Loans for blacklisted people in South Africa
Being blacklisted usually means a negative listing at a credit bureau, not a ban on borrowing. See what lenders see, how long listings last, and which registered lenders still assess you.
Compare lendersThere is no single blacklist
South Africa has no central blacklist. “Blacklisted” is everyday shorthand for negative information on your credit record.
Credit bureaus keep that record. The NCR's register lists many bureaus, including TransUnion, Experian and Xpert Decision Systems (XDS).
Compuscan is now part of Experian, which completed the purchase in 2019. Each bureau keeps its own file, so your records can differ.
Lenders check one or more bureaus when they assess you. Our guide on what blacklisted means covers the basics.
These are the kinds of negative information a bureau may show:
- Payment profile: missed or late payments that a lender has reported.
- Adverse classifications: a lender's label for how you behaved, or for steps it took to collect.
- Civil judgments: a court order for an unpaid debt, including default judgments.
- Administration and sequestration orders: court orders about your debts or your estate.
- Debt review: a debt restructuring order, shown until you get a clearance certificate.
How long negative listings stay on your record
Regulation 17 of the National Credit Regulations sets a maximum period for each type of information. It runs from the date of the event.
After that, the bureau may not show it or use it for credit scoring or credit assessment.
| Listing | Longest it can be shown |
|---|---|
| Enquiries (each time a lender checks your record) | 1 year |
| Payment profile (how you have paid) | 5 years |
| Adverse classifications by a lender | 1 year, or until removed after you pay (section 71A) |
| Civil court judgments, including default judgments | 5 years, or sooner if rescinded or abandoned (section 71A) |
| Administration order | 5 years, or until rescinded |
| Sequestration order | 5 years, or until rehabilitation |
| Debt restructuring order (debt review) | Until a clearance certificate is issued |
Paid in full? Under section 71A, the lender must tell every registered bureau within 7 days of settlement. The bureau must then remove the adverse listing within 7 days. This includes judgment debts.
Debt review, administration and judgments
These listings carry the most weight. Each one affects a new loan in a different way.
Debt review. Section 88(1) of the National Credit Act applies once you apply for debt review. You may not take on new credit, apart from a consolidation agreement. The restriction lasts until the process ends in a way the Act sets out.
Administration order. This court order can stay on your record for up to 5 years, or until it is rescinded.
Judgment. Pay the debt and keep proof. Section 71A then requires the listing to be removed.
On our panel, Prime Loans says you must not be under debt counselling or an administration order. Jabulani Money says active debt review or administration is a common reason for decline.
Under debt review? Speak to your debt counsellor before you apply anywhere.
6-month loans with a negative record
A loan of R8,000 or less, repaid within 6 months, is a short-term credit transaction. Its interest is capped at 5% a month for your first one in a calendar year.
Later short-term loans in the same calendar year are capped at 3% a month. Fees are capped too.
Century's calculator runs from 5 days to 6 months, for R500 to R8,000. Creditbar lends over 7 to 61 days. Jabulani Money is repaid on your salary date. Prime Loans, Crediwise and LendPlus don't publish a term range.
A negative record doesn't change these caps. It only affects whether a lender approves you.
| Loan | Interest, first loan (5%) | Interest, later loan (3%) | Initiation fee incl. VAT | Most you repay (first loan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1,000 | R182.10 | R107.59 | R172.50 | R1,768.60 |
| R2,000 | R364.21 | R215.17 | R304.75 | R3,082.96 |
| R4,000 | R728.42 | R430.34 | R534.75 | R5,677.17 |
| R8,000 | R1,456.84 | R860.68 | R994.75 | R10,865.59 |
For a loan over 6 months, with every fee at the legal maximum and VAT added to fees. Totals include the R69 monthly service fee. Work out your own figures with our loan calculator.
What to do before you apply
- Get your credit report from each bureau. Section 72 of the Act gives you one free report every 12 months from each.
- Check every listing. Look for debts you don't recognise, wrong amounts and listings older than the limits above.
- Dispute errors with the bureau. Experian says a dispute can take up to 20 business days.
- If the bureau doesn't fix it, contact the free National Financial Ombud on 0860 800 900.
- Pay off what you can and keep proof. Paid-up listings should come off within the section 71A time limits.
- Borrow only what your budget can repay. Every lender checks affordability, so a smaller amount is easier to pass.
- Struggling to keep up with your debts? Talk to an NCR-registered debt counsellor first. The NCR's call centre is 0860 627 627.
Lenders with no stated overdue-debt exclusion
None of these providers says it turns away people with overdue debts. Prime Loans and Jabulani Money do limit debt review and administration, as explained above. MoneyHello and Arcadia Finance are matching services, not lenders.
NCR-registered lender · NCRCP22362
R500 – R4,000 · Payday (repayable on your next salary date)
NCR-registered lenders are listed first, then loan-matching services, in our commercial order. We may earn a commission if you apply through these links. It doesn't change what you pay. How we make money.
What a R2,000 loan can cost at most
A small, short loan keeps the total cost down. Here is the legal maximum for a first R2,000 loan over 30 days.
| Amount borrowed | R2,000 over 30 days |
|---|---|
| Maximum interest rate | 5% a month (first short-term loan) |
| Interest | R100.00 |
| Initiation fee (incl. VAT) | R304.75 |
| Service fees (incl. VAT) | R69.00 |
| One repayment | R2,473.75 |
| Most you would repay | R2,473.75 |
Worked out at the legal maximums under the National Credit Act, with the repo rate at 7.25% (since 24 September 2026). A lender may charge less, never more. Check the exact figure in your pre-agreement quote. See all the legal caps or work out your own loan.
Loans for blacklisted people in South Africa: frequently asked questions
Can I get a loan if I am blacklisted?
Possibly, but nobody can promise it. Every registered lender must assess your repayment history and affordability. A negative listing makes approval harder, not impossible. If you are under debt review, the law blocks new credit until the process ends.
How long does a judgment stay on my credit record?
Up to 5 years, under regulation 17 of the National Credit Regulations. It comes off sooner if it is rescinded or abandoned. If you pay the debt in full, section 71A requires the listing to be removed.
How do I find out if I am blacklisted?
Ask each credit bureau for your credit report. The National Credit Act gives you one free report every 12 months from each bureau. TransUnion, Experian and XDS are among the registered bureaus.
Can I get a loan while I am under debt review?
Not in the usual way. Section 88(1) of the National Credit Act stops new credit once you apply for debt review. A consolidation agreement is the exception. Speak to your debt counsellor first.
Are there 6-month loans for people with bad credit?
Some registered lenders offer terms of up to 6 months. Century's calculator runs from 5 days to 6 months, for R500 to R8,000. Approval still depends on your record and affordability. Interest on a first short-term loan in a calendar year is capped at 5% a month.
Related pages and sources
- What does blacklisted mean?
- How to improve your credit score
- Bad credit loans
- Debt consolidation loans
- Loan calculator
- How to clear your credit record
- Debt review explained
Sources
- National Credit Regulations, regulation 17: retention periods for credit bureau information
- National Credit Act, section 71A: removal of adverse information after settlement
- National Credit Act, section 72: right to access and challenge credit records
- National Credit Act, section 88: effect of debt review
- NCR register of registered credit bureaus
- Experian: Experian SA completes Compuscan acquisition (May 2019)
- Experian South Africa: NCA information for consumers (disputes, retention)
- Vuk'uzenzele (GCIS): you are entitled to a free credit report, with Credit Ombud contacts
- NCR: consumer rights, free credit report and call centre 0860 627 627
- National Financial Ombud Scheme: credit complaints