Debt Review Awards Gala
2015 Debt Review Awards Gala
The annual Debt Review Awards gala was held this month in Midrand Gauteng. Guests from all over the country and industry attended to hear the results of the Debt Review Awards Industry Expert Panel deliberations. Over several months the Industry Panel had been considering the various registrants in the industry (both Debt Counsellors and Credit Providers as well as Payment distribution Agencies). Recently several companies were nominated as the leading firms in the industry at present. (Find out more about the awards HERE)
The Red Carpet
Guest arrived around 5pm to walk the red carpet and were able to mingle and meet others in the industry who they normally only deal with via email. Snack and drinks were served.
The Debt Review Awards is all about recognising excellence and hard work in the field of debt review. The evening began with speeches from sponsors as well as Ms Evelyn Masottja of the DTI and Ms Diane Terblanche Chairperson of the National Consumer Tribunal (NCT).
Public Voting for SA’s Favourite Service Providers
Winners in the public voting poll were announced during the first session of the evening. (See the results here). Debt Counselllors of various sizes across the country were announced as SA’s favourite DCs while Hyphen PDA and Capitec took awards among the PDAs and Banks.
Next Debt Counsellor Neil Roets handed out clearance certificates to consumers finishing up the debt review processes. This was a real highlight of the evening and was met with a large round of applause as those in the audience got to see all their hard work come to fruition with consumers reentering the credit market debt free.
A presentation by Adri Steyn of Debt Counselling Community Support showed the work that the charity like organisation has been able to accomplish over the last half a year with the support of various sponosrs and supporters. Showing what DCCS is all about Adri announced that DCCS were assisting these newly rehabilitated consumers (the ones announced on the evening) get back on their feet with generous shopping and food vouches.
Snacks and drinks were served and guests were able to visit the various tables and displays from event sponsors. It also gave a chance for everyone to meet and mingle with the nominees (such as Roger Brown of Credit Matters and Jackie Howes and Reinhart Pettenberger of Debt Therapy).
2015 Debt Review Awards Industry Panel Awards
The second session began with speeches and presentations and then moved on to the focus of the evening, the announcement of the winners in the various categories in the Debt Review Awards Industry Panel awards. (See the results here) There was an interesting parallel between the results in the public voting and that done by the Industry Panels.Mr Anton Thomas of Nedbank spoke about how far the industry has come and the positive influence it is having on consumer, creditors and in industry as a whole.
Big winners on the night were Consumer Friend, FNB, Debt Rescue and Consumer Debt Help. All three of the Payment Distribution Agencies went home with awards for various aspects of the PDA process. Payment Distribution Agencies are now officially included in the National Credit Act and play a part in helping consumers distribute funds to creditors and in providing software to Debt Counsellors to use in managing the
process.
Auditors
Mr Barry Fuchs of the process Auditors, BKF Chartered Accountants, was on hand to assist with the evenings program.
Hyphen PDA also kindly provided gifts for the winners of the 3 Debt Counsellor categories.
In a new section of the Awards in conjunction with ONE|SURE the Debt Review Awards Industry Panels handed out two new awards this year for significant contribution to the debt review process (which went to Attorney Stephan van der Hoven for his recent Declaratory Order regarding debt review) and a second award for significant contribution to the debt review industry (for all his work at the association and at the Credit Industry Forum) DCASA’s Mr. Paul Slot. Both received a nice gift from CJ Keuler of ONE|SURE in addition to their Golden Piggy Banks. While Mr Vd Hoven discussed those who had helped contribute toward the declaratory order Mr Slot took the opportunity to read a letter from a consumer who had benefited greatly from the debt review process.
Wesbank proved to be not only the public’s choice but also that of the Debt Review Awards Industry Panel. They went home with two awards on the evening in recognition of their hard work.
Debtfree also got to launch our most recent Special Print Edition of the magazine on the evening. 25 000 copies will be distributed with the help of DC Partner, Hyphen and NPDA as well as the various Debt Counselling associations. The issue is called step by step and explains the debt review process and helps consumers understand how the process works.
Take One. They’re Free
Packs of the magazines were made available to the guests as they left so that they could take them back into their communities and help spread the word about debt review.
Desert, Gift bags and some laughs
The gala evening ended with snacks and some pudding. Gift bags with generous goodies from the various sponsors were also available.
