Blacklisted on CTOS or CCRIS? What that really means, and whether you can still borrow

"Blacklisted" is one of the most searched loan phrases in Malaysia, and one of the most misunderstood. It is also the word scammers rely on most, because someone who believes no honest lender will help them is easy to sell a dishonest one. This guide explains what the word actually refers to, what a licensed money lender can and cannot do, and what to do next.

There is no blacklist

CCRIS, run by Bank Negara Malaysia, is a record of your credit facilities and how they have been repaid. CTOS is a private credit reporting agency that compiles credit and public-record information and produces a score. Neither of them maintains a list of people who may not borrow. Our guide to CCRIS and CTOS explains what each one holds.

When people say they are blacklisted, they usually mean one of these:

• A lender declined them. Each lender reads the record and applies its own rules. Being declined by one is not a status; another lender may decide differently.
• Arrears are showing. A facility several months behind is visible to every lender that checks, and most will want it settled before they consider anything new.
• A public record exists. A court judgment for an unpaid debt, or a bankruptcy notice, appears in CTOS and weighs heavily anywhere.
• A bank's internal list. Banks keep their own records of customers they will not lend to again. That list is the bank's, not a national one.

Only the last two are close to what "blacklist" implies, and even they are not permanent.

Source: Bank Negara Malaysia · eCCRIS

Why "blacklist also can" is a scam script

Search for a loan with "blacklist" and you will find adverts promising approval with no credit check, no documents and the money "today". Every licensed lender, including us, assesses an application before making an offer. An advert that promises the answer before anyone has looked at your record is not describing a loan. It is the first line of a script whose next line is a request for a processing fee, a deposit or an insurance payment to release the funds. The money you send is the only transaction that ever takes place.

Source: Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia · Moneylenders Act 1951 (Act 400)

What a licensed money lender actually looks at

We cannot tell you in advance whether an application will be approved, and neither can anyone else who has not seen it. What we can say is what the assessment weighs:

• Income and how steady it is. Payslips, bank statements or business records that show money arriving regularly.
• Existing commitments. What you already repay each month and how a new instalment would fit. Our affordability guide works through the arithmetic.
• The record itself. Not just that a lapse happened, but when, how large it was, and whether it was settled. A late payment two years ago followed by a clean record reads very differently from three facilities in arrears today.
• Public records. An undischarged bankruptcy is a legal barrier to most borrowing, not a matter of a lender's discretion.

A poor record can lead to a smaller amount, a shorter tenure or a decline. It does not lead to a higher interest rate from us: our flat rate is the same for everyone, and the law caps every licensed lender at 18% a year for an unsecured loan.

If you are behind on something now

Borrowing more to cover arrears rarely works and often deepens the hole. Before applying anywhere:

1. Get your own CCRIS report free through eCCRIS and look at exactly what is showing.
2. Contact the lender you are behind with. Most would rather agree a plan than chase you.
3. If you have several debts you cannot service, contact AKPK, Bank Negara Malaysia's credit counselling agency. Its advice and its debt management programme are free.
4. If a judgment or bankruptcy is showing, get legal advice about settling or discharging it. Nothing else on the report matters as much.

Repairing a record

There is no shortcut, and anyone selling one is selling nothing. What works:

• Settle overdue amounts and keep the confirmation.
• Pay every instalment and card bill on time for six to twelve months. CCRIS shows recent conduct month by month, so newer good months push older bad ones out of the picture.
• Keep card balances low and stop applying to several lenders at once; each application is recorded.
• Check the report again before you apply, and dispute anything that is wrong.

Common questions

Does a licensed money lender check CCRIS and CTOS? Yes, with your consent, as part of assessing an application. An advert saying "no CTOS check" is a warning sign, not a feature.

Can I borrow if I am a bankrupt? An undischarged bankrupt faces legal limits on borrowing. Speak to the Insolvency Department about your position before applying anywhere.

I was declined by a bank. Will a licensed money lender approve me? Sometimes, because the assessment is different, and sometimes not. The only honest answer comes after an assessment, which costs nothing and commits you to nothing.

Next steps

Check your report, settle what is overdue, then use our calculator to find an instalment that fits your budget. Our eligibility page lists the documents that let us assess you properly.