Debtfree DIGI Jan 2015

www.debtfreedigi.co.za

South Africa’s debt counselling magazine

January 2015

WHAT IS DEBT REVIEW?Debt review was introduced by the National Credit Act in 2007, to assist over-indebted consumers who are struggling to meet their financial commitments by providing budgeting advice, negotiating with credit providers for reduced payments, and restructuring debts.

Once a consumer completes a form 16 application a Debt Counsellor can indentify if the consumer appears over in debted. If so they will send out a 17.1 notification to all your creditors informing them that you applied for debt review and that they must contact the debt counsellor with account information. If the consumer is over indebted the Debt Counsellor will let their creditors know and send out a proposal to all of them suggesting lower monthly payments over a longer time period. If all your creditors accept the repayment proposal, an appointed attorney will apply for a consent order

from the National Consumer Tribunal or a court order from a magistrate’s court. The court order restructures all the consumers debt. Once all of your debts have been paid, a clearance certificate will be issued by your Debt Counsellor.

Typical signs of over-indebtedness include when you receive threats because of arrears on instalments. You might get legal letters and notices or lots of phone calls from creditors. You know you are in trouble if you borrow on a regular basis from micro-lenders/cash-loans or already have garnishee orders against your salary. It is not a crime to apply for debt review. It is really a step in the right direction! Debt review can offer you legal protection and is confidential. Even your employer need not be informed if you do not wish. Consumers must just not wait too long before they take steps to get help!

Debtfree asked Debt Counsellor Ilana Van Herwaarde explain the debt review process.

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HAVE YOU TAKEN THE PLUNGE?

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In December 2014 DCCS helped vulnerable debt review consumers across the country receive generous shopping parcels valued at R1500 each to help relieve the pressure they were under.

In January 2015 DCCS helped 7 Debt Review families in Somerset west, Malmesbury and Pietermaritzburg receive backpacks stuffed full of vital school supplies. We wish to thank all

those who took part in these initiatives.

January always seems to offer a fresh start. New opportunities to do things right. To make a success of things. It is a great feeling that last from midnight on new years till at least the second week of they year. By then work and life has gotten it’s chance to beat the optimism out of you and the daily routine has re-established itself. By then all those resolutions of weight loss and self control in the face of junk food have faded in importance and the more pressing demands of dealing with work and making ends meet have once again taken foremost position in our lives. Sad but true.

Debt Counsellors have been busy this month with consumers who overspent up until December finally committing to doing something positive about their debt situation. Actually going into debt review, although a serious step which means that ones financial habits are about to take some big changes, is a great step in the direction of finally living up to a resolution to improve ones situation this year. If that has been your resolve this year then good for you. This issue we look at a few things to watch out for however. We also look at things you might do that are going to ruin your chances at making debt review work. We also consider some things your debt counsellor might do which could do you a disservice.

We have lots of news (sadly once again another month goes by without any announcement of

an date for the National Credit Amendment Act 2014 coming into effect) and an interview with a debt counsellor who is now helping other debt counsellors as well as information from all of the debt counsellor associations.

If you are still thinking about taking the positive step of entering debt review then be sure to check out the various service providers in the service directory listing section. After all debt review is like weight loss for your debt. Cutting out the ‘junk food’ type spending and finally making your money do exercise and work for you. Burning debt rather than cash is a great move. So if you have been in debt review for a while, just joined the programme or are maybe about to start the process we wish you all the best over the next few months as you take another step closer to being debt free.

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

NCR CANCEL SCHEDULED TRAINING The NCR have revised their schedule for workshops in the Western Cape (previously end January 2015) and Free State. They will soon announce new dates and will no doubt include their recent published guidelines into the workshop course.

NCR CONFIRM DEBT REVIEW NOT FOR THE UNEMPLOYEDThe NCR recently sent out their very first “guideline” resulting from the Credit Industry Forum consultation process. The Credit Industry Forum (CIF) is a group of industry parties who meet and consult on matters relating to debt review. Guideline 001/2015 – Debt Review Task Team Agreements of 2010 was sent to various parties with the promise that it would be circulated to the industry as a whole shortly. The NCR Task Team report has been in place for years and all major credit providers have signed off on adherence to it’s standards for several years. The Debt Counsellor Association of South Africa (DCASA) say that the publishing of the guidelines will little effect larger credit providers and most of their members who have adhered to the proposals of the report for many years already. Despite the fact that major credit providers had signed off on the Task Team proposals years ago many issues which are specifically addressed in the task team

report (such as debit order cancelation) have continued to be an ongoing issue for almost half a decade. It remains to be seen if publishing the report as guidelines will have any effect on the industry. The NCR have now told all role players that parties should take the guidelines seriously and registrants should report anyone who is not complying with the guidelines. This will no doubt happen in the next week or two and it remains to see if and how the NCR could take action in regard to guidelines not covered in conditions of registration or in the National Credit Act. One interesting provision of the task team report is that debt review is not to be extended to consumers who do not have a job or prospects of a job in the immediate future. It now remains to see how this interacts with the NCA’s requirement that Debt Counsellors must register any consumer who completes a form 16 with the NCR. The Task team report later goes on to say that consumers who have been retrenched (and thus have no job) can apply for debt review in terms of NCA Sect 87(b). this would be an exception to the no work, no debt review rule. The NCR have announced that further refinements to the 2010 report will be needed in connection with new legislation and court case rulings. More on debtfreedigi.co.za about this topic.

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Gerhard Dyzel [email protected] 082 828 7595 / 044 873 4532 (ext 110)

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UBANK VS THE NCR - MUDSLINGING COULD LEAD TO DEREGISTRATIONThe National Credit Regulator (NCR) have investigated matters in regard to Credit Provider UBank and have found that UBank are allegedly breaking several requirements of the National Credit Act (NCA). The NCR say their investigation revealed several NCA No No’s such as granting credit to consumers without telling them all the details and obligations of the credit agreement particularly the interest rate. Also of concern was the inclusion of the initiation fee into calculations of the principle debt in working out how much interest consumers must pay on unsecured loans. The NCR also have raised the issue of reckless credit. This is when a creditor either gives people credit they can’t actually afford or where they give people credit but don’t follow the correct legal procedures etc. The NCR say that UBank have been giving people credit recklessly. They have granted credit to consumers without taking into account what they owe other banks and creditors. They have apparently given people credit even when they are behind on many payments to other creditors. The NCT have said that UBank have not considered the consumers past payment history (normally done by consulting a credit bureau report). UBank CEO Luthando Vutula says that the NCR are trying to “strong arm” them into reaching a settlement regarding the alleged reckless lending. “We do not agree with the findings and this is why we refused to sign a consent agreement,” he said. The press reports that “Mr Vutula believes the NCR has acted to try shake off its image as a sleepy watchdog after a string of disasters linked with

too-easy credit, such as the Marikana massacre, last year’s platinum strike and the implosion of African Bank.” UBank say “We are confident we have a very good case… our book is the best performing book, in terms of quality, in the unsecured lending space, which indicates we understand our market and are a responsible lender,”. Of course Mr Vutula saying that the NCR are trying to strong arm them and that they disagree with the charge may bring the NCR into disrepute and as we have seen in the case of Debt Counsellor Deborah Solomon (who made similar statements in regard to the NCR on behalf of consumer website www.thedci.co.za) this could result in the NCR asking for the Credit Providers deregistration. The NCR have referred the investigation results to the National Consumer Tribunal and asked that they make a decision on the effected accounts and fine UBank. As yet they have not asked for the UBank’s deregistration.

NCR ISSUE PROPOSED GUIDELINES ON SECTION 103(5) INDUPLUMSection 103(5) applies to debts and accounts after the NCA came into effect. This is a provision in the law that limits how much interest and charges can be added to a persons debts when they do not make payments or are behind on payments. The proposed guideline states that once the consumer is in default the all fees, interest fees and collection costs and the cost of credit insurance as well as any administrative fees cannot go beyond doubling the consumers debt. If the consumer owed R2000 when they defaulted then all interest and legal fees can never add more than R2000 to the debt. This is a fixed figure and any

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payments made during the time of default do not change this limit. The consumer could only ever have to pay back R4000 due to Section 103(5). The NCR have called for comment on the proposal by 27 Feb 2015 . Comments can be sent to: [email protected]

STATISTICAL RETURN REMINDER FOR DCSDebt Counsellors are reminded that their form 42 statistical return is due during February. The report (for the time period from 1 Oct 2014 till 31 December 2014) is due by the 15th of Feb. So show the NCR some love this year and send them your return early.

For daily industry and debt news visit:www.debtfreedigi.co.za

We will give you the latest news in 3 minutes or less so you can keep up.

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THINGS YOU WILL DO TO RUIN YOUR DEBT REVIEW

YOU WILL MISS A PAYMENTLet’s not talk about the reasons why you might do this but you need to know that this is catastrophic. Basically it is ‘game over’ and will swiftly bring back all the stress of the days prior to your debt review. Missing required monthly repayments to a creditor is probably why you got into debt review in the first place. However having gone through specialised budgeting advice and the help of the courts an arrangement has been put in place which you can realistically afford. Should you not stick to that arrangement then you are in contempt of the court order and the other parties will feel free to begin new collection and legal processes to get money from you.

If you have a sudden expense for which you do not have enough savings (you should be saving even when in debt review) ask yourself: Can I wait?Can you make a plan and do without for a while? Your first thought might be no, I can’t! Are there other people who do without the thing (eg. Transport or a broken appliance). Can another member of your family carry the cost (if it is a family matter)? What can you sell to cover the costs? If it is a medical matter, speak to your debt counsellor. Never miss a payment! If you are worried that you might miss a payment then speak to your DC long in advance and get their professional advice.

Debt review is a legal process which can assist committed consumers to repay their debts in a responsible yet reasonable manner. Debt review, as a process, really works. That being said, it is important to realise that a debt review can be a fragile beast. There are things consumers can do that will quickly put their entire debt review at risk. We look at some common mistakes that consumers make, which can end their debt review.

THINGS YOU WILL DO TO RUIN YOUR DEBT REVIEW

YOU WILL SHORT PAYWhile you might not miss an entire payment you might be tempted to borrow a little of the debt review payment and use it for something else. While in this case the result is less immediately obvious and may only catch up with you later, it can still be devastating.

When you underpay, most PDAs simply reduce payments to all your creditors on an equal percentage. This has a big impact when you have secured assets like a bond or vehicle. So if you paid 20% less than you should, your car and bond will also get 20% less than they should. Your creditors will notice. Some creditors might feel that you have broken the debt review obligation and begin additional collections demands.

This will result in many additional emails and phone calls. In all likelihood your debt counsellor will urge you to make additional payment the following month to catch up. This will place additional strain on you that month.

Another consideration is that short paying - even by a bit - will result in additional cost for you over time due to the effect of interest on your debts.

Rather than under pay each month, where possible try to over pay and get slightly ahead. As a short payment can cost you over time because of interest charges so an over payment will save you funds over time. It might also provide you with a bit of breathing room should something come along that messes with your plans. All in all, it is probably best to save throughout your debt review

for unplanned expenses such as deposits or insurance excess payments.

YOU WILL MOVE AND WONT TELL ANYONEWhen you are being chased by your creditors and you grow scared that they might come to your home and take your possessions, it seems like a good idea to move and not tell anyone. When under debt review however, your situation is different. and you have the law on your side offering you additional protection. Legal letters and summonses get sent to your domicilium address. This is the address you wrote down in your original contract with each creditor. You told them to serve all legal documents on this address. So while you may think, not receiving a scary letter or even a summons is a good thing, it’s not. By the time you become aware of it legal action might already have happened. You could have a judgement against your name and a creditor might ask your boss to take funds from your salary each month. Funds that you need.

Should this happen while you are under debt review it can throw off your entire ability to repay what you must via debt review and afford to cover your basic costs each month. Should this happen, you will need to go back to court to sort the matter out quickly. The courts are not always quick. Months might go by. What will happen in the mean time? Will you begin to make short payments? This will have bad consequences.

It is better to keep both your debt counsellor and your credit providers aware of where you now live. It is actually a contractual obligation.

If you move, be sure to notify all parties in such a way that you can prove you have done so. Consider sending registered letters. If rather handing letters to a credit provider yourself, get them to sign an acknowledgement which mirrors the letter. If sending emails make sure it asks for read receipts. This can greatly safeguard you later if someone says they never knew.

YOU WILL NOT SAVEBudgeting is tricky. Most people find they spend more than they earn. Currently the average saving percentage in South Africa is Zero. If you have been over indebted for a long time you have not been able to save anything. When your debt counsellor first created a budget for you, they made provision for certain expenses which only come around now and then (like car services and haircuts) and showed how you can save toward these. Sticking to a budget can be just as tricky as creating one. If while under debt review, you have been spending every available cent then when these things come up (and they will) then you will not be able to cover the costs which you should have been saving for. Needing to cover them you may mistakenly decide to pay less on your obligated debt review payment.

YOU WILL TRY TO SOLVE SOMEONE ELSE’S DEBT PROBLEMSYou know how tough debt can be. You are no doubt sympathetic to others who are in the same situation. This may lead you to make a poor decision when someone close to you asks for help with their debt. You might think:

I have a little saved up toward those annual costs that we could use. You might think that you can skip a debt review payment of reduce a payment just this once to help them out. As noted above that decision can be fatal to your debt review.

It is important to learn to say “no”. Rather than try take on another person’s debt obligations, why not suggest that they go to a debt counsellor as soon as possible. You know how well debt review has worked for you. It can work for others as well.

Make sure that you don’t fall into any of these common pitfalls in 2015. Save and stick to your budget. Talk to your debt counsellor about your debt and your monthly running costs. Lean on their professional advice and be sure to let them know if you move.

3 THINGS YOUR DEBT COUNSELLOR COULD DO TO RUIN YOUR DEBT REVIEW

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Debt counsellors, while professionals, are also just human. They can and do make mistakes. The threat of such mistakes is greatly reduced when consumers and debt counsellors stay in contact and work together. Being aware of the usual debt review process is also an important part of undergoing debt counselling. If you are in the process it will be of great benefit to you to learn as much about the process as possible. Many debt counsellors deal with hundreds of clients at a time. Normally the bigger the company the bigger the staff compliment but still every debt counselling firm will have a lot of matters on the go at the same time. This means that things can come up about which they are not aware. By the consumer knowing what should and shouldn’t happen, and being alert to their own matter they can greatly assist their debt counsellor to deal with their matter. Here are some missteps that your Debt Counsellor could make that would threaten the longevity of your debt review.

3 MISTAKES YOUR DEBT COUNSELLOR COULD MAKE THAT WILL RUIN YOUR DEBT REVIEW

NEGLECT TO GET AN EARLY COURT DATEAs of late 2009, all debt review matters must go to court. The wording of the National Credit Act (NCA) is not specific about when during the process that needs to happen, but the matter needs to go to court (or to the National Credit Tribunal) to be valid, legally speaking. With that in mind, it is possible in theory, your matter could go to court on the very last day before you finish debt review. In practice however to get an early court date is a great protection.

When entering debt review you have a period of time in which credit providers are not supposed to take legal action against you. Then after 60 days things change, slightly. Sadly many large credit providers have abused a section in the National Credit Act to try remove matters from debt review and rather return to their old legal collections methods such as garnishee orders etc. Happily this abuse is about to be shut down when the new amendments to the NCA come into effect. At present however it is not just malice that causes credit providers to attempt a second legal collections action at the courts, but often a simple case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing, combined with incompetence. Many credit providers have both their debt review department as well as a separate legal firm dealing with a matter. Many times, the legal firm may issue a summons and try to get a judgment against a consumer who is loyally paying their debt via debt review. Where the consumer already has a debt review court order in place, they have a much easier time in defending or rescinding such a judgment. If they don’t, then this can really create extra costs or even derail the

process. If you have been under debt review for a while and have not yet got a court order, ask your debt counsellor what is wrong and when the matter will be going to court? Don’t allow even a small crack into which an unscrupulous credit provider might try force additional legal costs and confusion.

TELL YOU “NOT TO WORRY” ABOUT SCARY LETTERS YOU GET IN THE POSTWhile having good intentions, this phase may be misunderstood. Some consumers feel that because they are in debt review any legal action that a credit provider takes against them is simply void. This does not take into consideration our legal system. Yes, if you have a court order saying you can repay debt through debt review and someone latter gets another judgment against you, that judgment is not actually valid and can be put aside or rescinded. However to do so involves going to court and this means it is going to cost someone. These are additional costs that either the consumer or credit provider involved will have to cover. If you want to avoid the stress of dealing with your employer being told to take a portion of your salary by an EAO (commonly called a garnishee order) then be sure to pay attention to any legal looking letters or summonses you receive.

Debt Counsellors would do better to tell their clients not to “overreact” when receiving scary letters. Rather they should send a copy to their debt counsellor as soon as possible to ensure they address the matter and where necessary arrange to fight any second legal action at court which impacts on the debt review order.

NO ANNUAL REVIEW OF YOUR SITUATIONThe National Credit Act is not specific about what services a debt counsellor will offer to consumers after they have entered debt review. Over the years there has been a call in the industry such as in the NCRS guidelines for reviews of each consumer’s situation on a regular basis to ensure they are able to meet the obligations of the debt restructuring court order.

This is often not done simply because it can be time consuming, especially for those debt counsellors who are under staffed or overworked. Credit providers have led the charge for annual reviews of the consumer’s financial means with the hopes that the consumer might be earning more and thus able to pay more each year. In reality however most consumers find that the cost of living is outstripping their means of repaying their obligations and household expenses. This is the purpose of debt review.

Where consumers can afford to repay more each month this will greatly speed up their debt review and reduce the amount of interest they repay over time. Normally where this is the situation, increased repayments can be arranged over and above those stated in the debt review court order. Easy enough. If you can pay more than the minimum each month after having used your budget as your debt counsellor has advised then contact your debt counsellor and make such arrangements.

Where consumers can now afford less each month (as is most common) things get

complicated. This means that the matter needs to be taken back to court to have the court order changed. There is a lot of debate about this and some courts deal with matters differently but whatever the case, this means additional legal fees that have to come out of the consumer’s debt repayments. Creditor providers involved will have to assign legal resources to the matter and forgo some of their anticipated payments for one or more months. Credit Providers also will then probably be forced to accept small repayments over a longer time period than they like.

One of the most important aspects of a review with a professional debt counsellor has to do with how you spend your money. Not your debt but your monthly household running costs. In truth, a missed annual review means you are not getting professional help with your budget. This may be an area where you struggled in the past. Always feel free to approach your debt counsellor (who receives a professional fee from you monthly) for budgeting advice. It will benefit you and ensure you get maximum benefit from the process.

3 THINGS YOUR DEBT COUNSELLOR COULD DO TO RUIN YOUR DEBT REVIEW

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Specialist Attorneys dealing with Debt Review matters

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CONSUMER

YOU BETTER WATCH OUT

Watch out for debt counsellors without NCR certification on their wall (or website).

Watch out for companies that ask for money upfront. This is a HUGE danger sign.

Watch out for companies who do not discuss the role of a Payment Distribution Agent (PDA) and attorneys in the process. If they do not talk about going to court then you are in the wrong place.

Watch out for companies who do not want you to come into their offices.

Watch out for companies offering “mediation” or “negotiation” without a NCRDC number. If they talk about solving your debt woes, but do not specify that it will be via debt review or debt counselling then beware! Not only could this be illegal but it usually offers no legal pro-tection or recourse should arrangements not work out.

*You can find a list of Debt Counsellors in the Debtfree DIGI Service Directory at the back of each issue of the magazine.

Are you thinking about entering debt review in an effort to deal with your debt?

Well done! Taking action and getting professional help will provide you and your family with great relief. That being said, you still need to exercise caution in choosing a service provider for anything these days. Debt review is no different. Here are some things you may want to watch out for.

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 information011 622 9460

TELEPHONE 0861 112 882 FACSIMILE 086 605 9751 MOBILE 082 449 6856 EMAIL [email protected]

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ILANA VAN HERWAARDEDC OPERATION CENTRE086 722 7405

How long have you been a DC? I have been a DC for 5 years and was in banking for 10 years before that.

What type of service do you now offer to DCs? Debt Counselling Operations is a company that has been uniquely designed to assist debt coun-selling companies with their admin work load. As a DC I understand the negative impact that a back log of paper work can have on a DC company and the debt review system. We help DCs with everything from 17.1 and 2 to proposals, court applications 17.3, payment follow ups, terminations and eventually 17.4 and clearance certificates. We also run a call centre to help with client (and creditors) enquiries. We keep both consumers and the NCR up to date.

What area (of SA) do you practice in? We not bounded to any particular area, but we base in Kempton Park, Gauteng

How does this service help DCs?Using our service helps cut staff expenses and reduces the need for a big office. DCs don’t have to worry if staff don’t come into work or about buying expensive office equipment. Consumers get updated info which helps them have peace of mind and this allows the DC to concentrate on growing their business with reduced interruptions or emergencies.

Who are the most co-operative and least co-operative credit provider at the moment? Most co-operative are FNB & MFC & Nedbank and least are African Bank, Fin Choice & ABSA

What is the biggest challenge facing Debt Counsellors at the moment? Consumers will foolishly rather go for consolidation loans. Many consumers are sceptical about Debt Review process due to complaints!

What is the biggest challenge facing consumers at the moment? The consumers battle to keep their payments up to date due to high living expenses.

What advice do you have for consumers under debt review? Consumers must refer all the calls from creditors to their DC and must not make any arrange-ments outside the debt review process and the consumer must keep their payments under debt review up to date and on time.

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As the clock struck midnight, and the champagne flowed you vowed that 2015 would be better. You may have set some bold goals both personally and professionally. Let me guess, you vowed to lose weight, go to the gym regularly, and possibly grow your debt counselling business.

It’s a well-known fact that people who are goal driven tend to perform better than those who are not. So why is it that so many of us really battle to achieve our New Year’s resolutions? A research study done by the Pennsylvania’s University of Scranton suggests that just 8% of people achieve their New Year goals. If this is the case, why do we insanely punish ourselves year after year, and what are the secrets of the 8%?

SET SIMPLE, REALISTIC, SPECIFIC GOALSThey keep their goals really simple, and specific. A New Year’s resolution to run the Comrades ultra marathon in June of the same year has a high probability of not being achieved. However, if you start off by saying I am going to walk just 15 minutes, on a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday straight after I park the car in my garage. You most probably will achieve this. Once you succeed at a simple, specific goal,

you will want to expand the goal.Don’t rely only on willpower alone

Willpower is fickle. You may have incredible determination to run the Comrades, but when other things start competing for attention, such as work commitments, tiredness, willpower goes out the proverbial window. Stanford Professor B. J. Fogg, an expert in behaviour science, states that it is far more important to plan your goals around everyday cues, as opposed to relying on willpower alone. The example used earlier ‘after I park my car in the garage’ is an everyday cue.

MEASURE AND KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PERFORMANCEThis is especially important in a business environment. Once you’ve decided on your goals, you need to measure how you are performing. Success breeds success. As your performance improves, you will gather more confidence and momentum.

DON’T RE-INVENT THE WHEELThere are many people who you can consult. Don’t be afraid to ask others for advice. Evaluate what has worked for them. What was their recipe for success?

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONSARE WE INSANE?

GOAL CHEAT SHEET TO INCREASE YOUR DC BUSINESS REVENUEHere is an easy to use Goal Cheat Sheet which will greatly assist you in setting your DC revenue goals:

1. I will ensure that every new over-indebted consumer that I meet receives comprehensive debt counselling information and support. Note, there is no need to re-invent tried and tested tools.The communication tools, and prompts of the DCM Business Partnership Programme make this easy. The programme has proven that it is capable of increasing business revenue by up to 30%.

2. To increase my collections I will avoid cash as a collection method from this point forward and will preferably accept either a payroll deduction or AEDO or NAEDO debit orders.

3. Every second month I will participate in regular Creditor Forum engagements, offered by industry stakeholders.

4. I will meet with my Payment Distribution Agency consultant monthly and use this opportunity to ask meaningful business questions that will help my business grow.

5. I will complete the annual reviews of 10 clients at the beginning of every month, ensuring I retain my current client base, reduce the risk of terminations and consumer churn. Note you will need to decide on the correct number for your business.

6. To increase my creditors acceptances I will prepare predominantly DCRS proposals from this point forward, to keep things simple, save time, and reduce my business admin. Note that the DCRS sub-committee together with the National Credit Regulator are close to agreeing on an improved pragmatic solution for both debt counsellors and creditors.

Albert Einstein once described Insanity as doing the same thing over and over again yet expecting different results. Profound isin’t it?

If your New Year’s resolutions failed in the past, perhaps they were too extreme, not simple enough, not specific enough and not measurable. The answer is simple: change your methods.

For more information on the DCM Buisness Partnership Programme email [email protected]. For more information on the DCM Creditor Forums email [email protected]

The first DCASA meeting dates for 2015: 11 February Free State Meeting in Bloemfontein. Venue to be confirmed. 9:00

25 February Gauteng Branch Meeting. Kempton Park Golf Club. 11:00

5 March Eastern Cape Meeting. Blue Water Guest House, Port Elizabeth. 11:00

20 March Western Cape Meeting. Parow Golf Club. 10:30

**KZN Meeting date to be confirmed shortly.

Contact DCASA at 086 143 2272 or [email protected] for more info on meetings and membership.

DEBT COUNSELLORS ASSOCIATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT BOARD

We introduce to you a lawyer who literally advises us to stop paying our debt. Amazed, we interviewed him for 20 minutes and what he says is FASCINATING!

Click here to learn what he says:.

http://newera.neweracomms.co.za/bf.php?fid=909&id=03421819d4fa7d2a

www.newera.org.za

Our inter-provincial meeting was held in KZN this month. We will soon inform all members of the positive results of the meeting.

Members are asked to make comments for our submissions to the CIF regarding DCRS

We wish all our members the best in 2015

www.bdcf.co.za

We wish all our members and clients a wonderful 2015.

Members are invited to visit our Facebook page for the latest downloads of information from the NCR and CIF meetings. We welcome your comments.

www.allprodc.org

ENGAGING WITH CREDIT PROVIDERSIn an effort to improve the debt review process for members and consumers we are holding regular meetings with various credit providers. AllProDC team members had a meeting with African Bank this month regarding helping their over-indebted consumers. The meeting did not produce any definitive results as yet however we look forward to further meetings with them on the topic and will keep members up to date with developments.

CIFAllProDC attended the recent CIF sub-committee meeting regarding DCRS. One of our biggest concerns is the fact that the system is not aligned to the NCA. Various proposals and refinements were made and the next meeting is scheduled for 6 Feb and we would like all members to give feedback to [email protected] regarding their ideas of DCRS.

NCR TASK TEAM GUIDELINESThe 2010 NCR Task Team findings Agreement was published by the NCR and circulated on Friday. This follows meetings on the topic at the CIF in 2014. We have posted the documentation on the AllProDC members Facebook page. Please download and consider the document and give us feedback. The circular and document mentions that further changes are needed and we welcome your input as to areas of concern and the impact of this announcement.

REFINING THE COURT PROCESSAllProDC were invited by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to send a delegation to attend the CIVIL COURT CASE FLOW MANAGEMENT MEETING at Ntuzuma Mag Court in Durban on the 20th Jan 2015. We will keep members up to date with this as soon as we receive the minutes. We wish our members a fantastic 2015

NEWSLETTER

JANUARY

CONTACT DETAILSFORUM: www.debtconcern.webs.com / WEBSITE: www.allprodc.org /

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

SERVICE DIRECTORYDEBT COUNSELLORS

SUPPORT SERVICES

FINANCIAL PLANNINGFINANCIAL

TRAINING

CLICK THE CATEGORY

SERVICE DIRECTORYLEGAL

CREDIT BUREAUSPAYMENT

DISTRIBUTION AGENCIES

CREDIT PROVIDER CONTACT DETAILS & ESCALATION PROCESS

CLICK THE CATEGORY

COMING SOON

DO YOU WANT TO LIST YOUR COMPANY?

[email protected]

DEBT COUNSELLING

AA Debt Counselling CentreAnthea JohannesNCRDC531Tel: +27 (0) 21 982 0522Cell: +27 (0) 84 402 7032

Alan Watts NCRDC 962NCR registered Debt Counsellor Tel: 084 4448439 Fax: 086 6501954alan@active-debt-counselling.co.zawww.active-debt-counselling.co.za

Armani Debt CounsellingTake the First Step to Financial Freedom Tania DekkerTel: 011 849 3654 / 7659www.armanigroup.co.za

Cape Debt ClinicYour Guide to Financial Wellness and RecoveryKarin Augustyn 021-828-2658 073-903-6942 [email protected]://www.facebook.com/pages/Cape-Debt-Clinic

Central SA Debt Counsellors082 950 7806Fax: 086 563 1621

Consumer AssistTel: 0861 628 628

Credit MattersSouth Africa’s Largest Debt Counsellors14th Floor, The PinnacleCnr Strand & Burg StCape TownTel: 086 111 6197Fax: 021 425 [email protected]

CS Debt CounsellingBernidene Smith NCRDC 764057 352 4115/352 5000Welkom - Free state

Darran [email protected]

Debt BudgetMAXIMISE YOUR LIFE, MINIMISE YOUR DEBTBruce Leslie BorezRegistered Debt CounsellorNCRDC164348 Church Street “Medical Mews” Wynberg, Cape TownTel: 021 824 8885/021 820 4946Fax: 086 607 6429www.debtbudget.co.za

Financial Synergy Group Credit Awareness & Rescue ServicesDEBTINC0861 20 21 [email protected] Financial Planning & GrowthCONFIDO022 713 20 [email protected] Legal012 643 [email protected] Employer Group & Wellness Services012 643 [email protected] Call Centre Services0861 20 21 [email protected]

SERVICE DIRECTORY

SERVICE DIRECTORYDebtSenseGroupFor Professional, Responsible and Effective Debt Restructuring ServicesJohn Harvey NCRDC 1370Newcastle – KZNTel: 034 312 1767 Fax: 034 315 3441Email: [email protected]: www.debtsensegroup.co.za

Debt Solve Debt CounsellorsOffice: 033 397 0945

DebtSafe0861 100 999Debt SeriousWe are serious about debtVida Scheepers NCRDC1792Po box 394, Garsfontein, Pretoria 0042Fax no: 086 553 [email protected]

Debt TherapyHans Pettenburger-Perwald NCRDC49Tel: +27(0) 21 556 4935Fax: +27(0) 21 556 4937Toll Free: 0800204728Cell: 0823358232www.debt-therapy.co.zaEmail: [email protected]

Debt RehabColleen Van Wyk(BCom, LLB)Debt Counsellor NCRDC2619Tel: 083 290 0848Tel: 011 740 7374Fax: 086 716 9694

Debt eezyYour Debt Solution made EasyAshley Carstens NCRDC858 Tel: 021 839 2809 Fax: 083 512 4160 / 086 665 9125 Email: [email protected]: www.thedci.co.za

Debt RescueNeil RoetsNCR DC 474Cell: 083 644 7406Tel: 0861 800 009Fax: 086 523 0617E-mail: [email protected]

Debt Management & Counseling Services“The greatest glory in livinglies not in never falling,but in rising every time we fall.” - Nelson MandelaDerry Burge NCRDC108140 Irene Avenue, La Concorde,Somerset West, 7130 Tel: 021 855 5997 Cell: 074 177 5375 Fax: 021 855 1195 or 0865413200E-mail: [email protected]

The best angle to approach debt is the Triangle

Caledon - Western CapeContact Person: Yolande8 Hoop Street, 7230 [email protected]: 028 212 2537

Ceres - Western CapeLeyll str 61, 683 [email protected]: 023 312 1292Fax: 023 312 2119

Worcester - Western Cape71 Porter Street 6850 Longitude: 19.44305Latitude: [email protected]: 0233420576Fax: 086656801

Bloemfontein - Free State94 Zastron, 9301 BloemfonteinContact Person: [email protected]: +27 51 448 2828Fax: +27 51 447 9481

Viljoenskroon - Free State35 Denyssen Street, 7230Contact Person: Johann [email protected]: +27 56 343 0352Fax: +27 56 343 035

Welkom – Free State329 Stateway, 9460 WelkomContact Person: Susan RouxEmail: [email protected]: +27 57 352 6117Fax: +27 57-352 2355

Durban Debt Counselling ServicesSuite 112, 1st floor Union Club Building353 Sm ith StreetDurban, 4001Tel: 031 301-7893Fax: 031 [email protected]

Fair Finance SolutionsYour debt is our priorityAmanda FairRegistered Debt Counsellor NCR946553 Jacqueline DriveGarsfontein PretoriaTel: 0861 26 26 32Fax: 082 921 7093Cell: 086 564 3674amanda@fairdebtcounselling.co.zawww.fairdebtcounselling.co.za

Fincorp debt Counsellors ccCecilia Zwarts [email protected]

Finesse Debt CounsellorsNCR Registration No: DC1262Address: 478 Windermere Road, Morningside, Durban, 4001Phone: 031 209 2356/ 084 250 2356 / Fax: 086 5732433e-mail [email protected] www.debtfinesse.co.za

Holistic Debt [email protected]

Helpdesk Debt CounsellorsAllan HoffmanTel: 0861 000 754

Help-U-Debt (Vaal Triangle) WanineTel: 082 445 3967

Help-U-Debt (Potchefstroom)Madra083 390 3275

Help-U-Debt (Parys)Marilouise082 920 6249

Help-U-Debt (Vanderbijlpark)Herma083 320 8303

Incentive Debt Counselling“Paving the way to a Debt Free Tommorrow”Darran Manikam NCRDC704Tel: (031) 409 9379Fax: (031) 409 1327Cell: 0845898286Branches: Phoenix and Shallcross

Indigo debt counsellors CCTel: 087 808 9734 Fax: 086 580 8675 [email protected]

Christina Cambouris NCRDC1403StrandWestern CapeTel: 0824507459

ISISEKO DEBT HELPGet Your Life back on trackTEL: 087 230 0223FAX: 086 551 1649EMAIL: [email protected]: www.isiseko.co.za

Mzansi Debt CounsellingOctavia HlatshwayoTel: 011 868 1185Fax: 0861 00 22 [email protected] www.mzansidc.co.za

NCR DEBT (PTY) LTDNational Counselling and Review of debtAmelia HaywardTel: (012) 364 2490Cell: 0877 201 [email protected]

NDA Debt CounsellorsYour Trusted Debt CounsellorsGary Williams (NCRDC 143)Tel: 034 315 3880 Fax: 086 612 [email protected] www.ndad.co.za

SERVICE DIRECTORY

SERVICE DIRECTORYNew Deal Debt CounsellingJason Riley (NCRDC868)B.Com (Financial Management)Cell 0723792108Fax [email protected]

SA DEBT HELP010 593 0422Block 4, 1st FloorBoskruin Office Park(Behind Boskruin Shopping Village)Boskruin / Randburg

SFA Debt Relief Consultants Adri de BruynNCRDC99811 Market Street / Markstraat 11, Paarl, 7646Tel: 021 872 1968Fax: 021 872 [email protected]

Specialist Debt Management CentreBeverley Ludick, NCRDC948PretoriaTel: 012 377-3557Email: [email protected]: [email protected]

Penny Wise Debt CounsellingCathy Foster Debt Counsellor - NCRDC1977Tel: (011) 794 9912Fax: 086 719 3378Mobile: 083 298 4467Email: [email protected]

Rihanyo Debt Counselling(012) 804 50 57

Think Green Debt CounsellingSandi [email protected] : 012 991 6638Cell : 082 460 7800Fax : 086 219 2615

U-Win Debt CounsellorsCoreli Roos - NCR DC 509Aliwal North, Burgersdorp, Bethulie, GariepDam, Smithfield, SpringfonteinCell:079 626 [email protected]

Zuné Coetzer Debt CounsellorsNCRDC 159924 van der Stel Street, Dan PienaarBloemfonteinTel: 051-4364515Fax: 086 5870 845Email: [email protected]

SUPPORT SERVICES

Staff Line Ndizani Executive RecruitmentCell: 083 3028163 Tel: (011) 468 - [email protected]

Information resources & serviceswww.thedci.co.za

DesigntimesSouth Africa’s creative resourcewww.designtimes.co.za

TRAINING

Compuscan Academy 0861 51 41 31www.compuscanacademy.co.za

You & Your MoneyNCR ACCREDITED DEBT COUNSELLOR TRAINING COURSES:Training and mentoring since 2007Want to make a contribution as a registered debt counsellor?Need to empower and upskill staff in your debt counselling business?Courses devised to suit all needs: Flexible timeframes to accommodate workflows. On site/inhouse training for staff.Contact Dawn [email protected]: 072 1769789

FINANCIAL

ABSA Customer Debt Repair Line0861 005 901

Credit Ombudsman0861 662837

Experian011 799-3400 [email protected]

Eric StresoFinancial PlannerB Juris LL B CFP MBATel: 0833273358Fax: 086 612 7912

Fair Debt0829019788 or [email protected]

PACFIN Financial Solutions Head OfficeTel: +27 11 9757445Fax: 086536878336 Van Riebeeck roadKempton Park [email protected] Carlo BuildingNo 8 VoortrekkerstreetKempton Park 1619

Kempton ParkContact: Reyno CoetzeeTel: +27 11 3945363Fax: 0866048002Cell: +27 73 [email protected] / GermistonContact: Armand PosthumusTel: +27 11 8921911Fax: 0865620378

NelspruitContact: Ann BakerTel: +27 13 7415559Fax: 0880 1374 15559Cell: +27 82 [email protected]: Wynand MclachlanTel: +27 11 8113728Fax: +27 11 8113728Cell: +27 83 2754014/[email protected]

Gooseberry Business AdvisoryTel: 012 644 0589

NedbankDebt Rehabilitation & Recoveries Services0860 109 279

STD BankDebt review HelplineTelephone: 0861 111 402

TransUnion0861 482 482

ThinkmoneyFinancial comparison websiteContact: Gareth MountainTel: 079 0996 798www.thinkmoney.co.za

WIZARD Vereeniging Making Mortgage MagicWanine SmitTel:+27 16 454 1132Fax:+27 86 686 3678 Cell:+27 82 445 3967 www.wizard.za.com

FINANCIAL PLANNING Eric StresoFinancial PlannerB Juris LL B CFP MBATel: 0833273358Fax: 086 612 7912

LEGAL

Karen van Staden Tel: 012 998 9117 / 012 993 2132Fax: 086 721 6467 / 086 662 1153Email: [email protected]@hauptearle.co.zawww.hauptearle.co.za

Liddles & Associates“It always seems impossible until it is done” N. MandelaTel: 021 913 2514Fax: 0866070940Email: [email protected] Box 3407, tygervalley, 75367 Chenin Blanc Street, Oude Westhof

LUCID AttorneysTel: 011 880 1100Fax: 011 880 1101Email: [email protected]/attorney

Is it time to expand your Debt Counselling practice?

Do you need specialist Attorneys with a national footprint?

Do you need expert advice on how to protect your practice and your clients?

Are you informed about recent statutory and legal developments within the industry?

Attorneys servicing individual needs

Pretoria: +27(0)12 998 9117 www.hauptearle.co.za Nelspruit: +27 (0)13 752 7084

SERVICE DIRECTORY

SERVICE DIRECTORYO’Connell & AssociatesAttorneys at LawKeegan O’[email protected] 021 462 1663Fax 0866 504 550303 Millborough, 70A Upper Mill Street, Vreedehoek, Cape Town,8000

Prinsloo & AssociatesAttorneys and conveyancersNanika Prinsloo Farm Bergamot, Paarl 7620P O Box 6199, Paarl 762014 Laing Street, Barrydale 6750Cell: 072-8558-106Fax: [email protected]

RM Brown and Associates 16th Floor, The PinnacleCnr Strand & Burg StCape TownTel: 021 431 9127, f: 021 425 0875 Email: [email protected]

Scheepers AttorneysGerhard [email protected]

Steyn Coetzee Attorneys / ProkureursAdri de Bruyn11 Market Street / Markstraat 11, Paarl, 7646Tel: 021 872 1968Fax: 021 872 [email protected]

Thinus DreyerCandidate AttorneyOffice: 011 326 0347Office Cell: 071 658 9438Cell: 082 471 3625Fax: 086 509 [email protected]

Thomson Wilks inc.Meet Thomson Wilks Meet ExcellenceTel 021 671 6935 / 021 820 4319 / 021 424 4599Cell 072 554 0935Fax 086 570 8741Website www.thomsonwilks.co.zaSuite 14, 3rd Floor, SunClare Building, Dreyer Street,Claremont, 7708The Chambers, 3rd Floor, 50 Keerom Street, Cape Town, 8001

Agiliti CCColleen Van Wyk(BCom, LLB)Tel: 083 290 0848Tel: 011 740 7374Fax: 086 716 9694Website: http://agiliti.co.za

CREDIT BUREAUS

Compuscan 0861 514 131www.compuscan.co.za

Experianwww.experian.co.zaConsumer- 0861 10 5665

TransUnion 0861 886 466www.transunion.co.za

XDS 0860 937 000 www.xds.co.za

Debtfree DIGI Jan 2015

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Transcript of Debtfree DIGI Jan 2015