DCASA Regional Meetings

Across the country Debt Counsellors who belong to the Debt Counsellors Association of South Africa (DCASA) were meeting to discuss regional and industry specific challenges.

The meetings were held at various venues (like the one kindly provided by ONE in Gauteng) and members and others attended. There were a number of first time visitors (Debt Counsellors) who came along to consider joining the association and find out more about what is happening across the industry right now.

In some areas, topics covered were things like specific courts or specific credit providers where there are complications at present.

Other regions took a deep dive into how to handle a consumer complaint (to the NCR). In the example used, a consumer who had applied for debt review later told the NCR (and others) that they had only asked for some information about debt review and had not committed to debt review. They later said they had tried to cancel almost immediately.

‘it is vital to have good record-keeping’

In such cases, it is clear that it is vital to have good record-keeping and to anticipate possible challenges that may come up. Sharing lots of simple and easy to understand information with clients is very important so that if they later come back and say they were not informed this can be disproved. 

In the example shared, the Debt Counsellor had numerous emails, messages, recordings, signed documents and more enabling them to show the NCR that the consumers had ample time to consider the process, and had made an educated decision to start the process.

The main idea is to inform clients so that they can make good choices in handling their finances and in cooperating with the debt review.