You can improve your credit score by paying accounts on time, reducing high credit balances, limiting unnecessary applications and correcting errors on your credit report.
There is no instant fix. Credit scores improve as your credit profile shows more consistent, lower-risk behaviour over time.
Start by checking your credit report
Before trying to improve your score, check what is actually affecting it.
Your credit report can show:
- Late or missed payments
- High balances
- Defaults
- Judgments
- Recent credit enquiries
- Accounts you do not recognise
- Incorrect personal information
TransUnion specifically recommends checking your report for errors, unfamiliar enquiries and incorrect account information before taking further action.
Experian also encourages consumers to review their reports regularly and dispute incorrect information where necessary.
Pay every account on time
Payment history is one of the strongest influences on your credit score.
Late payments can lower your score, and a payment that is 90 days late can be more damaging than one that is 30 days late. TransUnion recommends paying at least the minimum amount due every month and avoiding missed instalments.
The safest approach is to pay before the due date rather than waiting until the last moment.
If you regularly forget payments, consider using debit orders or reminders.
Reduce high credit card and store-account balances
Credit utilisation measures how much of your available revolving credit you are using.
For example, if you have a credit card limit of R10,000 and owe R8,000, you are using 80% of the available limit.
High utilisation can weaken your score.
TransUnion currently recommends keeping revolving balances below roughly 35% of the available limit, while some of its educational material suggests aiming below 30% where possible.
If your balances are high, focus on reducing them gradually.
Do not apply for too much credit at once
Several credit applications within a short period can make your profile look riskier.
TransUnion notes that multiple new enquiries or newly opened accounts can negatively affect a score because lenders may interpret them as a sign of increased financial pressure.
Apply for credit when you actually need it rather than opening accounts simply to try to improve your score.
Dispute incorrect information
If your credit report contains incorrect information, challenge it with the relevant credit bureau.
Examples include:
- An account that is not yours
- A payment incorrectly marked as missed
- A settled account still showing as unpaid
- Incorrect balances
- Unfamiliar credit enquiries
- Personal details that are wrong
Experian allows consumers to submit disputes through its Up platform and states that disputes are investigated within 20 business days.
Correcting an error can improve the accuracy of your credit profile, although it does not guarantee that your score will immediately rise.
Pay overdue debt
If you already have overdue accounts, bring them up to date where possible.
Ignoring overdue debt usually makes the problem worse.
Start by identifying:
- Which accounts are behind
- How much is owed
- Whether interest or fees are still increasing
- What payment arrangement is realistically affordable
If you cannot catch up immediately, contact the credit provider and discuss a repayment arrangement rather than simply missing further payments.
Will paying off debt improve your score immediately?
Not always. Your credit report must first be updated with the new information supplied by the credit provider.
TransUnion recommends checking your report about 30 to 60 days after paying off debt to confirm that the change has been reflected.
Some negative information may also continue influencing your profile for a period even after the underlying debt has been paid.
Should you close old credit accounts?
Not automatically. The length of your credit history can contribute to your score, so closing an older account may remove part of your established credit history.
At the same time, having too much available credit can also affect how lenders view your profile.
TransUnion notes that excessive available credit can sometimes weaken a score and suggests considering lower limits or closing unnecessary accounts where appropriate.
The right decision depends on the account, its fees, your spending habits and how much credit you already have.
Does increasing your credit limit improve your score?
It can lower your utilisation percentage if your balance stays the same, but increasing your limit is not automatically a good strategy.
For example, owing R3,000 on a R5,000 limit means you are using 60% of your available credit. If the limit increased to R10,000 and the balance stayed at R3,000, utilisation would fall to 30%.
But a higher limit also gives you more room to borrow.
If you are likely to spend the additional credit, the strategy can backfire.
Reducing the balance itself is usually the safer long-term approach.
Does paying more than the minimum help?
Paying more than the minimum can help you reduce debt faster and lower your credit utilisation.
The minimum payment usually prevents the account from immediately falling into arrears, but it may take a long time to clear the balance if interest is high.
If you can afford to pay more without missing other obligations, reducing revolving debt more quickly can strengthen your overall credit position.
Can you improve your score without taking new credit?
You do not need to keep opening new accounts to improve your score.
If you already have existing credit, managing it responsibly can be enough to strengthen your profile over time.
That means:
- Paying on time
- Keeping balances manageable
- Avoiding unnecessary applications
- Monitoring your report
- Correcting errors
Taking unnecessary debt solely to build a score can create more financial pressure than benefit.
What if you have no credit history?
If you have never used credit, you may have a very limited credit profile.
TransUnion notes that people who are new to borrowing may have little or no credit history, which can make scoring more difficult.
If you decide to start building credit, choose a product you genuinely need and can comfortably afford.
The goal is to establish a record of responsible repayment, not to borrow as much as possible.
Does a cellphone contract help your credit score?
It can contribute to your credit history if the provider reports the account to a credit bureau.
TransUnion includes service contracts such as cellphone accounts among the types of accounts that can form part of a consumer’s credit history.
The same principle applies: paying on time can support a positive history, while missed payments can hurt it.
Does a debit card build your credit score?
A normal debit card generally does not build credit history because you are spending money already available in your bank account rather than borrowing.
Credit scores are based on how you manage credit obligations.
That means loans, credit cards, store accounts and other reported credit facilities are more relevant than ordinary debit-card spending.
Can a good salary fix a bad credit score?
A higher income can improve affordability, but it does not erase poor credit behaviour. Your credit score is based largely on your credit history, not your salary.
You can earn a high income and still have a weak score if you miss payments or carry poorly managed debt.
Lenders may consider both your credit profile and your affordability when deciding whether to approve an application.
How long does it take to improve a credit score?
There is no fixed timeline.
A score can change when new information is reported, but meaningful improvement often takes several months of consistent credit behaviour.
The time required depends on what is lowering the score.
Fixing an incorrect account may have a different effect from rebuilding after repeated missed payments or a judgment.
The more serious the negative history, the longer recovery may take.
What should you avoid when trying to improve your score?
Avoid shortcuts that create more debt or make your profile look riskier.
Common mistakes include:
- Applying for several credit accounts at once
- Maxing out credit cards
- Missing payments to prioritise another account
- Taking expensive debt purely to “build credit”
- Ignoring errors on your report
- Assuming one payment will fix everything
Improving credit is mainly about consistency.
How often should you monitor your score?
Check your credit report periodically, especially after making major changes.
This can help you confirm that:
- Paid accounts have been updated
- Balances are correct
- Disputes were resolved
- No fraudulent accounts have appeared
Experian provides free access to credit reports and scores through Up, while TransUnion also provides consumer credit-report services.
What should you focus on first?
If you want to improve your credit score, prioritise these actions:
- Check your credit report.
- Correct any errors.
- Pay every account on time.
- Reduce high revolving-credit balances.
- Avoid unnecessary new applications.
- Bring overdue debt under control.
- Monitor your profile regularly.
Your score is ultimately a reflection of the information in your credit report.
The strongest long-term strategy is not chasing a particular number. It is building a credit profile that shows consistent payments, manageable debt and responsible borrowing.
