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Debt Solutions 4U

Debtfree Magazine got to speak to well known Debt Counsellor Mr Rowan Breeds (NCRDC2423) about building Debt Solutions 4U into a trusted brand.

When was your practice set up?

Debt Solutions 4U was established in 2015, with a clear focus on helping overindebted South Africans regain financial control in a structured, legal, and ethical way.

From day one, our goal has been to make debt review understandable, accessible, and truly supportive for consumers who feel overwhelmed.

Tell us about how it has grown over the years

In the early days, we were a small operation focused purely on processing applications and restructuring debt.

Over time, we realised that debt review is not just a legal process. It’s an emotional journey for clients.

We’ve grown from a small core team into a structured practice with dedicated departments for:

    • Lead qualification and client onboarding
    • Administration
    • Legal support
    • Collections and payment monitoring
    • Client care and aftercare

We’ve also invested heavily in systems, compliance, and communication processes to ensure clients are informed at every stage of the journey.

‘We’ve also invested heavily in … communication processes to ensure clients are informed at every stage of the journey.’

We are very proud that we are on the cutting edge of embracing technology to assist our clients on their journey to becoming debt free.

Today, our team consists of trained consultants, administrators, legal support staff, and finance personnel.

Each team member has a clearly defined role in the debt review lifecycle, ensuring that every stage (from assessment to court order to final clearance) is handled with care and precision.

We focus strongly on:

    • Compliance with NCR guidelines
    • Ethical conduct
    • Clear communication
    • Accountability

Importantly, this is not a distant, top heavy structure. Both myself and my fellow Debt Counsellor, Wesley Sparkman, are actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the practice.

We work closely with the team and remain directly engaged in assisting clients, reviewing matters, and ensuring that cases move forward correctly and efficiently.

‘Debt review is not a one person job; it’s a coordinated effort’

Debt review is not a one person job; it’s a coordinated effort. Our team structure ensures no client “falls through the cracks,” while still maintaining hands-on leadership and oversight at every level.

Why did you decide to enter debt review?

Debt review allows you to genuinely change someone’s life.

It’s one of the few industries where you can stop legal action, protect assets, reduce instalments and restore people’s dignity

Both myself and Wesley come from backgrounds in debt collection. We worked on the other side of the process and saw firsthand the stress, fear, and pressure that distressed consumers experience.

Over time, we made a conscious decision: instead of collecting from people at their lowest point, we wanted to help them rebuild. We wanted to move from enforcement to rehabilitation.

‘instead of collecting from people at their lowest point, we wanted to help them rebuild.’

South Africa has a real overindebtedness problem. Rather than simply observing the crisis, we chose to be part of the solution. Debt review gave us the opportunity to use our industry knowledge in a way that supports and protects consumers instead of pursuing them.

As mentioned,  both Wesley and I had previously built our careers in the debt collection industry. We had worked closely with credit providers, attorneys, and consumers on matters ranging from early stage arrears to legal enforcement.

That experience gave us deep insight into:

    • How credit providers assess risk
    • How legal action progresses
    • How repossessions and judgments unfold
    • Where communication between consumers and creditors often breaks down

We saw the full lifecycle of debt, from missed payments to summons, garnishee orders, and asset attachment. We also saw the emotional toll it takes on families who simply reached a financial breaking point.

Professionally, the industry taught us structure, compliance, documentation accuracy, and procedural discipline. It exposed us to the legal framework surrounding credit agreements and enforcement processes, which later proved invaluable in debt review.

‘We understand how creditors think, how negotiations are approached, and where realistic concessions can be achieved’

Perhaps most importantly, it gave us perspective. We understand how creditors think, how negotiations are approached, and where realistic concessions can be achieved. That insight now allows us to structure repayment proposals that are both sustainable for consumers and commercially acceptable to credit providers.

In many ways, our background in debt collection gave us the technical foundation and debt review allowed us to apply that knowledge in a far more constructive and rehabilitative way.

Did the training you Received Prepare You?

The NCR training definitely provides a solid legal and regulatory foundation.

However, real preparation comes from experience. Debt review is highly procedural, legally sensitive and emotionally intense.

Training gives you the framework, but managing real client situations over time builds the real expertise.

What are consumers going through right now?

Consumers are under severe pressure from high interest rates, rising fuel and food prices, increased cost of living and stagnant income growth.

Most consumers are not reckless; they are simply stretched beyond their limits. Unexpected events (job loss, illness, reduced income) quickly push people into overindebtedness.

We’re seeing increased use of short term credit,  reliance on personal loans and credit cards just to cover living costs and other debt instalments and growing arrears on vehicle and home finance.

It’s not good. It’s very tough right now.

Is debt review is a good idea for overindebted consumers?

Yes, absolutely. Debt review works so well because it:

    1. Legally protects consumers from legal action and repossession when done correctly.
    2. Consolidates debt into one affordable monthly repayment.
    3. Reduces instalments and often interest rates.
    4. Creates a structured plan to become debt-free.

It replaces chaos with structure. For consumers who are genuinely overindebted and committed to the process, it can be life changing.

But it is also true that debt review is not suitable for consumers who can still comfortably manage their debt or consumers who are unwilling to commit to a firm payment plan. It is definitely not for consumers just seeking short term relief without long term discipline or high income earners with minimal debt stress

Debt review requires commitment.

It’s a structured rehabilitation process, but it is not a quick fix.

What makes your practice the right one to use?

I think trust in debt review comes from consistency, doing what you say you will do, and committing to getting our clients to financial freedom and away from the endless debt cycle.

We focus on transparency from the very first consultation. We do realistic affordability assessments and offer clear communication. We pride ourselves on proper follow through and ethical conduct

We do not over promise. We explain both the benefits and the responsibilities involved in debt review.

Our strength lies in structured internal processes, dedicated team roles, continuous client engagement, a compliance-first approach.

We are  Debt Counsellors with real knowledge and experience who are ready to assist at all times

 

What advice do you have for consumers?

    1. Don’t wait until your credit providers start legal action.
    2. If you’re using credit to pay credit, that’s a warning sign.
    3. Track your real affordability honestly.
    4. Seek advice early, even if it’s just for guidance.
    5. Avoid unregulated “quick fix” debt relief promises.

The earlier you act, the more options you have.

What advice do you have for people in debt review?

    1. Pay your instalment on time, every month.
    2. Communicate immediately if your income changes.
    3. Work with your Debt Counsellor when problems arise.
    4. Stay focused on the long term goal.
    5. Remember, this is temporary rehabilitation, not permanent restriction.

Debt review is a process. If you commit to it properly, there is light at the end of the tunnel and you can use this process to support your journey to becoming debt free.

To Find Out More

We had a good time talking to Rowan about debt review, and it is obvious that he is passionate about the process, his clients and his award winning team.

He has extensive experience on both sides of the credit industry and is clearly determined to assist consumers deal with their debt in a more dignified way.

If you want to find out more about Debt Solutions 4U then you can head over to their website here:

www.debtsolutions4u.co.za