Debt review, also known as debt counselling, is a legal process that helps South Africans who are struggling to pay for all their debt. Not only is it a process that will help you get on top of your debts again, it's a process that will help you become debt free! This process was introduced by The National Credit Act (NCA) and is regulated by The National Credit Regulator (NCR). What this means for a consumer is peace of mind knowing that the processes and the fees are all regulated.
You will first apply for the process using form 16, also known as the debt review application form. Following your application, you will be assessed to see if you qualify for debt counselling. Someone who qualifies for debt counselling is an individual who is considered over-indebted, is employed, and has outstanding debt amounting to at least R50 000. If you are struggling to pay for all your monthly expenses, there's a good chance that you are over-indebted and that you qualify for debt counselling.
*This assessment is done by taking your income and expenses into account.A very common noted disadvantage of the process is that you will temporarily not be able to get access to credit. This means that when you apply for credit or loans, you will be rejected while you are under debt review.
This can lead to clients feeling trapped. However, it's important to note that this is only temporary. Once you have successfully completed the debt review process, you will not only be free to apply for credit again, you will probably be in a better position to do so too. This is because debt counselling helps you rehabilitate (improve) your credit score. If you go under debt review with Meerkat, we will kickstart an emergency fund for you as part of your plan. This way you don't need to rely on credit for when life's emergencies happen.
Debt review is a great, necessary idea for anyone struggling to pay for all their debt. With debt review, you get immediate relief because you will have a reduced monthly instalment.
You get to manage your debt repayments while maintaining a decent living budget. You don't have to choose between paying some debts each month, and skipping others.
With debt review, you show creditors you will consistently pay towards your debt, making you a much better candidate for credit in the future.
Once you have successfully completed the process, there will be no record of you being under the debt review process. The only record on your credit report will be your payment history which, because of debt counselling, will be consistent and up-to-date!
There is no set period for the time that debt review lasts. The length of time debt review will last will depend on a few factors. Some of them include the amount of debt you have and how much you're able to pay towards that each month.
Still on the fence about going under debt review? Let's chat! We'll answer any questions you may have about the process!
MyMeerkat FSP is an authorised financial services provider (FSP 50979) and registered Debt Counsellor NCRDC 2613. We've been voted as one of the Top 10 Large Debt Counsellors in the country!