COVID-19: Be money wise

With many South Africans struggling to keep their heads above water given the financial challenges brought on by COVID-19, the National Credit Regulator (NCR) has reminded consumers of the measures available to ease the burden.

“The National Credit Act (NCA) offers various debt relief measures for financially embattled consumers struggling to repay debts and consumers are encouraged to consider these measures where applicable,” said the NCR’s acting manager for Education and Communication, Advocate Kedilatile Legodi.

The NCR, which is an agency of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), said many South Africans are in financial distress and struggling to repay debts as a result of reduced and complete loss of  income.

Established in terms of the NCA, the regulator is responsible for the regulation of the South African credit industry while also monitoring the conduct of among others credit providers, and credit bureaus in their compliance with the National Credit Act as amended.

Credit Life Insurance

Consumers can consider several NCA debt relief measures, including Credit Life Insurance.

This is insurance that a consumer purchases when applying for credit or loan. It covers the outstanding debt in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as death, retrenchment, unemployment, inability to earn an income, disability and others.

In the event of the consumer becoming unemployed or unable to earn an income, the credit life insurance cover provides that credit providers must settle / pay the consumer’s debt for a period of 12 months or for the remaining repayment period or until the consumer finds employment or is able to earn an income, whichever period is shorter.

“Consumers who would like to use this relief measure but battling to get assistance from their credit providers can send a complaint to the National Credit Regulator. However, it is important for consumers to remember that in order to benefit from credit life insurance, all payments regarding the credit life insurance policy must be up to date,” said Legodi on Tuesday.

Debt counselling/review

Debt counselling is a debt relief measure intended to assist over-indebted consumers struggling with debt, through budget advice, negotiation with credit providers for reduced payments, extension of repayment term and restructuring of debt.

Debt counselling also offers consumers protection against repossession or legal action by credit providers.

“Consumers who have been negatively impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in reduced income are encouraged to consider this debt relief measure since an income is required to apply for debt counselling.”

Debt counselling is offered by NCR registered debt counsellors who operate nationwide.

A list of registered debt counsellors can be found on the NCR website www.ncr.org.za or by contacting the NCR on 0860 627 627.

Surrender of goods

The NCA allows consumers to voluntarily surrender / return goods to credit providers when they can no longer afford to maintain the repayments or can foresee that they will not be able to maintain future payments.

In terms of the act, credit agreements under which goods can be surrendered are instalment agreements, secured loans or leases.

Legodi said there is a process to be followed, which consumers are encouraged to understand before they give notice to a credit provider to return the goods.

The credit provider is required to provide the consumer with a letter setting out the estimated value of the goods, 10 business days after the consumer gave notice to surrender or return the goods, whichever is the latest.

The consumer may withdraw the notice to surrender within 10 business days after receiving the estimated value letter, if the account is not in arrears.

The credit provider will sell the returned goods in an attempt to settle the debt.

“However, there is no guarantee that the credit provider will sell the goods for what the consumer still owes. If the proceeds from the sale are insufficient to settle the outstanding debt, the consumer will be liable to pay the shortfall after the sale.”

Loans

For consumers with a need to borrow or loan money, they should do so having considered their ability to repay the debt and only use NCR registered credit providers.

“Consumers should never enter into any agreement with unregistered credit providers who usually retain bank cards, SASSA cards, identity documents etc. as security and a collection method.”

The retention of cards or identity documents is prohibited and a criminal offence in terms of the NCA.

“Consumers are urged to report credit providers who retain these instruments to the South African Police Service and the NCR,” said Legodi.

The NCR is also mandated with the registration of credit providers, credit bureaus, debt counsellors, payment distribution agents, and alternative dispute resolution agents.