Every person in South Africa is registered with a Credit Bureau. If a person does not pay their accounts, they may be listed on that Credit Bureau as a default payer by the creditor. Further, if a judgment has been obtained against them this judgment will be uploaded by the credit bureau via the court.
The above directly affects the debtor’s ability to obtain credit from any credit provider. A default listing will remain on his/her name until the debt in question has been settled. Once the debt has been settled, the default will be removed.
A judgment debt may only be removed from the Credit Bureaus by having the judgment rescinded by the court that granted it. Judgement debts, however, will remain on the credit bureau for 5 years or until rescinded and will remain legally due and payable for 30 years.