TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries, including South Africa. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this by providing an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care.
Through our acquisitions and technology investments, we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk, and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good®—and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences, and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world.
A credit bureau is an organisation that collects and maintains information on all credit-active individuals in South Africa. This includes credit reporting agencies like TransUnion. You’re considered credit active if you’ve taken out a line of credit — like a loan, store- or credit card — with a credit provider or have signed up for a service such as a mobile phone contract.
Credit bureaus collect both positive and negative information on your accounts, including your payment behaviour, which is documented and stored in your credit profile. Each month, data providers send updated information on credit and service agreements to the credit bureaus — which is then added to your credit profile.
At its core, credit refers to the ability to borrow money or access goods or services with the promise to pay later. When you borrow money, you typically agree to repay it with interest over time.
Having a basic understanding of credit is becoming increasingly important in today's world. In fact, many businesses, including insurance companies and some employers, now routinely review consumer credit information as part of their application processes. This means your credit standing can impact your ability to secure loans, insurance and even employment opportunities.
A credit report provides a snapshot of your credit activity and how lenders perceive your creditworthiness.
It typically includes information like:
A credit report does not contain any data such as race, religious beliefs, political affiliations, or medical histories.
Credit report information is collected and updated by data providers, such as banks and other financial institutions, who submit updates on your credit profile to credit bureaus like TransUnion. The timing of these updates can vary between different data providers and credit bureaus, which may lead to slight differences in your credit reports and scores at any given time. Additionally, not all data providers report to every credit bureau, so the information on your credit report may differ depending on which bureau is being used.
TransUnion will only share your information as prescribed by the National Credit Act or with your consent, where applicable. By understanding who can view your credit report information, you can take steps to protect your privacy.
A credit/service provider is an entity, such as a store, bank, or other financial institution, that extends credit to consumers. This enables you to purchase goods or services on a "buy now, pay later" basis, allowing you to obtain what you need immediately and pay for it over time.
TransUnion does not make decisions to grant or deny credit. Only the credit or service provider with whom you applied for credit can tell you why your application was declined. They are required to provide you with the reason in writing. Each credit provider has its own unique credit assessment criteria, which may include evaluating your affordability based on your income, expenses, employment details, length of residence, home ownership, number of dependents, and more.
As a registered credit bureau, TransUnion is mandated by the National Credit Act to collect, process, and share your information. When you sign an application form with a credit or services provider, you also agree to contractual clauses that allow them to submit the information you provided to the credit bureaus for verification.
TransUnion will only share your information as prescribed by the National Credit Act or with your consent, where applicable.
A judgment is granted by the court against a consumer who has not paid their debts to a credit/service provider. A judgment is public information and remains on your credit report for 5 years or until the judgment is rescinded by a court or paid in full. The display period a judgment is 5 years. These periods are in line with the data retention periods prescribed by the National Credit Act (NCA).
Default data is negative information supplied to TransUnion by a store, bank or other credit provider if you default on your credit agreement with them, typically after missing three consecutive payments. The display period for a default is 1 year, in line with the data retention periods prescribed by the National Credit Act (NCA). However, default data will remain on your credit report until the default is paid in full or the display period has expired.
Don't ignore the problem, hoping it will go away, it won't. The good thing about a negative credit report is that it can be fixed. Find out what is considered bad and good for your credit and how to recover from your credit mistakes. Here’s what you can do:
To ensure your TransUnion credit report only contains accurate information that pertains to you, you can log a dispute or query by calling TransUnion at 0861 482 482 or log into your profile on www.mytransunion.co.za. Only inaccurate information can be removed, and negative but accurate information will remain on your report as prescribed by the National Credit Act.
Beware of "credit repair agents" who may charge you upfront fees to remove valid listings from your credit report. This practice is illegal and can result in financial loss. You can query or dispute any information on your credit report directly with the credit bureau at no cost. A credit bureau typically concludes investigations within 20 business days of receiving your request.
It is best to avoid applying for credit while a dispute is pending. To ensure a quick turnaround time, make sure to provide all necessary documentation to support your dispute.
A dispute refers to a challenge of the accuracy of credit information contained in your credit report. If there are factual inaccuracies in the information on your credit report, you can log a dispute with TransUnion. However, if the information is factually correct but needs to be updated due to a subsequent event not yet reflected, this is considered a query rather than a dispute. In such cases, TransUnion will treat the matter as an update request or query.
A query relates to the content of information on your credit report and is not a challenge to the accuracy of information on your credit report. If the information is factually correct but needs to be updated due to a subsequent event not yet reflected, this is considered a query rather than a dispute
Personal Information update: Updating your personal information on your credit record, for example, your name, address, employer, and ID number. To update your personal information, we require you to provide us with the relevant, verified information.
A credit score is a 3-digit number. Your TransUnion credit score is a representation of how you manage your existing credit obligations. The TransUnion credit score is not an endorsement or a determination of your qualification for a loan. The TransUnion credit score serves as a personal benchmark that can help you improve your credit behaviour.
A TransUnion consumer credit score can range from 0-999
A consumer credit report will be updated with new information provided over time by credit/service providers. Your TransUnion credit score is calculated based on the latest information contained in a credit report at the time the score is requested.
TransUnion has introduced a new, more advanced scoring model. This model offers a more detailed and personalised view of your credit profile, helping you better understand how you’re managing your credit. To support you on your credit journey, we provide Score Reasons — clear explanations that show your score is at its current level and what actions you can take to improve it.
As per the National Credit Act a credit or service provider may determine for itself any scoring or other evaluative mechanism or model to be used. This means that the TransUnion credit score is not the same score that lenders will use to decide if you qualify for credit or a loan.
A credit risk score used by lenders will include not only the credit information held by a credit bureau, but also additional elements such as your income and expenses, your demographic information, current and past relationship with the lender, collateral and more.
Service Terms of Use
Welcome to the transunion.co.za and mytransunion.co.za website
Notice: Your use of any products or services on this web site, through our call centre and any other designed methods or channels, constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use.
Acceptance of the terms
Please read the following information carefully before using this web site. By accessing or using the web sites, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the TransUnion General Terms of Use and the Service Terms of Use (collectively the "Terms of Use"). If you do not agree with the Terms of Use, do not use this web site. We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to modify or update these Terms of Use at any time. Please check the Terms of Use each time you visit our web site for the most current information. These Terms of Use apply to the transunion.co.za and mytransunion.co.za web sites (collectively "TransUnion Site"). If you decide to order any consumer information, product or services (collectively "Services") from TransUnion, such order or purchase will additionally be governed by the Service Terms of Use. If the General Terms of Use is not consistent with the specific terms that apply to the TransUnion Services offered, then the specific Service Terms of Use, will apply to these Services. In addition these Service Terms of Use will apply to any Services obtained through any other designated method, including but not limited to the TransUnion Call Centre and USSD channel ("Channels").
Security, Encryption and Identity Verification
TransUnion recognizes the confidential nature of the information contained in your credit report as well as the personal information that may be submitted by you through use of the TransUnion Site and other Channels, and will endeavor to safeguard the privacy of information you provide to us. Our Privacy Policy can be accessed through this link. To ensure that your credit information remains secure and confidential, TransUnion uses secure protocols and programs that encrypt the data you provide, so that if intercepted by a third party, it cannot be read. It is your responsibility to ensure that the device through which you access the TransUnion Services and store information resulting from these Services, is secure and supports the TransUnion defined security programs and protocols. TransUnion has implemented an Identity Verification ("IV") system in order to protect your security and privacy. IV seeks to ensure that a customer can only register and access their own personal credit profile. IV may require that you provide answers to a set of personal questions as well as provide other inputs in order to verify your identity. If you cannot provide the correct information, the system will not allow you to view your credit report or access any of the Services. This is to safeguard your information. In such a case you will be required to submit the required proof of identity documentation to our TransUnion Call Centre.
Disclaimer
TransUnion is not a credit repair organization, or similarly regulated organization under other applicable law, and does not provide credit repair advice. We do not claim that we are able to "clean up" or "improve" your credit record, credit history or credit rating. The information provided to you through any of TransUnion’s Services is for education purposes only.
Term, Termination and Modification
This Agreement will take effect at the time you click "I accept and continue" and shall terminate (a) when the member cancels his/her membership by contacting TransUnion via the TransUnion Site or the TransUnion Call Centre or (b) upon termination of your membership or (c) if TransUnion discontinues providing any membership, subject to your right to receive membership benefits that you have paid for, or to obtain a refund of a portion of your payment; or (d) for any reason at any time at TransUnion’s sole discretion. It is important to note that even if a customer does not have an active Service, they are still considered a member. The Services shall not be used in a manner that defrauds or otherwise abuses the credit reporting or credit scoring systems. TransUnion has the right to suspend or terminate your use of any Services or access to the TransUnion Site or Channels, if we, in our sole discretion, determine that through your use of the Services, you have abused the credit reporting, credit scoring or any systems relating to the Services we provide. By accepting the Terms of Use, you agree that TransUnion will not be liable to you – or any third party - if TransUnion suspends or terminates your access for this reason. TransUnion may from time to time change these Terms of Use or any feature of the Services, and/or the TransUnion Site and Channels - including eliminating or discontinuing any content or feature of the TransUnion Site or Channels, restricting the hours of availability, or limiting the amount of use permitted - by posting notice before the modification takes effect. All changes shall be effective immediately upon posting of such notice. If you use the TransUnion Site and/or Channels after such notification, you agree to be bound by all of the changes. You are expected to review the Site periodically to ensure familiarity with any posted notices of modification.
Registration and Verification
If you decide to register on our Site or Channels, to access any Services, you may be required to provide personal information, and select a user name and password. You agree to provide accurate information in your registration and not to share your password with third parties. You agree not to impersonate another person or to select or use a user name or password of another person. You agree to immediately notify TransUnion of any unauthorized use of your account and of any loss, theft or disclosure of your password. Failure to comply with these requirements shall constitute a breach of these Terms of Use and shall constitute grounds for immediate termination of your TransUnion account and your right to use the TransUnion Site. Online access to consumer credit report information is subject to verification of the identity of the user using our IV system. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to suspend or cancel any accounts that we believe are, or were involved in fraudulent activities. You hereby agree that all orders and any other communications which purport to originate from you, or a person who had authority to act on your behalf in respect of such order or communication, or an information system programmed by or on your behalf to operate automatically (collectively "the Originator") and which are sent to TransUnion electronically and which may (as a result of interception, equipment malfunction, the distortion of communication links or any other reason whatsoever) be different from the instructions actually sent or given, or may not have been given by you at all, shall be deemed to have been given by the Originator in the form actually received by TransUnion and you will be bound by such communication with no liability of whatever nature attaching to TransUnion in regard thereto. You waive any rights you may have or obtain against TransUnion arising directly or indirectly from any loss or damage of whatsoever nature which you may suffer as a result of the fact that TransUnion acts on your orders or communications, or orders communications that purport to emanate from you and you indemnify TransUnion against all and any claims, liabilities, losses, costs, fines, damages and expenses, arising as a result of the fact that we acted on your instructions/orders or instructions/orders which purport to emanate from you.
Vouchers
If you have received a voucher to access any Services, such voucher entitles you to receive the designated Services for the specified period at no cost to you and pursuant to the terms applicable to the voucher. The Services will not automatically be renewed at the end of the subscription period and you will not automatically be charged for any renewal of the Services. If you wish to continue the Services after the end of the subscription period, you will need to purchase the Services at the then-market rate.
Memberships and Subscriptions
When you purchase any fixed term TransUnion Service, your Service will continue for the given fixed period, where after it may continue on a month to month basis. Upon the expiration of the fixed period, you may opt to cancel it at any time by providing TransUnion with 30 days' written notice.
Calculators and Educational Tools
If the Services selected by you include the Educational Tools, you may have access to Calculators, Simulators, Analysis Tools, Reports and Statistics (the “Educational Tools”) for educational purposes, which may (for example) allow you to analyze your debt, view your debt breakdown and see how you compare to the rest of the TransUnion population. These Educational Tools provide estimates and are intended for your personal and educational use only. The tools are not intended to provide financial advice or any assurance of approval for credit. TransUnion and its subsidiaries/affiliates make no representations or warranties, nor provide any guarantees, with regards to the use if these tools. In order to provide some of the Educational Tools to you, your personal information or data may be recorded or stored in the Educational Tools. The information that you enter into the Educational Tools does not impact your credit score(s) and will not be used for any purpose other than supplying the Educational Tools and Services to you.
Accuracy of Scores, Benchmarking and use of Credit Tools
When accessing the Services, your personal credit profile may be compared or benchmarked against industry and/or other averages. These scores and benchmarks are calculated based only on information that is available to TransUnion or which is provided by you and TransUnion can therefore not warrant the accuracy of the information. Should any information on your credit report be incorrect, you may dispute the information by contacting TransUnion’s Call Centre. TransUnion does not approve or decline you for credit. All credit assessments are done by the credit provider based on the requirements set out in the National Credit Act, their internal risk criteria as well as the information supplied by you and/or other information available to them. Any credit score or debt rating provided by TransUnion is therefor only an indicator and does not mean that you will automatically be approved or declined for credit.
Confirmation of orders and conclusion of the transaction
By placing an order for the Services, you agree that TransUnion may deliver the information you ordered telephonically, by email, facsimile or SMS, using the contact information you provided in the application form. You hereby agree that TransUnion may before or after delivery send you electronic communications relating to your order and/or the Services offered via the TransUnion Site or Channels, from time to time. As part of you registering and ordering Services through the TransUnion Site or Channels you will be prompted to subscribe to TransUnion's marketing communications. These communications are designed to provide educational content as well as notifications and offers related to TransUnion’s services. By agreeing to these communications you give us permission to provide this communication to you on an ongoing basis. You may opt-out of these communications at any time using the "unsubscribe" links provided in the communication or by emailing [email protected].
TransUnion Mobile
The Services may include features and services that are available to you, and delivered by us, through your mobile phone. These features may include, without limitation, the ability to upload service content to your mobile phone, receive service messages on your mobile phone, and/or download applications to your mobile phone (collectively, "TransUnion Mobile"). Standard messaging, data and other fees may be charged by your carrier to utilize TransUnion Mobile. Fees and charges will appear on your mobile bill or be deducted from your pre-paid balance. Your carrier may prohibit or restrict certain features of TransUnion and certain features may be incompatible with your carrier or mobile device. Contact your carrier with questions regarding these issues. If you access the Services through a mobile device or download a TransUnion application to your mobile device, you hereby agree that TransUnion Mobile may send communications to your mobile device. You also agree that, we may collect information related to your use of TransUnion and its Services. If you have registered for TransUnion Mobile, you agree to notify TransUnion of any changes to your mobile number and update your account to reflect any such change. You understand that if you change your mobile number or email address and you have signed up to receive alerts or other information via text or email, that you will not receive such information unless and until you update your mobile number or email address in your account settings. TransUnion has no control over the mobile carrier network and cannot guarantee that you will receive all alerts. We recommend that you sign in to your online account at least once per month to ensure that you receive all alerts.
Use of voice recordings, voice files and voice prints
When you register to use the Services, you may have the option to enroll your voice to use as your password to access the Services in future. These voice recordings, voice files and voice prints will be owned and stored by our third-party service provider (the "TPS") and form part of their data assets and intellectual property. These voice recordings, voice files and voice prints will be used only in respect of TransUnion Services as a means to verify your identity in an effort to ensure the detection and prevention of identify fraud. Should you elect to enroll your voice as part of the registration process, you consent to:
Application Process for Services (excluding the USSD service)
TransUnion may allow you to apply for the Services (i) by telephone, (ii) on the TransUnion Site, or (iii) by any other Channel or method that TransUnion expressly permits. Not all Services will be available on any of the given methods. In order to apply and receive one or more Services, you must provide us with the full and accurate personal information that we require and for which personal information you are required to keep updated. By using the Services, you agree to be bound to these Terms of Use. On receipt of your application form, TransUnion will takes such steps, as it deems necessary, to evaluate your application and to verify whether you have provided TransUnion with complete and accurate information about yourself, where applicable your banking information for billing and payment purposes, and that insofar as you are requesting TransUnion to provide you with personal and/or business credit profiles, the information contained in the application form pertains to you personally. The application process will not be completed before you have been given the opportunity to review the entire transaction and correct any mistakes, or to withdraw from the transaction completely. By clicking on the "I accept and agree" button, or similar acceptance act on other methods or Channels, you are deemed to have submitted an offer to subscribe to the Services, and you will not be able to cancel the order thereafter unless TransUnion expressly agrees thereto. Given the nature of the Services, you understand that once you receive the information/data requested in your order, you will have no right to cancel the order or attempt to rely on a "cooling-off" period as the Services will already have been rendered by TransUnion and consumed by you.
Price Modifications
TransUnion may from time to time review the prices that we charge for the Services and update them. You will be notified of any pricing changes.
Payment for Services (excluding the USSD service)
You agree to pay TransUnion the fees stipulated on the website as the price for the Services ordered. You hereby agree that, without agreement being reached with TransUnion in circumstances where just cause exists, TransUnion will not be obliged to refund any payment made by you, nor shall you be entitled to reverse such payment, for any reason whatsoever, including your failure to pass TransUnion's verification processes. The following payment options are available to you: Credit Card /Debit Card /Cheque Card By selecting this option you authorize TransUnion to charge the payment for such fees to the card indicated, using the card information provided in your application form, effective from the date of receipt of your order by TransUnion. You will receive your product or service once payment has been confirmed. It may take up to four or more business days for the transaction to clear. For purchase of fixed term and recurring subscription Services, your banking details will be stored by our third party payment provider for the purposes ongoing billing and payment, in order to provide the agreed uninterrupted Services. Debit Order: If selecting this option, you authorize TransUnion to debit the payment for such fees from the account indicated, using the account information provided in your application. You will receive your product or service once payment has been confirmed. It may take up to four or more business days for the transaction to clear. For purchase of fixed term and recurring subscription Services, your banking details will be stored by our third party payment provider for the purposes ongoing billing and payment, in order to provide the agreed uninterrupted Services. TransUnion is not responsible for any overdraft/over-the-limit charges, bank fees or payment failure fees, triggered by your order being processed successfully or unsuccessfully.
Pricing, Refunds and Non-Delivery of USSD Services
Pricing for products obtained through the USSD service is inclusive of VAT and are subject to change from time to time without notice. SMS costs included in the product cost. Premium SMS rates apply. Free SMS' and bundle SMS' do not apply. The pricing for the relevant product will (as applicable) be deducted from, or charged to your cellphone account immediately upon your submission of the relevant product short code together with your ID number via your cellphone. Given the nature of the USSD service, you understand that once you receive the information/data requested in your order, you will have no right to cancel the order or attempt to rely on a "cooling-off" period as the service/s will already have been rendered by TransUnion, and consumed by you. Notwithstanding the above, refunds may be authorized in certain circumstances and must be requested through the following process:
Service Specific Terms of Use
The following service specific terms may be applicable to you depending on the particular Services that you select. You will only become eligible to receive the Services upon completion of the ordering process and payment of any applicable fees.
Last revised - May 2020 TransUnion
