A lot of us have gone through some serious financial difficulties at various points in our lives. You may have taken a loan, struggled to keep up with monthly payments, failed to repay, and defaulted altogether.

You are now wondering, will your tainted financial past haunt you for the rest of your life? Are you blacklisted from acquiring new credit? Is there a way out of the “blacklist”?

All is not lost for someone with a dismal financial situation. There are still ways to bounce back, and you’d be happy to know loan options are still available for blacklisted individuals. 

What Does “Blacklisted” Mean?

Being blacklisted means that you have done something or behaved in a way that is deemed unacceptable¹ and deserves punishment or deprivation of a service. In the financial industry, being blacklisted means you have poor credit records and are unqualified to acquire credit.

When applying for a new loan or credit with a bank, they conduct a credit investigation to check your borrowing history and assess your capability to manage and pay back debts. This includes looking into your credit report and public records to verify that you have no delinquent accounts. 

Negative findings such as habitually late or non-payments, tax liens, or court cases involving money indicate a high-risk borrower, and banks will likely decline your loan application. These red flags are reasons for being blacklisted.

Where Can You Find a Blacklist?

It is worth emphasizing that no official comprehensive blacklist exists in the Philippines. Available records related to an individual indicating one’s creditworthiness are sourced from the credit registry, credit bureaus, and financial institutions.

Members of the following entities collect and share the credit information of their clients to guide lenders in their decision to grant or extend credit to their borrowers.

1. Credit Information Corporation (CIC)

CIC is the country’s credit registry and repository of positive and negative information used by financial institutions for credit investigation. However,  its mandate does not include blacklisting borrowers². 

2. Credit Management Association of the Philippines (CMAP)

CMAP is a credit management institution facilitating credit information exchange among members from different industries. It maintains an online database of the following information:

• Court cases in debt-related categories filed in major cities of the Philippines
• List of clients with returned checks
• Accounts endorsed to lawyers
• Past due accounts from telecommunication and manufacturing companies

3. Bankers Association of the Philippines Data Exchange, Inc. (BAP-DX)

BAP-DX provides relevant credit information services for all member banks³. These local and international banks regularly update their database to allow them to make accurate and efficient credit decisions.

How Do You Know If You Are Blacklisted?

1. Check your credit report

The easiest way to see if you are blacklisted is to get a copy of your credit report from the accredited credit bureaus⁴ or your bank⁵. Details in your credit report will give you an idea of what credit information about you is being shared with financial institutions.

2. Check the members of CIC, CMAP, and BAP-DX

Since access to certain negative credit information is restricted to authorized members of these groups, you can check who the financial companies upload data to their databases are. It would be reasonable to assume that if the credit company you have a bad history with is a member, you are already flagged as delinquent in their system and are consequently shared with the whole organization.

How Long Does Blacklisting Last?

It is essential to understand that a fair and accurate credit report includes both positive and negative information. Even after paying all your debts, it is doubtful that the negative info will be immediately erased. It can still be retained in the CIC’s database for up to 3 years⁶ from the payment date or debt settlement through a compromise agreement or court decision.

Although it won’t go away completely, the impact of negative information on your credit score decreases over time.

What To Do After Getting Blacklisted?

Once you find yourself “blacklisted,” it is best to do the following steps:

1. Get in touch with the lender. Communicating with the bank that you are willing to settle your debt is a way to show that you are not running away from your obligation. 
2. Negotiate for a restructuring of your debts. You may find it surprising, but banks are usually willing to restructure your payment terms if you intend to pay your debt in full. It is more costly for them to hire a third-party collection agency or pursue legal action.
3. Pay your debts. Make it right this time and settle your debts. Keep your word; they may disagree with further reconsideration if you fail to keep your bargain.
4. Get a certificate of full payment. Once your debt is settled, request a certificate of full payment. This will come in handy for your future transactions.
5. Notify the bank and credit bureau to update your credit information. Ask the bank nicely to update your credit information. You can also file a dispute in CIC if it is not reflected in your credit report after 30 days from payment.

Financial Aid Options for Blacklisted Individuals

Being “blacklisted” makes applying for new lines of credit challenging. However, there are alternative loans that do not require a credit check. This comes with the consequence of higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms.

Here are some of the bad credit or no-credit-check loans:

• Online lenders – with the rise of the fintech industry, online lenders are becoming more popular as they can process and release loans quicker than traditional loans. Ensure you only transact with legitimate online lending platforms⁷.
• Government-supported loans – SSS, GSIS, and PAG-IBIG provide loan options for their members and are usually based on your monthly contribution.
• Paycheck advance – depending on your arrangement, you can ask your boss for an advanced salary payable on the next paycheck.
• Pawnshop loan – you only need to provide your contact information and a valuable item as collateral to receive funds from a pawnshop.
• Borrowing money from a friend or family may be an easy option but may put your relationship at risk, especially if no signed agreement exists.

Tips and Warnings

• No credit history is not a reason to be blacklisted. First-time borrowers may also find it challenging to acquire a loan as lenders do not have a basis for assessing payment behavior, but they are not treated as blacklisted.
• Avail of the Interbank Debt Relief Program⁸ if you’re struggling with your credit card payments. Inquire with your bank for the requirements and qualifications.
• Keep updated contact information with your credit card provider to avoid being considered as using your credit card with intent to defraud under the Access Devices Regulation Act⁹.
• Be cautious in using no-credit-check loans. Approval for these loans is easier than for traditional banks but comes with higher interest rates and fees. Beware of scams that guarantee a lower interest rate in exchange for upfront fees or phishing scams that ask for your personal information, which can be used for identity theft.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1. Kenton, W. (2022). Blacklist. Retrieved 24 April 2022, from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/blacklist.asp
2. PRESS RELEASE: More borrowers from lending, financing companies loaded in the CIC database. (2021). Retrieved 24 April 2022, from https://www.creditinfo.gov.ph/press-release-more-borrowers-lending-financing-companies-loaded-cic-database
3. Membership. (2021). Retrieved 24 April 2022, from https://bap.org.ph/about/membership/
4. Get your credit report. Retrieved 23 April 2022, from https://www.creditinfo.gov.ph/get-your-credit-report-cibi-web-app
5. PRESS RELEASE: CIC Basic Credit Reports are now available via select accessing financial institutions. (2022). Retrieved 24 April 2022, from https://www.creditinfo.gov.ph/press-release-cic-basic-credit-reports-are-now-available-select-accessing-financial-institutions
6. About your CIC Credit Report. Retrieved 23 April 2022, from https://www.creditinfo.gov.ph/about-your-cic-credit-report
7. List of Recorded Online Platforms. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2023, from https://www.sec.gov.ph/lending-companies-and-financing-companies-2/list-of-recorded-online-lending-platforms/#gsc.tab=0
8. Interbank Debt Restructuring Program (IDRP) [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2023, from https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=467948431630084&ref=sharing
9. Payment and Collections. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2023, from https://www.ccap.net.ph/credit-card-basics/payments-and-collections/