Debtfree Magazine issue #12 of 2021

DEBT COUNSELLING – THE NOBLE PROFESSION
THE LEGAL SIDE
OF THINGS
Sadly, the SA court system has fallen far short of initial
expectations of how they would embrace debt review.
Often Magistrates would shy away from restructuring
debts and would rather try force consumers and credit
providers to negotiate and settle matters outside court
on their own.
It was also expected that Magistrates and Judges would refer almost
all matters about credit accounts to Debt Counsellors and make good
use of this resource. Instead many courts initially shied away from
dealing with debt review matters for years, some still have the habit
of nitpicking and country wide the legal side of debt review is still so
complicated after one and a half decades that legal fees often outstrip
the professional fees of the Debt Counsellor.
Still, this has not prevented Debt Counsellors from reaching out
to help consumers and offering them what relief they can through
this amazing process. It is one of the most advanced in the world
and though somewhat underutilized it offers a dignified way for
consumers to realistically deal with their debt (and for credit providers
to collect debt with few costs). Working with expert attorneys Debt
Counsellors have figured out how to help consumers through the
convoluted legal system.