Find out your next steps if you missed a payment on one of your accounts.

How long does a missed payment stay on your credit report in South Africa?

If you've missed a payment, one of the first questions on your mind is likely whether it will affect your credit score and report - and how long the damage lasts. The short answer is that factual payment-profile information may be displayed and used for credit scoring or assessment for up to five years from the date of the event, so a missed payment can remain visible on your report for some time. The impact on your score diminishes over time, and understanding how the process works puts you in a much stronger position to manage the fallout.

How missed payments are recorded by South African credit bureaus

South Africa's major credit bureaus - TransUnion, Experian, and XDS - all receive payment data directly from your lenders. Each month, your creditors report whether your account is up to date, in arrears, or in default. Once a missed payment is reported, it appears on your credit profile and is visible to any future lender who runs a credit check. Because each bureau collects data independently, the timing of updates can vary slightly, but the information is broadly consistent across all three.

The difference between 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day late marks

Not all missed payments carry the same weight. Credit bureaus categorise late payments by how overdue they are. A payment that is 30 days late is recorded as one month in arrears - this is the least severe mark, but it still lowers your score. If the account goes 60 days without payment, the arrears status escalates, and at 90 days or more the account may be flagged as in default. The further behind you fall, the greater the impact on your creditworthiness, and the harder it becomes to access new credit at competitive rates.

How long negative payment history remains on your report

Under the National Credit Act (NCA), late-payment information generally stays on your credit report for up to two years from the date the arrears are settled or brought current. If the debt is handed over to a collections agency, the adverse listing generally remains for one year or until the debt is settled, whichever comes first. If a civil judgment is obtained against you, the record must be removed from your credit report once the principal debt is fully paid and settled. The key takeaway is that the clock starts ticking once you resolve the outstanding amount, not from when you first missed the payment.

Can you get a missed payment removed?

There are a few avenues worth exploring. First, if the missed payment was recorded in error - for example, you paid on time but your lender reported incorrectly - you can open a formal dispute with the relevant credit bureau. They are required to investigate and correct any inaccurate information within 20 business days. Second, some consumers try a "goodwill removal" by writing to the lender and asking them to withdraw the negative listing as a courtesy; this occasionally works if you have an otherwise strong payment history, but lenders are under no obligation to agree. In most cases, however, the most reliable path is simply to bring the account up to date and wait for the record to age off your report naturally.

Missing a payment is likely to bring down your credit score and could affect your ability to borrow in the future, so it's best to rectify the situation as soon as possible.

If you forgot to pay

How to set up a debit order to avoid missed payments

A debit order is one of the simplest ways to make sure your bills are paid on time every month - but it helps to understand exactly how it works before you set one up.

What is a debit order and how does it work in South Africa?

A debit order is an instruction you give to a company (such as an insurer, lender, or service provider) authorising them to collect a set amount from your bank account on an agreed date each month. You sign a mandate - either on paper or digitally - and the company submits the collection through the banking system. The money is debited automatically, so you don't need to remember to make the transfer yourself. This is different from a stop order, which is an instruction you set up directly with your bank to pay a fixed amount to a specified recipient.

Standard debit order vs. DebiCheck

South Africa has been rolling out DebiCheck, a new authentication system that requires you to approve each debit-order mandate electronically before collections can begin. With a traditional debit order, the collecting company could process the deduction based on a signed form alone - which occasionally led to unauthorised or incorrect debits. DebiCheck adds an extra layer of protection: your bank sends you an approval request (via the banking app, USSD, or ATM), and the collection only goes through once you've confirmed the details. If you're setting up a new debit order today, you may be asked to approve it through DebiCheck.

What happens if a debit order bounces?

If there isn't enough money in your account when the debit order runs, the transaction will fail - commonly called a "bounced" debit order. Your bank will typically charge you an insufficient-funds fee, and the collecting company may attempt to re-present the debit order one or more times during the same month. Each failed attempt can trigger additional bank charges. More importantly, the underlying payment is still owed, and if it isn't settled you risk it being recorded as a missed payment on your credit report.

How to reverse or dispute a debit order you didn't authorise

If money has been taken from your account without your permission, you can request a reversal through your bank. For non-authenticated (pre-DebiCheck) debit orders, you can dispute the transaction within 40 days. For DebiCheck-authenticated mandates the window is shorter, because you already approved the collection. Contact your bank's customer service line or visit a branch, provide the transaction details, and they will process the dispute. If the debit order was legitimately authorised but you simply want to cancel it, you'll need to notify both your bank and the collecting company in writing to stop future collections.

Make the payment as soon as possible - it will still show up on your credit report but it should reflect better on you that you made the payment eventually.

It's worth setting a reminder for future payments to avoid paying potential interest and penalty fees. Set the reminder a few days before the payment is due to give you plenty of time. Or you could set up a debit order so that paying is one less thing to worry about (this is only sensible if you're confident you'll have enough money in your account to make the payment. If not, you risk eating into your overdraft and being charged by the bank).

If you're struggling to pay

Can't afford to make your repayments? This is pretty common and you're not alone. We've written a quick article that explains how to take back control of your finances - it's never too late to start. Just watch out that your missed payments don't spiral into debt that you can't handle.

If there's a chance you'll miss another payment, we'd suggest talking to your lender before this happens. Whether you're struggling with your repayments or just want a better rate, there's no harm in asking them for advice. They might be able to put your on an affordable repayment plan, or offer you a better rate - especially if you're planning on moving several debts over to one lender. Don't forget: if you don't ask you won't get.

If you've got unmanageable debt

The fact you've acknowledged your situation is a great start. The trick is to tackle your debts one by one without overwhelming yourself. Make yourself a drink and have a read of our guide to debt consolidation loans, which could make managing your debts easier.

Remember there's always someone to talk to if you're finding your debt too much to handle. We offer debt counselling services in our ClearScore offers.

Find out what debt consolidation loans you are eligible for on ClearScore (a credit broker, not a lender).

How to rebuild your credit score after missed payments

A missed payment doesn't have to define your financial future. With the right steps, you can start rebuilding your credit score steadily over the coming months. Here's a practical plan to follow.

• Bring all accounts current

• Your most urgent priority is to get every account back to "current" status. Lenders and credit bureaus place significant weight on your present standing - an account that was once in arrears but is now up to date looks far better than one that remains overdue. Even if you can only manage the minimum payment, doing so stops the arrears clock from escalating further.

• Keep credit utilisation below 30%

• Credit utilisation - how much of your available credit you're actually using - is one of the biggest factors in your score. Aim to keep your balances below 30% of your total credit limit across all accounts. If your credit card limit is R10,000, for example, try to keep the outstanding balance under R3,000. Paying down existing balances is one of the fastest ways to see a score improvement.

• Avoid opening new credit accounts in the short term

• Every time you apply for credit, the lender performs a hard enquiry on your report. Multiple enquiries in a short period signal financial stress and can pull your score down further. Hold off on new applications for at least three to six months while your profile stabilises, unless you genuinely need the credit.

• Use ClearScore to track your score recovery month by month

• Monitoring your progress keeps you motivated and helps you spot errors early. ClearScore gives you free access to your credit score and full report, updated regularly, so you can see exactly how each positive action feeds through to your number.

• Realistic recovery timelines

• Don't expect overnight results. After three months of consistent, on-time payments and lower utilisation, you should begin to see a modest upward trend. By six months the improvement is usually more noticeable, and after 12 months of good habits many consumers find their score has recovered significantly - especially once older missed-payment records start to carry less weight. The biggest killer of credit scores is ongoing negative behaviour, so consistency matters more than any single action.

Frequently asked questions about missed payments

What is the biggest killer of credit scores?

Consistently missing payments is the single most damaging thing you can do to your credit score. Payment history carries more weight than any other factor in the scoring models used by South African credit bureaus. Even one missed payment can cause a noticeable drop, and multiple missed payments in succession can push your score into a range where lenders view you as high-risk. Keeping all accounts current - even if you're only making minimum payments - is the most important habit for protecting your score.

Is 620 a lower credit scores score in South Africa?

A score of 620 generally falls into the "On good ground" band (616-633) on the ClearScore (Experian) scale, which sits around the average range. It's not the lowest category, but it does limit your options - you may still qualify for credit, though likely at higher interest rates. The good news is that a score in this range can improve relatively quickly with on-time payments and lower credit utilisation. You can check exactly where you stand for free on ClearScore.

Will one missed payment stop me from getting a home loan?

A single missed payment won't automatically disqualify you, but it does make the process harder. Home-loan providers in South Africa assess your full credit profile, income, and affordability. A recent missed payment raises a red flag, and you may be offered less favourable terms or a smaller loan amount. If possible, bring all accounts current and allow at least six months of clean payment history before applying for a bond - this gives lenders evidence that the missed payment was an isolated incident.

Can I negotiate with my lender after a missed payment?

Yes, and it's worth doing sooner rather than later. Most lenders would rather work out a revised repayment arrangement than see the debt go unpaid. Contact your lender directly, explain your situation honestly, and ask whether they can offer a reduced instalment, a temporary payment holiday, or a restructured repayment plan. Under the National Credit Act, you also have the right to apply for debt restructuring through a registered debt counsellor if you're unable to meet your obligations. Taking that step early shows good faith and can prevent the situation from escalating to legal action or a default listing.