Small Actions. Real Progress.

Improving your credit profile does not require a dramatic financial overhaul. It requires consistency.

Many people feel overwhelmed when they think about their credit. They imagine it will take years to fix. They think they need a big financial breakthrough. But in reality, small actions repeated monthly create meaningful progress.

In our 2020FIX year, we are focusing on fixing what we can control. And when it comes to credit health, the small, steady steps matter most.

Here are five practical steps that make a real difference.

1. Update Your Contact Details

If lenders cannot reach you, small problems become bigger ones.

Make sure your cellphone number, email address and home address are correct with:

• Your bank.
• Retail accounts.
• Credit card providers.
• Insurance companies.
• Any other credit provider.

Missed statements often lead to missed payments. Missed payments affect your credit profile. Staying reachable protects you.

This is a simple shift from #NoMore missed messages to #KnowMore about what is due and when.

Practical Tip: Log into your online banking or call your provider this week and confirm your details are correct. It takes 10 minutes and can prevent months of stress.

2. Stop Unnecessary Debit Orders

Review your bank statement carefully.

Ask yourself:

• Do I still need this subscription?
• Do I still need this service?
• Am I paying for something I forgot about?

Common examples include:

• Streaming services you no longer watch.
• Gym contracts you no longer attend.
• Insurance policies that duplicate cover.
• Old cellphone add-ons.

Cancelling just one unnecessary debit order can free up cash every month.

That freed-up cash can go toward:

• Paying down debt consistently.
• Building a small emergency buffer.
• Avoiding missed instalments.

This is a practical 2020FIX move – plug the leak, redirect the money.

Better Together Tip: Sit down as a household and review bank statements together. Two sets of eyes often spot more than one.

3. Pay Consistently, Even if the Amount Is Small

Consistency matters more than size. Paying the minimum amount on time is better than paying nothing and trying to catch up later.

Your credit profile improves when payments are regular. Lenders look for reliability. They want to see that you honour your commitments month after month. Momentum builds confidence.

Practical Tool:

• Set a fixed “money check-in day” each month, for example, the 25th.
• Review what is due.
• Confirm debit orders.
• Make manual payments if needed.

Small monthly discipline prevents larger future problems.

This is how we move from:

• No more panic payments.

To:

• Knowing more control and planning.

4. Reduce How Much Credit You Are Using

If you have a store card or credit facility, try not to use the full available amount. Using most, or all, of your credit limit signals financial pressure. Using less than your limit shows control.

As a simple rule of thumb: try to use less than half of your available limit where possible.

For example: If your credit limit is R8,000, aim to keep your balance below R4,000.

Even reducing usage slightly can improve how lenders view your profile over time.

Important: Avoid closing accounts immediately during recovery unless you are certain. A long, stable credit history can work in your favour. Closing old accounts may shorten your credit history, which can sometimes lower your score.

Know more before making structural changes. Quick decisions can sometimes have unintended consequences.

5. Check Your Statements Properly

Do not just glance at the balance.

Check:

• Payment dates.
• Interest charges.
• Fees.
• Whether payments are reflected correctly.

Mistakes happen. Fraud happens. System errors happen. Correcting issues early prevents long-term damage.

You are entitled to a free credit report annually from registered credit bureaus. Use it. It allows you to:

• Identify errors.
• Detect identity fraud.
• Track your progress.

2020FIX is about facing your numbers, not avoiding them.

Better Together Reminder: If something looks confusing, ask. Speak to your bank. Speak to a financial wellness advisor. Silence creates problems. Conversations create solutions.

What Not to Do

Improving your credit profile is about smart action – and avoiding common traps.

• Do not take new credit to fix old credit.
• Do not ignore calls or letters from credit providers.
• Do not believe in instant repair promises.
• Do not panic and make emotional decisions.

Quick fixes often create long-term setbacks. Real progress is steady.

What Progress Really Looks Like

Progress does not always look exciting.

It looks like:

• Paying on time every month.
• Cancelling one unnecessary debit order.
• Reducing your balance slowly.
• Checking your statements regularly.
• Feeling slightly more in control.

It looks boring. But boring is powerful. That is how credit health improves.

In this Credit Awareness Month, we are choosing:

• No more confusion.
• No more avoidance.
• No more fear.

And instead, choosing to:

• Know more about our credit.
• Know more about our options.
• Know more about how small actions change big outcomes.

Because improving your credit profile is not about doing everything at once. It is about doing the right small things – consistently.

Small Actions. Real Progress.

Better together.