A new non-profit organisation called Foster aims to rattle some cages by providing free debt counselling services to qualifying consumers. Debt counselling can be a lifeline to those who are truly over-indebted and there are many stories (like...
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Can debt counselling help your credit score?
Have you thought about applying for debt counselling but decided against it, because you weren't really sure of the benefits? One benefit you may not have considered is that successfully completing debt counselling could help your credit score....
Understand what debt counselling means
Capitec recently sent out a warning to its customers about false advertising by certain debt counselling companies. The warning stated: “Have you ever been promised immediate debt relief or a payment holiday that doesn’t affect your credit score?...
Listen: Pros and cons of debt counselling
For many people COVID has had a major financial impact and some may be considering entering debt review. In this podcast Maya (@mayaonmoney) speaks to David O’Brien of debt counselling firm Meerkat to explain how debt counselling works and how to...
Video: When to consider debt counselling
Even before lockdown, many people were finding it difficult to meet their debt repayments and facing the prospect of defaulting. Once you are in default, the collection and legal fees start mounting up. Debt that you were already struggling to...
Paying the price of payment holidays
Payment holidays offered during the three-month period from April to June 2020 will cost an additional R20.7Â billion in debt for the estimated 1.6 million South African consumers who participated. This is according to calculations by DebtBusters,...
When to consider debt counselling
As salaries struggle to keep up with inflation, and the economy in general continues to deteriorate, many middle- and higher-income earners are now relying more heavily on unsecured loans to maintain their lifestyles. As a result, many more South...
What the Debt Relief Bill means to consumers
Beware the false hope behind debt relief headlines The National Credit Amendment Bill, which includes details around debt relief, was recently approved by the National Assembly, but it still has a while to go before it becomes law. The so-called...
Tens of millions owed for reversed debit orders
Disputed debit orders could lead to the collapse of the entire debt counselling industry unless the Department of Trade and Industry takes urgent action. The entire debt counselling industry could collapse, destroying over 5Â 000 jobs and leaving an...
Five biggest debt mistakes
Wikus Olivier, debt counsellor at DebtSafe, highlights a number of common financial mistakes that individuals often make, resulting in debt. However, these can be mitigated if discipline is practised and changes are made in spending behaviour....
Previous Articles
Feeling the squeeze
I recently undertook an exercise to see how much my monthly bills had gone up over the last few years and was shocked to discover that our household was spending nearly double on groceries than we had four years ago. At first I was in denial – I thought I had simply...
Debt: the kiss of death
Recently I had two very disturbing conversations about the world of debt. The first was a conversation with someone from the Credit Ombud about how debt administrators and debt collectors farm debtors’ books. Although this practice is less lucrative now that the...
How to get out of debt review
If you can prove that you are able to start making regular payments, you can request to end your debt review. When Joseph Masemola's debt began to spin out of control in 2010, he applied for debt review via a debt counsellor. Since then, he has managed to settle and...
Customers are flexing their muscles, says Credit Ombudsman
Borrowers are invoking their rights against unscrupulous lenders and debt counsellors. A greater awareness by consumers around their rights when it comes to borrowing money has led to an increase in complaints related to non-bank credit transactions, with the majority...
Make April 27th your Debt Freedom Day
The 27th of April is Freedom Day in South Africa, marking the annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections in 1994. Since political freedom, South Africans have striven to correct the wrongs of the past. South Africa currently has 19.69...
Profile of a reckless lending case
Without a proper record of credit, can a provider be responsible for reckless lending asks Maya Fisher-French How does someone get into the position where their debt levels reach 217% of their income and who is responsible? While a desperate consumer may take whatever...
Reckless lending charges are no deterrent
We are starting to see cases of reckless lending being brought before the courts, but the process will remain slow unless the National Credit Regulator provides support Despite many court rulings charging credit providers with reckless lending, the practice appears to...