What is a good/bad credit score?

When it comes to applying for a credit, there’s a vital piece of information that impacts how lenders and banks view you: your credit score. Understanding what makes a good and bad credit score is the first step to being accepted for credit, and getting the very best deals.

A credit score is a three-digit number used by lenders to determine whether you qualify for credit, such as a loan or credit card. Your credit score is based on your credit report, which is a record of your credit history and how you’ve managed your finances in the past. This allows lenders to assess your level of risk when you apply for credit.

Your credit score is calculated by a credit bureau. There are four main credit bureaus in South Africa: Experian, TransUnion, Compuscan and XDS. At ClearScore, we show you your Experian credit score, which ranges from 0 to 740. Each credit bureau is sent information by lenders about the credit you have and how you manage it. Other information, such as court judgments against you or whether you are undergoing debt review, are also sent to the credit bureaus and form part of your credit report.

There is no “magic” credit score that will guarantee that you get accepted for credit. Also, different lenders are looking for different things, so you might get refused credit by one lender and accepted by another.

Remember, your credit score is a useful indication of your creditworthiness, but lenders will look at other factors (such as your income and debt levels) before deciding whether to lend to you.

Below are the Experian score bands and how we refer to them at ClearScore:

There are a number of factors that impact your credit score, including:

There are a number of things that you can do to improve your credit score like paying your bills on time, keeping balances low on credit cards, and paying off your debt. We go into detail about factors that affect your credit score in this article.

Lenders tend to look at your credit score when you apply for credit, such as a credit card. They’re looking for someone who will be able to meet the repayments - someone who is low risk.

A higher credit score means your credit report contains information that shows you’re low risk, so you’re more likely to appeal to lenders. For example, if your report shows that you always pay your bills on time, you’ll be considered a reliable borrower.

If you have a high credit score, your application is more likely to be accepted. You’re also more likely to be offered the best interest rates and higher credit limits.

A lower credit score means you might be seen as a high-risk borrower. For example, if your credit report shows that you’ve defaulted on previous debt, your credit score is likely to be lower.

If you have a lower score, lenders might offer you credit at a higher interest rate or reject your credit application altogether. But don't worry, there are steps you can take to improve your score.