Responsible borrowing

Credit is a tool with a narrow proper use: bridging a genuine, temporary gap you can demonstrably close. Used for anything else it becomes expensive quickly, and the point at which that happens is usually visible well before it feels urgent.

Before any loan

Is there a cheaper source — an employer advance, an existing policy, a payment arrangement?
Do you know the total cost of credit, not just the monthly instalment?
Have you taken the shortest term whose instalment you can genuinely meet?
Does the instalment still fit after your existing debit orders, rather than before?
What happens if your income drops next month?

Signals that mean stop

You are borrowing to repay borrowing. This is the clearest sign of a debt spiral and every further agreement makes the exit harder.
Debit orders are bouncing more than occasionally.
You are taking a new loan most months.
You have stopped opening the statements.

Where to get help

A debt counsellor registered with the National Credit Regulator can assess whether you are over-indebted and propose a restructure or formal debt review. Going early costs less than going late, and the assessment itself is inexpensive.

The Credit Ombud resolves disputes with non-bank credit providers at no cost. The National Credit Regulator handles unregistered lenders, reckless lending and unlawful charges.

None of these steps costs you money, and all of them are better than another loan taken to cover the last one.

If something goes wrong

Complain to the lender first
Put it in writing and keep the reference number. Most credit providers must give you a decision within a set number of business days under their own complaints policy.
Escalate to the Credit Ombud
If the lender does not resolve it, the Credit Ombud handles disputes with non-bank credit providers at no cost to you.
Report it to the National Credit Regulator
The NCR is the regulator. Report reckless lending, an unregistered provider, or a lender that will not give you a pre-agreement quote.

A checklist before you borrow Debt counselling: when to get help Debt review in South Africa Affordability self-check

Sources and last checked

National Credit Regulator — register of credit providers — Regulator, as at 10 August 2026.
National Credit Act 34 of 2005 and its regulations — Government, as at 10 August 2026.

Page last checked 10 August 2026. Statutory caps and lender terms change — confirm anything you intend to rely on with the provider or the National Credit Regulator. Found something wrong? Tell us and we will correct it.