How to check if you have been blacklisted? (2024)

Concerned you might be blacklisted?

Credit bureaus keep your credit history, both the good and bad aspects. Negative data can include slow or late payments, defaults or blacklisting. Of these, blacklisting is the most serious and will jeopardise your chances of getting finance. Theoretically, you should not be able to be blacklisted without being aware of it but it can and does happen. In order to ensure you are not blacklisted, it is important to check. Fortunately, this is easy.

South Africans have access to one free credit report per year. These are easy to get hold of and can be done in a minute or two online. You can also get them telephonically. Some credit bureaus have made it even easier by establishing an SMS service where you can check if you are blacklisted or not. While this is useful, it is in your interests to get your full credit report anyway.

Around 6 million South Africans are currently blacklisted so it is better to be informed than ignorant.

Do not get caught unaware when you apply for credit and make sure you look into this. It can also happen that incorrect data is on your credit report. Knowledge is power and being aware of any blacklisting will enable you to do something about it.

Blacklisting will severely impact your ability to get credit and will mean a much higher interest rate if you are able to get credit. It can also prevent you from getting certain jobs where they check your credit record.

TransUnion

One of the largest credit bureaus in South Africa, Transunion have an SMS option to find out if you have been blacklisted. The service can also give you your credit score, account status and a credit summary for a nominal fee. Remember, you can get one free full credit report per year.

In order to use the SMS service, you first have to register using the UUSD code *120*8801# from your primary cell phone number.

To view your free yearly credit report through Transunion, go to their website.

Experian

Another leading South African credit bureau, Experian, also offer you a free credit report every year. To get yours, simply register on their website.

Compuscan

Compuscan also make it easy to get your free report every year through their website.

Those are the main three but there are others as well as independent services that will give you access to your credit information. It is worth checking out to see if there are any errors or simply to make yourself aware of any issues. Either way, with a bit of effort, there are actions you can take to remedy the situation.

Take advantage of the service that is offered to check your status.

How to check if you have been blacklisted? (2024)

FAQs

How do you check whether you are blacklisted? ›

To check if you are blacklisted, you can receive an annual complimentary credit report. This can be obtained from any of the prominent credit bureaus in South Africa. The report provides information on your credit score and allows you to review for any potential inaccuracies.

How do you know you've been blacklisted? ›

Ways to check if you're on a blacklist
  1. Hire a company to check what your references and prior employers are saying. ...
  2. Speak with your previous manager to find out if you're on the company's do not rehire list. ...
  3. Speak with the recruiting firms you have worked with.

What to do when you've been blacklisted? ›

Employees that feel like they have been blacklisted can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Should this happen, you will be in the sometimes difficult and often costly position of fighting a claim.

How can I clear my name from blacklisted? ›

If you fail to pay outstanding debts, credit bureaus will add your name to a blacklist that will make it difficult for you to obtain loans in the future. Paying off your debt will remove your name from the blacklist.

How long does a blacklist last? ›

Once you have been blacklisted you will have a bad credit record for anything from 2 – 10 years, depending on the type of listing that you have against you, but even after this period of time, a judgment can be issued against you if you have not paid the money that you owe.

How do you recover from being blacklisted? ›

The simplest way to clear your name from the credit bureau is to pay off the debt. According to TransUnion, one of South Africa' biggest credit bureaus, this will usually result in your name being removed from the blacklist within 7 – 20 days.

How do I get off a blacklist? ›

The Bottom Line. If you find that your IP or domain is blacklisted, contact each DNSBL service and request that they delete your listing.

How do I get proof of blacklisting? ›

How do I obtain the Proof of Blacklisting? You can contact your Network Provider(s) to request it. Once your Provider(s) has/have confirmed that the phone has been blacklisted, they will send you an email receipt which you will then need to forward to us for the assessment of your claim.

Is blacklisting permanent? ›

Being on a blacklist doesn't have to be a permanent predicament. First, you have to find out if you're on a blacklist. A career coach could help you discover if you've been blacklisted, or a recruiter you have a relationship with could also help.

What happens if I am blacklisted? ›

Impact of blacklisting on individuals

The impact can be both financial and personal, affecting their ability to access credit, find employment, or even rent a property. One of the most immediate and tangible impacts of blacklisting is the difficulty in obtaining credit or loans.

How bad is being blacklisted? ›

A blacklist is considered retaliatory as it is intended to create financial hardship for those named on the list, These lists can be created by different entities, including governments and individuals. Anyone who appears on a blacklist may be barred from getting funding, doing business, or getting jobs.

What is illegal blacklisting? ›

Preventing or attempting to prevent anyone from obtaining employment by means of a blacklist. Any person who violates this law can be found guilty regardless of whether he or she intended to cause the employee harm.

How do I check if I'm blacklisted? ›

Here's how it can be done:
  1. Step 1: Contact a credit bureau. You can obtain a copy of your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus in South Africa, such as TransUnion, Experian, or Compuscan.
  2. Step 2: Provide identification. ...
  3. Step 3: Request a credit report. ...
  4. Step 4: Review your credit report. ...
  5. Step 5: Dispute errors.

How do I see if I have been blacklisted? ›

Rental providers must tell you if you are listed

The rental provider must tell you if they find a listing about you [section 439D]. And if a rental provider or database operator (company) wants to blacklist you, they should give you a copy of the information to be listed [section 439F].

Can you reverse being blacklisted? ›

If you checked your credit score, and know you made payments on time, then there could have been a mistake when getting blacklisted. When this happens, you can file a complaint with the NCR, or National Credit Regulator. They'll work with you to reverse the mistake.

Can you check if your address is blacklisted? ›

If there's one thing that you can be confident of, it's that your address isn't on a Credit Blacklist. Credit Reference Agencies do not hold blacklists of people or addresses that should not be granted credit – they simply maintain and share information based on facts, derived from a variety of sources.

How to check if your name has been blacklisted by credit bureau? ›

If you have a blacklisted BVN, the following message will be displayed: “Your BVN is blacklisted. Please visit any bank for further information. “ You can also visit the Credit Bureaus of Nigeria website and request a free credit analysis report.

What happens to a person who is blacklisted? ›

A blacklist is considered retaliatory as it is intended to create financial hardship for those named on the list, These lists can be created by different entities, including governments and individuals. Anyone who appears on a blacklist may be barred from getting funding, doing business, or getting jobs.

How do you know if you're blacklisted from banks? ›

There is no bank blacklist, but if you have a history of bad checks that will be reflected on your credit report and the banks you wrote them from will have you flagged. You can try a credit union but they check the same credit info. You can get one of those prepaid cards and have your check direct deposited to it.

References

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