Loan Applications: Checking Affordability & The Customer’s Duty to Be Honest
Recent updates to the law have made it much clearer what both banks (credit providers) and everyday customers must do before a loan is approved. In August 2025, the government published new rules under the National Credit Act (NCA) known as Government Notice Regulation 6510 (GN R6510). These updates force lenders to take realistic steps […]
How to File a Complaint with the Debt Collectors Council
File Debt Collector Complaint Report Debt Collector Misconduct, a complaint to the Debt Collectors Council must be in the form of a written affidavit and must state the date, time and particulars of the incident in question, the name of the debt collector and the name of any witnesses to the incident in question. Within […]
How To Apply for Protective Registration Against Future Fraud if your Identity Book Or Passport is stolen or lost
If your ID or passport is lost or stolen, report it to SAFPS via 011 867 2234 or protection@safps.org.za to alert members and prevent fraud. Safely store digital or physical copies of your documents separately from the originals to assist with replacement. Protective Registration is free. Key Actions for Stolen/Lost Documents: Register with SAFPS: This adds your document […]
A summary of consumer rights under the National Credit Act (NCA)
A summary of consumer rights under the National Credit Act (NCA) as extracted from the “DIY Credit Repair Toolkit”: Right Description / Key Provision NCA Section / Regulation 1. Right to Apply for Credit Every adult natural person, juristic person, or association has the right to apply for credit. Section 60 2. Right to Reasons […]
How Should I deal with Debt Collectors
Making Sure Your Debt Collector is Legit Anyone trying to collect a debt from you—whether they work for a big agency or by themselves—must be legally registered with the Council for Debt Collectors (CFDC). If someone contacts you demanding money and you feel suspicious, don’t just pay them. You can check if they are a […]
What to know when settling an account that is on your credit report
Where you do not dispute any information on your credit record and you want to repair your credit record by remedying any negative listing on it, the first step is to consider whether you are legally obliged to pay the account. Accounts that you are not legally obliged to pay You are not legally obliged […]
Dereliction and Relegation of Debt Counsellor’s Duties may prove costly for Debt Counsellors
In December 2016, three people were ordered to pay R180 000.00 in fines for failing to comply with debt counselling regulations. The fines were imposed by the National Consumer Tribunal (the “NCT”) after it was discovered that the guilty parties had been operating a debt counselling business, but had done so in contravention of compliance […]
Trapped in administration? Cancel it or write it off!
An administration order is granted in terms of the Magistrates’ Court Act 32 of 1944 where the consumers debt is less than R50 000.00. An administrator is then appointed to collect a monthly amount that is distributed amongst the consumers’ creditors as detailed in the administration order. Administrators can add new creditors to the list […]
Data-retention periods for credit bureau information
Data-retention periods for credit bureau information The National Credit Act prescribes the maximum periods for which consumer credit information may be recorded on the consumer’s credit record. Regulation 17(1) of the National Credit Act sets the maximum periods for the retention of credit bureau information as follows: Categories of consumer credit information Description Maximum period […]
Beware! Upfront fees for credit repair are unlawful
Credit repair in South Africa has become a formidable industry. Only ten years ago, one needed an attorney to improve one’s credit record. Today there are dozens of so-called credit repair agencies and most do not employ attorneys, and many do not have any legal qualifications. With the proliferation of credit repair agencies, there has […]