To open a Bradlows store account you must be 18 or older, have a valid ID, show proof of regular income and three months’ bank statements, complete a DebiCheck debit order and pass biometric or facial authentication. Approval is also subject to credit life or product cover, and it is never guaranteed. These are the requirements listed on the Bradlows store account page.
Bradlows is a furniture and appliance retailer, so a store account is regulated credit. This page sets out what Bradlows asks for, how the application works, and what to check before you sign.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
Bradlows lists these requirements for a store account (also called an open account):
- You must be 18 years or older.
- A valid ID: ID card or book, driver’s licence or passport. Passports are accepted only for Instalment Credit.
- Proof of regular income.
- Your latest three months’ bank statements, or your consent for Bradlows to get them from your bank.
- Completion of a DebiCheck debit order.
- Approval subject to credit life cover or product cover.
- Successful authentication by biometrics or facial verification.
Bradlows does not publish a minimum income or credit score. Whether you are approved, and for how much, is decided by the credit provider after it assesses your application.
Income and Affordability Requirements
Bradlows asks for proof of regular income. Under the National Credit Act 34 of 2005, a credit provider may not enter a credit agreement without first taking reasonable steps to assess your understanding of the risks, your repayment history, and your existing financial means, prospects and obligations. An agreement is reckless if that assessment was not done, or if the provider went ahead despite information showing you would be over-indebted.
In practice this means a good salary does not guarantee approval, and a modest one does not rule it out: the decision rests on your income, your existing debt and your credit record together.
Credit and Financial Requirements
According to the Bradlows terms and conditions, the monthly instalment and total credit price include interest, basic insurance, an initiation fee, a service fee and VAT. Delivery, a deposit, comprehensive insurance and extended warranties are not part of that price. The interest rate, deposit, instalment and credit price vary by credit profile and term, so two customers buying the same item can be quoted different amounts.
The credit provider shown in those terms is Connect Financial Solutions, a registered credit provider (NCRCP11158) trading as Bradlows. The terms also say you enter a credit life insurance agreement with an insurer of your choice, with the policy ceded to the credit provider. Ask Bradlows what the policy must cover before you choose one.
Under section 92 of the National Credit Act, for five business days after a quotation is presented the provider must, on request, enter the agreement at or below the quoted rate and cost (small agreements; intermediate and large agreements allow a limited margin). Take the quotation home, multiply the instalment by the number of months, and compare the total with the cash price.
Documents and Verification Required
Bradlows’ terms say a full credit application needs the following, depending on your employment status and risk profile:
- Your ID (a passport if you are not a South African national).
- Your latest payslip.
- Three months’ bank statements.
- Details of your monthly expenses.
- Household content insurance and/or credit life policy documents.
You will also be asked for a DebiCheck debit order and biometric or facial authentication. An older Bradlows article also lists proof of residence, but the current store account page and terms do not, so ask Bradlows whether your application needs one.
How to Apply and Improve Approval Readiness
For a Bradlows credit application, start with the Bradlows store account page, or apply in store with your documents. An online pre-approval or Quick On-Line Credit App is not final approval: after you are confirmed, you must visit any Bradlows store, quote your ID or passport number and complete a full credit application. The online offer is valid for seven days from the application date.
- Gather your ID, latest payslip and three months’ bank statements before you go.
- Make sure the bank account you give can carry a DebiCheck debit order.
- Work out your monthly expenses so your affordability details are accurate.
- Ask for the total amount payable, not just the instalment.
- Ask which add-ons, such as insurance and warranties, are compulsory and which are optional.
- Contact Bradlows before you miss a payment, not after.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I complete a Bradlows credit application?
Start online or in store. An online pre-check is not final approval, so you still need to visit a Bradlows store with your ID or passport and complete the full application. The online offer is valid for seven days.
What do I need to open a Bradlows furniture account?
You must be 18 or older, with a valid ID, proof of regular income, three months’ bank statements (or consent for Bradlows to get them), a DebiCheck debit order, credit life or product cover, and successful biometric or facial authentication. Approval is not guaranteed.
Can I use a passport?
Bradlows accepts an ID card or book, a driver’s licence or a passport. Passports are accepted only for Instalment Credit.
Do I have to take Bradlows’ credit life insurance?
Approval is subject to credit life or product cover. The terms say you enter a credit life agreement with an insurer of your choice. Ask Bradlows what the cover must include.
Can goods be repossessed if I miss payments?
Not automatically. Before taking legal action, the provider must give you written notice of the default under section 129 of the National Credit Act, proposing that you refer the agreement to a debt counsellor, alternative dispute resolution agent, consumer court or ombud. Do not surrender goods to anyone who has not followed that process.
Requirements and terms can change, so confirm them with Bradlows before you apply. See loan requirements and browse all finance and funding requirements.