The National Credit Act (NCA) is a law in South Africa that regulates the credit industry to promote fair and transparent credit practices. It aims to protect consumers by ensuring responsible lending and borrowing, preventing over-indebtedness, and providing mechanisms for dispute resolution. The NCA requires credit providers to assess the affordability of loans, disclose all fees and interest rates, and provide clear credit agreements.

Yes, you are entitled to one free credit report from each credit bureau every year. You can request your report from any of the major credit bureaus, such as TransUnion, Experian, or Compuscan. It’s important to review your credit report regularly to ensure that all the information is accurate and to detect any potential signs of identity theft or fraud.

If you find errors or inaccuracies on your credit report, you have the right to dispute them. You should contact the credit bureau that issued the report and provide them with evidence to support your claim. The credit bureau is required to investigate the dispute within 20 business days. If the error is confirmed, the bureau must correct the information and notify all parties who have received your credit report in the past six months. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can escalate the matter to the National Credit Regulator or the Credit Ombudsman for further assistance.