pause.
People in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Gqeberha use the same notes, because the credit rules are national, even though everyday money pressures differ from place to place. For a personal matter, the final check should always sit with a registered debt counsellor or the National Credit Regulator.
- Start broad, then move into the detail you need.
- Use the notes as background reading only.
- Confirm personal steps before acting on them.