Debtfree DIGI September 2016

South Africa’s debt counselling magazine 

September 2016 

www.debtfreedigi.co.za

What you can expect from Hyphen PDA: 

• Increased Debt Counsellor Profitability 

• Flawless Systems 

• Meaningful Reporting 

• Contented Consumers! 

Chris van der Straaten, 

Head: PDA 

082 557 0437 

Malcom Povey, 

Head: Operations PDA 

082 445 5604 

www.hyp

henpda.co.za 

Don’t expect to hear an endless amount 

of “spin” around why things failed!.

DEBT COUNSELLING 

EXPLAINED 

We asked Debt Counsellor Chris Craven of 

Zero Debt all about the Debt Review Process. 

Due to the poor economy and sometimes unplanned changes in situation millions of South 

Africans are struggling to repay their debt. The same debt that, in the past, was easy to manage 

can become harder to handle with the cost of living increasing or sudden changes to your 

household income. More and more consumers are finding that they are over indebted or that 

their creditors are asking them to repay more than they realistically can repay each month. 

Thankfully the National Credit Act, provides consumers with an alternative way to manage 

their debt. Since 2007 over indebted consumers can apply for debt review with help from a 

professional Debt Counsellor. Debt counselling really protects troubled consumers from 

overly aggressive creditors who are quick to take legal action and not willing to listen to and 

understand a consumer’s situation. Consumers benefit, because they get to pay more a much 

more manageable monthly amount and the creditors benefit because they don’t have to take 

legal action (which costs a lot) and know they will receive regular payment monthly. 

A Debt Counsellor negotiates on behalf of the consumer for better repayments amounts from 

their creditors and then refers the matter to Court. Creditors are much more willing to negotiate 

with a Debt Counsellor that they trust than they are to deal direct with a consumer who they do 

not know. With debt review credit providers know that the consumer really is truly over indebted 

and cannot afford the monthly payments and is not simply just trying to pay less than they 

originally agreed to. 

The biggest mistake that many consumers make is that they wait too long before they get serious 

about sorting out their debt. Many people wait and hope that their situation will suddenly 

improve. This seldom happens. Ignoring your debt will not help. It only makes things worse. If 

you leave your problem for too long, not even debt counselling can help. That is why it is better 

to get professional help sooner. If you are having debt problems talk to a Debt Counsellor who 

is registered with the NCR.

CONTENTS 

STRESS! 

HOW TO DEAL 

WITH STRESS 

BUILDING A SOLID 


PRACTICE 

PART3 

Constitutional 

Court Rules On 

Garnishee Orders 

SERVICE 

DIRECTORY

EDITOR’S NOTE 

As the last few months of the year pass then 

we naturally begin to think about end of year 

holidays and getting to forget all our stresses 

and rather just have a little fun. Take a look 

at this months cover. Doesn’t that look nice 

and peaceful, tranquil and relaxing? Even if 

swimming is not exactly your thing then I am 

sure you agree that a few days down at the 

coast relaxing in the sun would still be very 

relaxing. It might be a chance to de-stress, to 

unwind. After all stress is bad for you. We all 

know that but this issue we look at the various 

sources of stress a person might face and how 

to deal with them. Dealing with debt stress is, 

naturally, a focus of the article so, if you feel 

weighed down and tired all the time be sure to 

read the article. 

We feature a number of short articles this issue 

about common acronyms that get thrown 

around by Debt Counsellors and we also look 

at all the latest industry and economy related 

news that will impact on you. For instance, this 

month saw a big legal victory for consumers 

who were being subject to abuses of so-called 

‘garnishee orders’. The SA Constitutional Court 

made a ruling which is going to change the 

way collections are done and will reduce the 

abuses of EAOs. We have an entire article on it. 

We conclude our 3 part series about call 

centre debt review operations this issue with 

interesting news about developments at 

the NCR in regard to this issue. If you are a 

consumer looking for a Debt Counsellor or a 

Debt Counsellor yourself you will want to look 

at that. 

So, picture yourself not too long from now (in 

a beach ready body) relaxing in the sun. Take 

a deep breath. Feel the light breeze wash over 

you as the sea laps at your feet. Ah, it feels good 

to be relaxed and even better to be debt free. 

DISCLAIMER 

Debtfree Magazine considers its sources reliable and verifies as much information as possible. However, reporting inaccuracies 

can occur, consequently readers using this information do so at their own risk. Debtfree Magazine makes content available 

with the understanding that the publisher is not rendering legal services or financial advice. Although persons and companies 

mentioned herein are believed to be reputable, neither Debtfree Magazine nor any of its employees, sales executives or 

contributors accept any responsibility whatsoever for their activities. Debtfree Magazine contains material supplied to us by 

advertisers which does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Debtfree Magazine team. No person, organization or 

party can copy or re-produce the content on this site and/or magazine or any part of this publication without a written consent 

from the editors’ panel and the author of the content, as applicable. Debtfree Magazine, authors and contributors reserve their 

rights with regards to copyright of their work.

Professional Debt 

Counselling Attorneys 

Tel: 021 872 1968 

11 MARKET STREET, PAARL 

www.steyncoetzee.co.za

Who are the NCR? 

The National Credit Regulator is a part of 

government which was created when SA 

received the National Credit Act in 2007. The 

National Credit Regulator or NCR for short, 

register credit providers, payment distribution 

agencies, Debt Counsellors and Alternative 

Dispute Resolution Agents and they monitor 

everyone in the credit industry to make sure 

they stick to the National Credit Act.

INDUSTRY 

CONSUMER 

NEWS FLASH 

For daily debt counselling news in 3 minutes or less visit www.debtfreedigi.co.za 

Repo Rate 

Remains Constant 

The SA Reserve Bank have announced that 

there will be no change in the Repo Rate (to 

which your bond and credit rate are linked) in 

September. The rate thus remains stable at 7% 

with Prime sitting at 10.5%. The strong Rand as 

well as other positive economic factors have 

staved off an increase for the moment but 

economists predict that another rise will follow 

before year end. 

NCT Rules Against Lewis 

After some press articles about Lewis Stores 

insurance practices, the NCR conducted an 

investigation into whether Lewis was actually 

selling insurance, against losing your job, to 

pensioners. The investigation revealed that 

this practice had been going on for many years 

along with selling the same type of insurance 

people to self employed people who could 

also never claim. The NCR referred the matter 

to the National Credit Tribunal (NCT). The NCT 

recently ruled against Lewis for these breaches 

of the National Credit Act and ordered a full 

independent audit and that Lewis pay these 

consumers back. The NCR now intend to ask 

the NCT to fine Lewis several million rand in 

punishment. Lewis Stores now arguably carries 

the distinction of being the first big credit 

provider which the NCR has really successfully 

taken to the NCT. 

VBS Mutual Bank in 

Whistle Blower Scandal 

Established in 1982 and operating with a 

banking licence since 2000 the Venda Building 

Society Mutual Bank -which is part owned by 

the legally disputed vhaVenda King, who SA 

President Zuma was previously planning to 

coronate- have been hit by scandal as an inside 

source has leaked concerning information. The 

whistleblower has supplied the press and SARB 

with documentation showing that the bank has 

supposedly lent R136 Million to a firm which 

two high ranking bank officials (Chairman and 

COO) have secret undeclared interests in. The 

loan was to buy shares in a big oil company. 

VBS Mutual Bank recently received a lot of 

press attention when they loaned 74 year old 

President Zuma R7.8 Million over 20 years. 

NCT Training 

Certain types of debt review applications can be 

heard by the National Consumer tribunal (NCT) 

rather than a magistrates court. The process 

of completing and filing such applications 

is slightly different from the normal court 

process. Some Debt Counsellors have been 

asking for training from the NCT and the NCT 

have now arranged two training workshops in 

JHB and CT during October. The training in JHB 

will take place on the 17th and in Cape Town 

on the 21st. Those wanting to attend are asked 

to email rsvp@thenct.org.za

NEWS CONTINUED 


Court Ruling on 


The case of a group of poor farm workers who 

went to the Western Cape High Court over 

their “garnishee orders” has been heard by 

the Constitutional Court. The Court upheld 

that the consumers Garnishee orders were 

not properly done and have further ruled that 

the Magistrates Court Act wording needs to 

be adjusted and that every ‘Garnishee order’ 

application by a credit provider needs to be 

considered by a Magistrate or judge. 

don’t be a twit 

Banking Investigation 

Called Off 

It is always awkward when, in government, 

one hand does not know what the other is 

doing. This seems to have been the case when 

government Minister Mosebenzi Zwane - 

who was assigned to help investigate why 

the banks suddenly stopped doing business 

with the Gupta family during all that negative 

press- announced that the Judiciary would 

investigate the banks and banking practices. 

His plan would possibly have seen the Banks Act 

changed and the Finance Minister in control of 

banking licences. This made the markets weary 

just when the Rand had started to do OK again 

and put the Minister right in the middle of a 

war between the SARB, the Guptas, Finance 

Minister Gordhan and several other leading 

politicians. It was then that the Presidency 

threw the Minister under the bus saying that 

this would definitely not be happening. In the 

wake of this furore several political factions 

have called for sever disciplinary action against 

Minister Zwane. 

http://twitter.com/Debtfree_DIGI

We are very proud of the achievements of Hyphen PDA at the 2016 

Debt Review Awards. Simplicity Debt Counsellor Software is a 

Hyphen PDA Business Partner.

Stress! 

Noun: A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting 

from adverse or demanding circumstances. 

Example of use: “he’s obviously under a lot of stress” 

Synonyms: strain, pressure, tension, nervous tension, worry, 

anxiety, nervousness

Stress can actually benefit us, 

after all it is actually your body’s way 

of responding to any kind of demand. 

Are you stressed? Most people are. For many people it has 

become the normal state of existence. Even young kids 

at school will tell you how their school work and tests are 

stressing them out. If you are dealing with debt or troubles at 

work or home then no doubt you are feeling stressed. 

Stress can actually benefit us, after all it is actually your body’s way of responding to any kind 

of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad things. Now when people feel ‘stressed’ by 

something that happens, their bodies react by releasing a flood of chemicals into the blood. 

These chemicals give people more energy and strength, which can really help if their stress is 

caused by physical danger. It can make you jump higher, lift up heavier things and run faster. But 

stress can also be a bad thing, if the reason for the stress is something emotional and there is no 

outlet for all this extra energy and strength especially is this the case if the stress continues for a 

long time. The longer it goes on the worse it is for us. 

Why Stress Is Bad For You 

While it seems obvious to say stress is bad for you (it is), many don’t realise how bad. 

Emotional stress that stays around for weeks or months can weaken your bodies immune 

system, cause high blood pressure, make you feel tired or depressed and it can even lead to 

heart disease. Your body is not designed to have all those chemicals constantly flooding your 

system and it can change the way your body works or make it not work at all. For example, some 

adrenaline is good but too much for too long and you become lethargic and feel burnt out.

“ It always seems 

impossible until 

it is done” - Nelson Mandela 

Specialist Attorneys dealing 

with Debt Review matters 

Magistrates Court 

and High Court Matters 

Tel 021 913 2514 Fax 0866070940 Email info@liddles.co.za 

PHYSICAL ADDRESS 7 Chenin Blanc Street, Oude Westhof Postal address PO Box 3407, tygervalley, 7536

Things That 

Cause Us Stress 

Many people experience stress about a variety of different 

things from the small to the large. Each person is unique so 

what stresses you out can be unique as well but there are also 

many common sources of stress at home and at work. 

Work Stress 

For most people being stressed at work is very common. It might be that you are just unhappy at 

your job or it may be that you are working too long for too little pay. Maybe your boss is an idiot 

of note or you realise that there is no chance of you getting a raise any time soon or of moving 

up in the firm. Some people unfairly face discrimination or even harassment at the office which 

is a large cause of stress. Work stress can leave you desperate for Friday to come along and 

experiencing the ‘Monday Blues’. 

Stress At Home 

Stresses at home also abound. These are sometimes called ‘life stresses’ and can have a big 

impact on our happiness. The biggest causes of stress can relate to the death of a loved one, 

which is devastating or the progressive failure of one’s marriage leading to divorce. For many the 

loss of their job can places all sorts of strain on their relationships at home. In this economy the 

ever increasing financial obligations and all too common debt can weigh you down. Many also 

face chronic illness or injury with all that brings. 

When We Worry Excessively 

It is not only external things which cause stress. Sometimes stress comes from inside our own 

heads. You can stress yourself out just by worrying about things that have not happened or may 

never happen at all. Alternatively you may worry about things over which you have absolutely 

no control. For example, you may experience fear over possible violence to you or a loved one 

in a terror attack. Even though such things happening to you are typically not extremely likely, 

their vivid coverage in the media may make them seem as if they are much more likely to occur 

than they really are.

The Way We Think About Negative Situations 

It is a reality that somewhere, somehow something bad will happen to us. It might be small things 

or maybe larger more serious stuff. Interestingly your attitude towards the situation makes a big 

difference to your personal stress levels compared to other people going through the same 

thing. For example, if your house is burgled and your laptop is stolen and you think to yourself 

“It’s OK, my insurance will pay for a new one,” you’ll be far less stressed than if you think, “My 

laptop is gone and I’ll never get it back! My life is over! What if the crooks come back to my house 

to try rob me again?” While the first way of thinking reduces stress, the second only makes it 

much worse. Since you have little control over what happens next your attitude can determine 

if you are able to successfully deal with the situation or simply fall apart. 

Unrealistic Expectations of yourself and others 

No one is perfect. If you expect to do everything right every time then you are going to definitely 

feel stressed when things don’t go 100% as expected. When you expect others to deliver 100% 

you will be disappointed 100% of the time. No one is perfect. 

Changes 

They say moving homes can be a big cause of stress. Not just the packing and unpacking but the 

underlying change in your situation. In fact, any big life change (good or bad) can be stressful. 

Starting a new job or getting married, both of which are good things, can really stress you out. 

Never mind more unpleasant thing in life. We all secretly hate change and it stresses us out. 

Debt Stress 

Worrying about debt is a extremely common source of stress in most peoples lives. With half of 

all credit users in South Africa 3 months behind on some of their debt repayments this is one of 

the most common causes of stress. One of the reasons why debt is so stressful is that it is often a 

cause of worry for a very long time period. Unlike other things like a car accident, a death in the 

family or divorce dealing with debt can be a ongoing situation that lasts for decades. According 

to Kelly McGonigal, who is a health psychologist at Stanford University: “Our bodies are designed 

to respond to … ‘emergencies’ and bounce back, whereas owing money can become completely 

inescapable.” Several studies have shown that people who have bonds to pay off (normally over 

decades) generally require more medical health care over time. 

Also the way that credit providers go about collecting debt can be a source of stress. Scary 

letters and harassing sms or visits from dodgy looking people who embarrass you or invade your 

private space and threaten more and more trouble, if we don’t pay, are all designed to stress us 

into paying no matter what.

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How to Deal 

With Debt Stress 

If stress is so bad for you and so many people have stress over 

their debt then it is important to know how to deal with debt 

stress or it might begin to negatively effect you. 

The good news is that there are various ways to reduce your stress and improve your happiness. 

Some steps are easier than others and the points we will look at next are not all encompassing 

but they will give you a few main ideas to work with. 

Have The Right View Of Money 

First, you have to consider how it is that you feel about money. Do you love it? Hate it? Always 

want more? Do you see it as a tool to get what you need? Does having more money make you 

more important? Coming to an understanding of your own deep thinking about what money is 

and what part it plays in your life can take a while. Sit down and think about it. Are there other 

things in your life more important than money? Consider what they might be and why? Do really 

want the money or is it the things money gives you that you want? 

Recognize That Using Credit Gives You a False Sense Of Freedom 

A study revealed that even when consumers had maxed out their credit and could not hope 

to repay their debt they still felt a feeling of freedom when their credit limit was extended or 

someone else gave them more credit. McGonigal says that recent research shows that “people 

who are stressed out go into yet more debt in order to feel powerful.” That powerful feeling is 

false and taking on more debt will only later increase your stress levels. 

Practice Self-Control. 

A social psychologist from Florida State University, conducted experiments that showed we only 

have so much mental energy for exerting self-control. In other words, your ability to control the 

urge to spend can become fatigued with constant use. So while you can resist buying snacks at 

the beginning of your monthly shop by the time you get to the checkout process the shop may 

tempt you into breaking your resolve not to waste money. Guess where they put the sweets 

these days... The good news is that self control is like a muscle. The more you use it in small 

measure (like by budgeting or making a shopping list) the stronger it can become. Allowing you 

to last longer under continued marketing pressure.

The good news is that there are various ways to reduce your stress and improve your happiness. 

Some steps are easier than others and the points we will look at next are not all encompassing 

but they will give you a few main ideas to work with. 

Have The Right View Of Money 

First, you have to consider how it is that you feel about money. Do you love it? Hate it? Always 

want more? Do you see it as a tool to get what you need? Does having more money make you 

more important? Coming to an understanding of your own deep thinking about what money is 

and what part it plays in your life can take a while. Sit down and think about it. Are there other 

things in your life more important than money? Consider what they might be and why? Do really 

want the money or is it the things money gives you that you want? 

Recognize That Using Credit Gives You a False Sense Of Freedom 

A study revealed that even when consumers had maxed out their credit and could not hope 

to repay their debt they still felt a feeling of freedom when their credit limit was extended or 

someone else gave them more credit. McGonigal says that recent research shows that “people 

who are stressed out go into yet more debt in order to feel powerful.” That powerful feeling is 

false and taking on more debt will only later increase your stress levels. 

Practice Self-Control. 

A social psychologist from Florida State University, conducted experiments that showed we only 

have so much mental energy for exerting self-control. In other words, your ability to control the 

urge to spend can become fatigued with constant use. So while you can resist buying snacks at 

the beginning of your monthly shop by the time you get to the checkout process the shop may 

tempt you into breaking your resolve not to waste money. Guess where they put the sweets 

these days... The good news is that self control is like a muscle. The more you use it in small 

measure (like by budgeting or making a shopping list) the stronger it can become. Allowing you 

to last longer under continued marketing pressure. 

Don’t Shop When You Feel Down 

A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology showed that we are more likely to shop 

for fancy items, and buy expensive stuff on credit, when our ego or self-worth is threatened. This 

can come in many forms from watching bad news on TV to being turned down for a promotion. 

Some say that people buy fancy brand name items because they want to signal positive things 

about themselves to others but a recent study from the London Business School shows that simply 

going shopping and buying expensive stuff emotionally comforts the purchaser (regardless of 

what others might think) especially when they feel sad.

Violation Response 

This fancy term really just means that people buy more to make themselves feel better about all 

their debt. It might sound crazy since that will cause more debt but it happens. It is also called 

the “what the hell” effect and was first identified in research about dieting. People tend to eat 

to feel better about things like…wait for it…being over weight. They reason that since they are 

already over weight another bite won’t hurt. In fact it will make them feel better. Sadly eating 

more makes them more overweight and so they feel they need to eat more to feel better. It’s a 

vicious cycle. The same can happen with debt because buyer’s remorse and more debt feeds our 

stress levels and so we head back out to spend more to feel better. 

Have the Right View of Debt 

Debt is bad. Bad for the people who gave you the money which you already went out and spent 

and now can’t pay back. It is a problem that the credit provider has. Not the consumer. So how 

do credit providers deal with that bad situation? They get collection agents to make the debt the 

consumers problem. They pester, harass and bother you until the consumer si the one who feels 

bad. The credit providers threaten consumers with negative credit bureau listings which simply 

reflect a simple truth. The consumer can’t afford more credit. This is fact. So, why stress about 

it? Debt is a credit providers problem. The problem for the consumer is having people pester 

you and threaten you about the debt. This is why a process like debt review, which stops the 

pestering while making realistic repayment plans is so beneficial to consumers. 

If you have debt why not get rid of it? 

Many consumers who are under financial pressure to make ends meet make poor decisions 

about their debt. For some who are in a massive debt hole they somehow think taking on more 

debt will help. Others make poor budgeting decisions every single month. Often consumers who 

come to Debt Counsellors for help will be fending off repeated stressful calls from collections 

agents all day long on their credit cards but will also be spending lots of money on satellite TV, 

multiple mobile phone contracts or be paying for other peoples debts rather than their own. 

Talking to a neutral professional, like a Debt Counsellor can be a real eye opener. More than that 

there are options like sequestration or debt review built into the countries laws which can help 

reduce your debt and thus reduce your debt stress.

Tips For Reducing Stress 

If you are experiencing stress at work (maybe you are an overworked underpaid Debt 

Counsellor) or home then here are some steps you can take to reduce your stress levels. 

Identify the sources of stress in your life. 

Understanding what it is that is really stressing you out will help yu plan to deal with it. 

Learn healthier ways to cope with stress. 

Don’t bottle up all your stress and don’t turn to the bottle to deal with your stress. 

Get Active 

Research clearly shows that being active makes you feel better. It makes you look better 

and releases all sorts of good chemicals that your body needs. Being healthier also reduces 

medical costs on average. 

Connect to others. someone to vent 

Reach out to a colleague at work 

Help someone else by volunteering 

Have lunch or coffee with a friend 

Ask a loved one to check in with you regularly 

Accompany someone to the movies or a concert 

Call or email an old friend 

Go for a walk with a workout buddy 

Schedule a weekly dinner date 

Meet new people by taking a class or joining a club 

Confide in a clergy member, teacher, or sports coach

Practice the 4 A’s. 

Avoid unnecessary stress 

Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal 

or professional life, taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for 

stress. Distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts” and, when possible, say 

“no” to taking on too much. 

Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your life, 

limit the amount of time you spend with that person, or end the relationship. 

Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious, turn off 

the TV. If traffic makes you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to 

the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online. 

Alter the situation 

If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Often, this involves changing 

the way you communicate and operate in your daily life. 

Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is bothering 

you, be more assertive and communicate your concerns in an open and respectful 

way. If you’ve got an exam to study for and your chatty roommate just got 

home, say up front that you only have five minutes to talk. If you don’t voice your 

feelings, resentment will build and the stress will increase. 

Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be 

willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you’ll have a 

good chance of finding a happy middle ground. 

Manage your time better. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. But if 

you plan ahead and make sure you don’t overextend yourself, you’ll find it easier to 

stay calm and focused.

Be more assertive. Don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems head 

on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them. If you’ve got an exam to study 

for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have five 

minutes to talk. 

Adapt to the stressor 

How you think can have a profound effect on your stress levels. Each time you think 

a negative thought about yourself, your body reacts as if it were in the throes of a 

tension-filled situation. Regain your sense of control by changing your expectations 

and attitude to stressful situations. 

Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. 

Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to pause and 

regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time. 

Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself 

how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really 

worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere. 

Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting 

yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for 

yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.” 

Accept the things you can’t change 

Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such 

as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, 

the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may 

be difficult, but in the long run, it’s easier than railing against a situation you can’t 

change.

Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control― 

particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus 

on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems. 

Look for the upside. When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities 

for personal growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, 

reflect on them and learn from your mistakes. 

Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people 

make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy 

by forgiving and moving on. 

Practice gratitude. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on 

all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and 

gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective. 

Make time for fun and relaxation. 

Maintain balance with a healthy lifestyle. 

Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so 

be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy 

up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day. 

Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary “highs” caffeine and sugar provide often 

end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft 

drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll 

sleep better. 

Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may 

provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Don’t avoid or 

mask the issue at hand; deal with problems head on and with a clear mind. 

Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling 

tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

Switch 

to easy 

• Individual, dedicated business bank account per Debt Counsellor 

• National Representation - regular office visits by skilled, trained agents 

• 24 hour access to system, including distributions data - from any PC, 

cell phone or tablet with internet access 

• Dedicated account managers for EACH Debt Counsellor 

Agent: Petro de Beer 

e-maill: petro@dcpartner.co.za 

Cell: 083 6139 826 

www.dcpartner.co.za

BUILDING A SOLID DEBT 

COUNSELLING PRACTICE 

PART 3 

STAYING ON TRACK 

Getting things done on time, and at the right time, is one of the 

biggest challenges for a Debt Counsellor. This especially true 

as our practices begin to grow and we become reliant on other 

people to perform administrative tasks.

There can be many hold ups along the way, and if the Debt Counsellor is to avoid unnecessary 

work caused by non-adherence to time lines, then it is vital that technology be harnessed to 

assist. This is why Maximus is built around the Debt Counselling Process. From the very first 

interaction with the client, Maximus helps to keeps the Debt Counsellor on track with the help of 

three very special features, built right into the system: 

Firstly, Maximus helps the Debt Counsellor to navigate the case through the Debt Review process 

by providing a structured Workflow. From the time that the client’s details are captured as a 

Lead, progress is managed and tracked by Maximus utilising these workflows. Each workflow 

representing a different phase of the process. These Workflows extend from Interview to CP 

Verification, Proposals and Legal to Aftercare and Collections and many more. Maximus also 

offers a check list for each phase, to ensure that everything that needs to be done and checked 

at each step is verified. Max even records who did what, and when, so that any errors can be 

addressed. Within each Workflow, there are a number of possible statuses for each case, for 

example “Awaiting Documents” could be found in the Approval Workflow. Every status in turn 

has specific time frames associated with it. These time frames are worked out, not only to ensure 

that the case is always completed in time, but also to help prioritise work that needs to be done. 

Priorities are represented by colour coded Traffic Lights, popularly called RAG (Red, Amber 

and Green.) By using the RAG feature Debt Counsellors are always able to ensure that work is 

timeously completed. 

As practices grow it becomes necessary to have more and more data available for a “view from 

the top”. Maximus is unique in that it is able to provide the Debt Counsellor with a number of 

customised management reports, in Excel spreadsheets, on a daily basis. These reports cover 

such matters as sources of business, overdue status of cases and an overview of the progress 

of every single case. With the Maximus Suite of Management tools a Debt Counsellor can be 

comfortable that his or her Practice is well watched over and that every single customer will 

be competently dealt with. Knowledge is power and Maximus’ technology provides the Debt 

Counsellor with limitless knowledge about every aspect of the Debt Review Process. 

Contact Maximus on 011 451 0041 

Next month we will explore 

further ways that Maximus 

helps Debt Counsellors to build 

a successful practice.

What is a Garnishee Order? 

A ‘Garnishee Order’ is the term most people 

use for when a portion of a consumers salary 

is deducted to pay off a debt. The debt is paid 

directly to the credit provider or collections 

agent before the person gets their salary 

payment from the firm. In actual fact these 

are really something called an Emoluments 

Attachment Order or EAO for short. A true 

Garnishee Order is something a little 

different but most people mix the term for 

a EAO up with the term Garnishee Order.

All professionals have professional indemnity if the unforeseen 

happens. Do you as a professional Debt Counselor have 

professional indemnity as stipulated by the ethical code? 

contact us today for more information 

086 111 2882 

Telephone 0861 112 882 Facsimile 086 605 9751 Mobile 082 449 6856 EMAIL andre@in2insurance.co.za 

www.in2insurance.co.za 

MELIORLEAF WON’T 

LOAD YOUR PREMIUMS 

OR REPUDIATE A 

LEGITIMATE CLAIM 

Specialist insurance for people in debt 

review. Ask your debt counsellor. 

CALL US NOW 0861 635 467 

www.meliorleaf.co.za


Court Rules On 


Has a collections agents ever threatened you that should you 

fail to pay something today they will get a summons against 

us and send a sheriff to take our stuff from your home and get 

a garnishee order against your salary? Few things sound more 

scary for a consumer who is deep in debt and trying to keep 

their head afloat.

Some debt collectors cunningly ask consumers to sign a piece of paper to say that they have 

been past and chatted to them. Sometimes they say it is a vehicle inspection form. The consumer 

doesn’t realise the danger of signing a form without closely looking at it (or the second page) 

and soon they get told by their employer that money has to be deducted from their income each 

month due to a garnishee order. 

At Marikana many mine workers were getting little to no pay at the end of every month due to 

the various garnishee orders on their salaries for debts they had been neglecting to pay. It lead 

to protest and ultimately blood on the streets as the workers could not take it any longer. 

DAVID VS GOLIATH 

When a group of poor farm workers in the Western Cape were hit with a series of “garnishee” 

orders that left them penniless at the end of each month they decided to get help. A class action 

court case ensued with the banks and collections agents like the notorious Flemix on one side 

and the poorest of the country on the other with the help of the University of Stellenbosch Legal 

Aid Clinic. 

With the fate of the entire standard collections process on the line (as well as the longevity of 

those firms who collect solely through EAOs) the battle soon heated up. Civil rights groups grew 

interested and the country watched as a real David and Goliath situation unfolded. 

First Heard In the WESTERN Cape High Court 

The matter was heard in the Western Cape High Court where the ruling went the way of the 

consumer. The Court ordered that an EAO could not be granted without the proper oversight of 

a Magistrate or judge and that if naughty collections people tried to get EAOs somewhere else in 

the country rather than where the consumer works of lives then these were not valid. The Court 

went further and said that perhaps the process was unconstitutional. 

How Garnishee Orders Got a Bad Name 

Collections companies (the outside lawyers for the banks and credit providers) have a terrible 

reputation for “forum shopping” at courts around the country. This is where they find a friendly 

court that will normally just give them what they want without too many questions. Particularly 

a court where a clerk of the court (rather than a Magistrate) might just stamp the draft ‘garnishee’ 

order quickly in the back room somewhere. Some people even accuse some of the collections 

agents of giving bribes to these clerks to do so. The EAO applications to take part of a consumers 

salary would then receive a so called rubber stamp. No consideration would be given to if the 

consumer could actually afford to have that particular amount taken off their income each month 

and still cover their basic needs.

Hearing Matters Far Away Hurts Consumers 

When a ‘garnishee order’ is granted in a court in a far away province it is very, very difficult for 

a poor consumer to ever get to that court to defend/query or ask that the order be changed. 

This has basically meant that most consumers have never been able to change these EAOs. To 

make matters worse it seems as if many consumers have had more money taken off their salaries 

than the law allows. The law specifically prohibits a credit provider to take off more than double 

what is owed when the consumer starts missing payments. This is know as NCA Section 103(5) 

in duplum. Sadly many consumers have paid for years and years way beyond this double up 

limit set by the law. However since the court is so far away they can never get to have the order 

rescinded unless they somehow can pay an attorney in that area to go to court for them. The 

constitutionality of this was then also a big issue. 

When the W Cape Court ruling came out it called into question the entire normal way credit 

providers and collections agents were operating. Some wondered if it was the death of ‘garnishee 

orders’. For many months few, if any, EAOs were granted in the W Cape as courts receiving 

applications asked if the collections agents had researched the consumers situation and knew 

that they could afford to repay the amount asked. Few ever do. They normally just stick a figure 

on the draft order and plan to collect their commission portion on the amount. Other provinces 

also began asking these hard questions and the banks panicked. They commissioned their legal 

experts and rallied important government departments to challenge the ruling leading to it 

finally being heard at Constitutional Court. 

The Constitutional Court Ruling 

Courtroom The Constitutional Court ruling does not copy the W Cape high Court ruling 100% but 

it differs only slightly. The ruling amends some of the wording and grammar in the Magistrates 

Courts Act 1944, particularly section 65J of the MCA which will have a big impact on how things 

are currently done. 

The ruling emphasizes the need for an EAO amount to be appropriate and issued after everyone 

is satisfied it is just and equitable. This should then mean that people are not left with less than 

they need each month to cover their basic reasonable costs and calls for some investigation into 

the circumstances and figures involved. 

The ruling also stresses that a Magistrate or Judge must hear any EAO matter that is sent to 

a court and that they would be involved in a ruling on the matter and not some other court 

employee. The ruling states that such orders require judicial oversight. 

Also discussed was the process of consumers signing that they would automatically consent to 

judgement or that they would allow the matter to be heard in a court far away. Though the Con 

Court said they saw the possible benefit to the credit providers from this the risk of taking away

a consumers right to appear at court was just too great to ignore. It was ruled that the consumer 

must be able to attend and defend if they wish and so the court must be where they work or 

live. As such consumers should not be asked to sign away this constitutional right. The ruling 

however does not change a consumers right to consent to making a payment via an EAO that 

is then submitted to a court. 

This means that not only are the many consumers who were originally part of this legal actions 

‘garnishee orders’ invalid but that thousands of other current applications for ‘garnishee orders’ 

currently sitting in courts around the country (not old ones - which were excluded from this 

judgement) may need to be reworked or simply thrown in the bin. This is going to have a 

massive impact on firms like Flemix (formally Coombe & Associates or something similar) who 

make all their money off easy garnishee orders and their commissions on those. The various 

credit providers and collections involved in the case begged the court not to say that the ruling 

effects old EAOs since this might crash the entire banking and collections system. This is what 

they call a systemic risk. The Con Court passed the buck somewhat and asked that the matter be 

looked into by the Treasury and Reserve Bank and other relevant parties but held off on making 

a retroactive ruling at this point. 

The Tide is Turning Against Garnishee Abuse 

This judgement ties in nicely with a new bill about the abuses of Garnishee Orders being prepared 

by parliament. It seems that years of abuse and misuse of these EAOs is finally coming home to 

roost. Consumers who do feel they are being garnished too much each month can approach 

legal help to have these orders reviewed and change and if paid up removed. Though costly in 

the short term it can lead to refunds and provide great relief long term. 

Talk to a Debt Counsellor or Attorney about it 

If someone asks you to sign consent to being garnished when you first take out credit this is not 

legal. If someone comes to you when you have missed payments for a while and ask you to sign 

that you will accept a garnishee order this is something a consumer can do but if they don’t want 

to then the credit provider can try take the matter to court and have a Magistrate consider all the 

facts and figures before any such EAO is put into effect. 

So “garnishee orders” are not dead. They are just very, very badly hurt and are going to continue 

to be hard to get through court. More consumers will have the chance to go to court and defend 

these matters and ensure that only a reasonable amount is deducted from their salary (if at all). 

The Ruling is a great victory for consumers constitutional rights.

Who are the NCT? 

The National Consumer Tribunal or NCT, for 

short, was created in 2007 to assist with various 

aspects of consumer protection and the 

National Credit Act. For example, if the National 

Credit Regulator find a registrant - like a bank or 

Debt Counsellor - is breaking the National Credit 

Act they can take them to the NCT and ask for 

a big fine or even deregistration. Consumers 

can also apply to the NCT for help with 

various things like when a credit provider 

refuses to send you a statement. An order 

from the NCT is seen the same as an order 

from a High Court.

Maximus, the leading debt counselling software is proud 

to congratulate our PDA partners 

on their exceptional success in the Debt Review Awards. 

Maximus is the original System Partner to Hyphen PDA. 

Contact Maximus on 011 451 0041


COMMUNITY SUPPORT 

DCCS Wish To Thank All Debt Solutions For Their Support following: 


COMMUNITY SUPPORT 

How long have your offices been practicing as a debt counselling firm? 

All Debt Solutions opened its doors in 2013 and we are very proud to say that we have just had 

our 3rd anniversary. 

What is your vision for your consumers entering the debt review process? 

Our vision is to bring our clients relief. The process is there to help people who are financially 

stressed and we are there to help them get through it. We pride ourselves on “bending over 

backwards” to assist our clients, as our clients are our number one priority. Having a happy 

client is very rewarding. We also strive to educate the consumers who need help and those 

who want to enter the debt review process. 

If you could change one thing in the industry , what will it be ? 

We would change the way a debt review client is seen, specifically in the insurance 

environment. We don’t think that consumers who make the responsible decision by being 

placed under debt review should be prejudiced in any way. 

T: 0861 255 3328 | F: 086 585 8366 | www.alldebtsolutions.co.za 

If you want to help or get involved in this project, you can contact: admin@dccsupport.co.za

South Africa’s 

leading Debt Counsellors 

Click through to 

www.creditmatters.co.za 

or call our national call centre on 

086 111 6197

IN A NUTSHELL 

Christmas in 

September 

The ringing of Santa bells, the smell of roast Turkey, and 

presents under the Christmas tree... these are the things many 

look forward to on 25 December. For those that are fortunate, 

the festive season may be coupled with a bonus, an end of year 

holiday, or planning a major purchase, like that flat screen TV 

that you’ve been eyeing.

It is one thing to reminisce about Christmas, but the other is to plan ahead. It is common practice 

for people to head straight into December without thinking carefully about how they spend 

their hard earned money. People too often pile on debt during this time of year to stretch their 

budgets. This means that in January and beyond you may still be paying off Christmas debt long 

after Santa’s bells have stopped ringing. So how does one avoid falling into the traps of end-ofyear 

overspending? Here are a few tips to suggest to your clients. 

Step 1 – Understand your budget 

Sit down and draw up a budget. If you have money left over after paying for essential living 

expenses (food, bond, school fees, etc.), as well as your debt repayments then, put some of this 

aside towards your end-of-year spending. 

Step 2 – Lists are helpful 

Draw up a list of people who you intend giving gifts too as well as planned expenses over the 

Christmas period. Set a spending limit per person and start scouting ahead of time for specials, 

so you don’t get caught in the Christmas rush. 

Step 3 – Assess your debt 

Have you got a large overdraft? Are you swamped by too much credit card debt? If you are in 

this situation, don’t overstretch your overdraft or credit cards over Christmas. Use this time of 

year to consolidate your debt and instead if you’re fortunate use 80% of that end-of-year bonus 

to pay it off. Yes, it may sound unattractive, but that is wise spending and a good investment in 

a financially healthy future. 

Step 4 – Start an emergency fund 

Even if you pay off your debts consistently, unexpected events happen, which may force you to 

dip into your overdraft or credit card. Instead start an emergency fund that protects you when 

life doesn’t go according to plan. 

Step 5 – Back to School 

Retailers are notorious for spoiling Christmas fun. Just when we want to keep remembering 

Christmas, they replace all their displays and advertising with the dreaded Back to School 

campaigns. Again create a Back to School Fund that covers uniforms, stationery, and any extra 

schooling costs.

Step 6 – Choose your luxury expenses carefully 

Luxury expenses like a holiday, a new TV, a new golf set should ideally be paid from discretionary 

income. 

“Discretionary income is the amount of an individual’s income that is left for spending, investing or 

saving after paying taxes and paying for personal necessities, such as food, shelter, and clothing. 

Discretionary income includes money spent on luxury items, vacations, and nonessential goods 

and services. “ - Investopedia 

It is unwise to finance these items from debt mechanisms like your credit card or overdraft. 

If you cannot afford a holiday, consider staying home and being creative with your free time 

instead - take day trips to cultural spots, go to the local park for picnics, rent home movies or 

spend quality time relaxing with friends and family. 

Step 7 – Review 

At the end of January do a quick review of how you handled your finances over the festive season 

and note your learnings for the following year. Are there things you could have done better? 

Under what circumstances did you overspend? What actions did you take that made you proud? 

With less than 100 days till Christmas, start planning for it in September. You won’t regret it. 

IN A NUTSHELL is brought you by the DCM Business Partnership Programme, designed to 

support debt counsellors and consumers during the debt review process, in collaboration with 

the National Payment Distribution Agency (NPDA). For help, contact the NPDA on 0861 628 628. 

If you have suggestions for topics that you would like covered in future, please email info@dcmgroup.co.za 

Debt Review Awards Winner 2014 and 2015: 

NPDA: Payment Distribution; Client & Customer Service; Industry Support & Engagement 

Care Premier: Debt Counselling Software

Debt Counsellors Associations 

Announcement Board 

Upcoming Regional Meeting Dates: 

Gauteng Branch Meeting 26 October 2016 

Time: 11:00am Venue: Kempton Park Golf Club 

W Cape Branch Meeting 1 November 2016 

Time: 10:00am Venue: Parow Golf Club 

KZN Branch Meeting 1 November 2016 

Time: 10:00am Venue: Health Haven 

Join us on Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com 

NewEconomicRightsAlliance/ 

DCASA AGM 15 November 2016 

Time: tba Venue: Kempton Park Golf Club 

www.dcasa.co.za 

www.newera.org.za 

As an association we promote both debt 

counselling and consumer education as well as 

B-BBEE for our industry. 

For more info about joining the BDCF please visit 

our webpage. 

Cape Town meeting postponed as our host has been 

unwell. A new date will be advised shortly. 

Members can download a presentation on the 

envisaged debt review process on our Facebook 

Group. Non members please just send us an email 

and ask if you are interested: zune@allprodc.org 

www.bdcf.co.za 

www.allprodc.org

SEPTEMBER 

NEWSLETTER 

NCR Guidelines and the CIF Boycott 

Our decision in regard to the invalidity of the CIF and NCR issued Guidelines stands. We are taking 

further steps and consultation in regard to the NCR’s response to our concerns as expressed in 

our open letter. 

BEST WISHES 

Our long time member and finance officer Hennie Vermaas has been dealing with some health 

issues and we are thinking of him and wish him the best as he deals with this challenge. 

VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS AND DEBT REVIEW 

Some members have noted a concern about credit providers cancelling, making changes to or 

including credit life insurance into debt restructuring proposals or counter proposals. By law a 

bank (or other registered Credit Provider) is required to instruct the duly registered agent for the 

insurance (where it is applicable) to contact a consumer for continuation or cancellation of credit 

life protection. 

Per the National Credit Act and subsequent Amendments, insurance premiums cannot be included 

under debt review. NCA section 8(2)(a) clearly states that insurance is NOT a credit agreement. 

In terms of NCA Regulation 24, insurance is part of consumers ‘essential living expenses’ and in 

terms of NCA section 86(7)(b) and (c) only CREDIT AGREEMENTS may be restructured. 

All registrants of the National Credit Regulator are required to uphold the Act. On this matter the 

wording of the Act is very clear. 

Any contradictory guidelines issued by anyone regarding insurance is only an opinion and due 

to the wording of the NCA is non-binding. If the guideline contradicts the NCA it is invalid. As 

such, many AllProDC members have decided that they will not include insurance into their draft 

debt review rearrangement orders. 

www.allprodc.org 

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/AllProDC / TWITTER: www.twitter.com/AllProDC

DCASA Explain 

Why The NCR Task 

Team Agreement 

Can Benefit Your 

Practice 

In 2009 the NCR commissioned a task team to look at voluntary enhancements to the NCA and 

ways to reduce deadlocks in the debt review industry. The NCR Task Team Agreement guideline 

was approved by the NCR in 2010. In 2015 all CIF members confirmed the content of the Task 

Team Agreement. The members of CIF agreed that the Task Team and DCRS play an important 

role in the Debt Review process. This enabled the NCR to issue the Task Team Agreement as 

guidelines to the industry. 

CIF also noted that, for a number of reasons, debt review industry players lack detailed knowledge 

of the NCR Task Team Agreement Guidelines and this has negatively impacted on implementation 

by some. In addition to this the usage of DCRS is unacceptably low. To address these issues the 

CIF has agreed a number of actions: 

CIF recommended that compliance to the NCR Task Team Agreement Guidelines should be 

enforced. The NCR is now in the process to try obtain legislative authority to issue enforceable 

guidelines. This project when finalised will allow enforcement compliance. 

DCRS was reviewed and a number of system enhancements were approved. These system 

enhancements will be commissioned as soon as the NCR has finalised the ownership and 

housing of DCRS. This is an urgent project which needs to be finalised by October/November 

2016. Should this not be possible a lack of funding might jeopardise the ongoing availability of 

the DCRS Calculator system to Debt Counsellors and Consumers.

CIF also agreed a need for NCR Task Team Agreement Guidelines Training. DCASA has responded 

by launching a NCR Task Team Guidelines Training booklet at the recent DCASA Annual 

Conference. This training document provides a summary of the responsibilities and all parties 

involved in the Debt Review Industry, a detailed DCRS guideline and subsequent CIF agreements 

relevant to the process. 

DCASA will also provide NCR Task Team Guideline Training at the upcoming DCASA Regional 

meetings. The aim is to reach Debt Counsellors and their staff with the proposed training and 

to dramatically increase the usage of DCRS by all Debt Counsellors. The aim is to increase DCRS 

usage from the current 13% to 70% in a years’ time. 

Some of the reasons why Debt Counsellors should consider use of DCRS include: 

• A consumers’ cash flow can improve by up to 39%. This reason alone should be enough to 

motivate usage. 

• Consumers will rehabilitate sooner. 

• Debt Counsellors will spend less time restructuring proposals. 

• No counter proposal through DCRS speeds up the process. 

• DCRS also speeds up the court process. 

• Adherence to agreed processes reduces disputes between DC and Credit Provider. 

Although the DCRS system changes have not yet been implemented this should not stop Debt 

Counsellors to use DCRS. Debt Counsellors can also request from their Debt Counselling System 

providers through their PDAs. 

Although some Credit Providers have been slow to implement the NCR Task Team Agreement, 

the good news is that major Credit Providers have pledged commitment to implement the 

provisions of the NCR Task Team Agreement Guidelines and this includes guaranteed acceptance 

of DCRS proposals which solve. 

DCASA encourage all Debt Counsellors and their staff to study the NCR Task Team Agreement 

Guidelines and to dramatically increase the use of DCRS. A number of Debt Counsellors are 

already using DCRS extensively and they report high rates of approval of DCRS proposals by all 

major Credit Providers. 

The electronic training document and slides are available to every Debt Review Industry 

participant and can be requested from DCASA by e-mail at: dcasa@dcasa.co.za 

DEBT COUNSELLORS 

ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA

click the c 

Service D 

Debt CounsellORS 

Support 

services 

TRAINING 

FINANCIAL 

FINANCIAL 

PLANNING

irectory 

aTEGORY 

DO YOU WANT TO LIST 

YOUR COMPANY? 

directory@debtfreedigi.co.za 

LEGAL 

CREDIT BUREAUS 

PAYMENT 

DISTRIBUTION 

AGENCIES 

CREDIT PROVIDER CONTACT 

DETAILS & ESCALATION PROCESS

Debt CounsellORS 

Gauteng 

KwaZulu- 

Natal 

Free State

Limpopo North West Eastern CapE 

Mpumalanga Northern Cape Western Cape

National Debt Advisors 

Fighting For Consumer Justice 

Tel: 021 007 1688 

www.nationaldebtadvisors.co.za 

Credit Matters 

South Africa’s Leading 

Debt Counsellors 

14th Floor, The Pinnacle 

Cnr Strand & Burg St 

Cape Town 

Tel: 086 111 6197 

Fax: 021 425 6292 

info@creditmatters.co.za 

Gauteng 

Armani Debt Counselling 

Take the First Step 

to Financial Freedom 

Tania Dekker 

Tel: 011 849 3654 / 7659 

www.armanigroup.co.za 

Dynamix Debt Counselling TLC 

Alida Christie NCRDC2324 

Office 1, 34 Beefwoodstreet, 

Vanderbijlpark, 1911 

Tel: 079 520 4369 

Tel: 016 100 8020 

tlcdebt@mweb.co.za

Specialist Debt Management Centre 

Beverley Ludick, NCRDC948 

Pretoria 

Tel: 012 377-3557 

Email: obligco@gmail.com 

Email: dc@obligco.co.za 

www.obligco.co.za Tel: 0861 123 644 

Email: info@debtrescue.co.za 

Creators In Financial Wellbeing 

NCRDC677 

You Are Not Alone 

We’ll handle your creditors so you 

don’t have to! 

1 Dingler Street, Rynfield, Benoni 

0861 10 11 00 

info@debtmend.co.za 

www.debtmend.co.za 

NCRDC197 

Tel: 011 660 9970 

Fax: 086 540 5017 

KRUGERSDORP 

e-mail: nicky@nvdmdc.co.za 

www.nvdmdc.co.za 

All Debt Solutions 

Fast tracking your financial freedom 

Tel: 0861 255 3328 / 021-557 9981 

Email: info@allds.co.za 

www.alldebtsolutions.co.za 

https://www.facebook.com/ 

alldebtsolutions



Tel: 021 007 1688 







Cape Town 

Tel: 086 111 6197 

Fax: 021 425 6292 


KwaZulu- 

Natal 

Tel: 0861 123 644 

Email: info@debtrescue.co.za



Tel: 021 007 1688 







Cape Town 

Tel: 086 111 6197 

Fax: 021 425 6292 


Free State 

Tel: 0861 123 644 




Tel: 021 007 1688 







Cape Town 

Tel: 086 111 6197 

Fax: 021 425 6292 


Limpopo 

SMS Salary Management Services 

Annerien de Jager 

Registered Debt Counsellor 

NCRDC0075 

015 307 2772 

info@smslimpopo.co.za 

Tel: 0861 123 644 




Tel: 021 007 1688 


Tel: 0861 123 644 


Mpumalanga 






Cape Town 

Tel: 086 111 6197 

Fax: 021 425 6292 

info@creditmatters.co.za



Tel: 021 007 1688 







Cape Town 

Tel: 086 111 6197 

Fax: 021 425 6292 


North West 

Tel: 0861 123 644 




Tel: 021 007 1688 







Cape Town 

Tel: 086 111 6197 

Fax: 021 425 6292 


Northern Cape 

Tel: 0861 123 644 




Tel: 021 007 1688 







Cape Town 

Tel: 086 111 6197 

Fax: 021 425 6292 


Eastern CapE 

Debt Counselling Group SA 

Affordable Assistance with offices across 

the EASTERN CAPE. 

Casper Francois le Grange 

NCRDC 1560 / CALL: 086 100 1047 

Offices: 

East London: Shop 7, New Colonnade 

Building, Devereux Av, Vincent 

Port Elizabeth: Room 302, Pier 14, 444 

Goven Mbeki Av, North End 

Queenstown: Office 107, Nedbank 

Building, 89 Cathcart Road 

King Williams Town: Office 4, 49 Eales 

Street 

E-mail: help@dcgsa.co.za 

www.dcgsa.co.za 

www.facebook.com/dcg.southafrica 

Tel: 0861 123 644 


Don’t work with an out 

dated version of the Act 

UPDATED 

2015 

We are happy to announce that the Amended National Credit Act booklet 

is now available via our shop. 

Get the latest version for only R250.00 

Order NOW 

http://debtfreedigi.co.za/product/pocket-sized-national-credit-act-booklet/

WEBSITE | www.debt-therapy.co.za 

debt therapy 

integrity guaranteed 

debt therapy is registered with NCR | NCRDC49 



Tel: 021 007 1688 


Drastically reduce your monthly 

debt repayments 

Let US help 0861111863 

Regain control of your finances 

www.debt-therapy.co.za 

Western Cape 

Consolidebt 

Heidie Knorr NCRDC209 

Paarl, Worcester, Wellington, Ceres, 

Piketberg, Clanwilliam, Vredendal 

Tel: 021 863 2754 / 082 380 4401 

consolidebt@vodamail.co.za 

Encouraging Freedom, Creating Wealth 

Etienne Pieterse (NCRDC 2210) 

Tel. (021) 826-2699 

etienne@financialfreedomsolutions.co.za 

www.financialfreedomsolutions.co.za

CONSUMER 

& Solution Centre 

NCRDC2452 

ISISEKO DEBT HELP 

Get Your Life back on track 

TEL: 087 230 0223 

FAX: 086 551 1649 

EMAIL: makanti@isiseko.co.za 

WEB: www.isiseko.co.za 

Debt Review and 

Support Centre 

Annienne Nel NCRDC2452 

Kairo’s House, 22 Fairfield 

Southstreet, Parow, 7550 

Office: 021 930 5791 

Cell: 082 641 2328 

Fax: 086 563 3264 

e-mail: info@debtcentre.co.za 

www.debtcentre.co.za 

NCRDC1142 

No 2 Golden Isle Building 

281 Durban Road, Oakdale, 

Bellville, 7535 

Tel: 086 111 3749 

Email: help@zerodebt.co.za 

www.zerodebt.co.za 






Cape Town 

Tel: 086 111 6197 

Fax: 021 425 6292 


All Debt Solutions 

Fast tracking your financial freedom 

Tel: 0861 255 3328 / 021-557 9981 

Email: info@allds.co.za 

www.alldebtsolutions.co.za 

https://www.facebook.com/ 

alldebtsolutions 

Debt Budget 

One Monthly Payment For All Your Debt 

Bruce Leslie Borez 

NCRDC1643 

52 Church Street, 

“NBS Building”,Wynberg 

Tel: 021 824 8885 

www.debtbudget.co.za

Tel: 0861 123 644 


Your Guide to Financial 

Wellness and Recovery 

0861 229 922 

info@debthero.co.za 

www.legalhero.co.za 

Western Cape

Telephone: 031 251 4151 

Fax: 031 251 4252 

GENERAL CONTACT DETAILS (FIRST POINT OF CALL)* 

17.1‘s, 17 .2’s, 17.3’s, Rejections and 17 .W’s, Change or 

Transfer of Debt Counsellor 

Proposals / Revised Proposals / Consents / 

Related Queries 

Notice of Service / Court Applications 

Updated Balances / Settlements / General Queries 

Section 86(10) Letters and All Related Queries 

nca@consumerfriend.co.za 

proposal@consumerfriend.co.za 

court@consumerfriend.co.za 

queries@consumerfriend.co.za 

terminations@consumerfriend.co.za 

ESCELATION CONTACT DETAILS* 

Complaints / Service Delivery / Management 

17.1‘s, 17 .2’s, 17.3’s, Rejections and 17 .W’s, 

Change or Transfer of Debt Counsellor 

Proposals / Revised Proposals / Consents / 

Related Queries 

Notice of Service / Court Applications 

Updated Balances / Settlements / General Queries 

ryan@consumerfriend.co.za 

justin@consumerfriend.co.za 

charlene@consumerfriend.co.za 

charlene@consumerfriend.co.za 

roderick@consumerfriend.co.za 

diane@consumerfriend.co.za 

*Please do not CC multiple email addresses.

Support services 

Akani Solutions 

Information Data Solutions 

lana Van Herwaarde, 

DC Operation Centre (PTY) 

Tel: 0867227405 Email: 

info@dcoperations.co.za 

www.dcoperations.co.za 

Credit Report App 

Access Your Credit Bureau Report 

Instantly on Your Phone 

DCs help your clients use it during 

application & to protect their ID 

ID Protector 

Detect ID Theft or possible ID Fraud 

Subscribers notified by SMS when number is activated 

DEBT 

086 126 6562 

debt@one.za.com 

www.one.za.com 

info@akanisolutions.co.za 

www.akanisolutions.co.za

COMING SOON 

TRAINING 

COMING SOON 

FINANCIAL PLANNING

LEGAL 

Liddles & Associates 

“It always seems impossible until it 

is done” N. Mandela 

(T) 021 930 5790 

(F) 0866070940 

(E) frontdesk@liddles.co.za 

www.liddles.co.za 

Steyn Coetzee Attorneys / 

Prokureurs 

Adri de Bruyn 

11 Market Street / Markstraat 11, 

Paarl, 7646 

Tel: 021 872 1968 

Fax: 021 872 2678 

adri@steyncoetzee.co.za 

RM Brown and Associates 



Cape Town 

Tel: 021 202 1111, f: 021 425 0875 

Email: roger@rmbrown.co.za

Your Debt Counselling Attorneys 

Johannesburg | Cape Town 

Kim Armfield 

Attorney & Family Law Mediator 

Address: Unit 1B, FinansHuis, 7 

Voortrekker Road, Bellville 

Tel: 021 949 1758 / 021 945 2526 

Office cell: 084 8588 284 

kim@legalwc.co.za 

Andre Van Zyl 

021 494 4862 

info@bassonvanzyl.com 

www.bassonvanzyl.com 

COMING SOON 

CREDIT BUREAUS

PAYMENT DISTRIBUTION AGENCIES 

DC Partner 

044 873 4530 

Hyphen PDA 

011 303 0060 

NPDA 

0861 628 628

SOFTWARE PROVIDERS

CAPITEC CONTACT DETAILS 

Form 17’s 

Proposals 

Court documents 

General Queries 

Refund Requests / 

Cancellation of Debit Orders 

Complaints 

Insurance Certificates 

ccsforms17@capitecbank.co.za 

ccsproposals@capitecbank.co.za 

ccsdebtrevieworders@capitecbank.co.za 

ccsdebtreviewqueries@capitecbank.co.za 

ccsrefundrequests@capitecbank.co.za 

ComplaintManagement@capitecbank.co.za 

coming soon 

Sharecall Contact Number 086 066 7783 - Select Option 2 

ESCALATION PROCESS 

coming soon

Debt Review DepartmentEmail Address 

Turnaround Time 

Contact Details Standard Bank Debt Review 

Debt Review Call Center: 0861 111 525 or 0861 111 402 

Debt Review Documents*: 

DRApplications@standardbank.co.za 

Debt Review Service requests: debtreviewservices@standardbank.co.za 5 days 

Debt Review payment queries: DRPayments@standardbank.co.za 7 days 

Debt Review administrative requests**: DebtReviewAdmin@standardbank.co.za 5 days 

Debt Review complaints and escalations: debtreviewcomplaints@standardbank.co.za 5 days 

Reckless Lending Allegations 

recklesslendingallegations@standardbank.co.za 

*Debt Review documents: Form 17.1; Form 17.2; Proposals; Court Applications; Court Orders 

**Debt Review Admin related requests: debit order cancellations; statement requests ; refunds; paid up 

letters; account closure instructions; settlement balances; or outstanding balances 

Other Standard Bank areas 

Credit Card 086120 1000 

Diners Club 0113588400 / 0860346377 

Vehicle Asset Finance Recoveries 0861102347 

Vehicle Asset Finance Collections 0861102347 

home Loans Pre Legal 0860102270 

home Loans Customer Service 0860123001 

Standard Bank Insurance 0860123911 

Deceased Estates 0861001868

ABSA TASK SPECIFIC DEBT 

ABSA TASK SPECIFIC DEBT REVIEW ENTRY POINTS 

REVIEW ENTRY POINTS 

Form 17.1 

DRCOB@absa.co.za 

Debit Order Cancellations 

Debitordercancellations@absa.co.za 

Proposals 

DRProposals@absa.co.za 

Exits from Debt Review 

17.4@absa.co.za 

All Court Documents 

Courtapp@absa.co.za 

DC Switches 

DCTransfere@absa.co.za 

Termination Queries 

DRTerminations@absa.co.za 

Queries 

debtreviewqueries@absa.co.za 

Escalated Queries 

debtreviewmanager@absa.co.za 

Call Centre 

0861 222 272

DC Query Process DC Query Process 

www.nedbank.co.za

AFRICAN BANK CONTACT DETAILS 

011 256 9323 

DebtCounselling@africanbank.co.za 

ESCALATION PROCESS 

COMING 

SOON

Debtfree DIGI September 2016

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