NCR Register Numbers – What Are They?
What is an NCR Register Number?
Every credit provider, Debt Counsellor and Payment Distribution Agent has a unique registration number that identifies them. Consumers can use these numbers to double check if a service provider is legitimate.
The National Credit Regulator (NCR) registers all Debt Counsellors, credit bureaus, credit providers, payment distribution agents and alternative dispute resolution agents. When a new credit provider starts lending money, or a new Debt Counsellor wants to begin helping consumers then they have to officially apply to the NCR to be registered. This requires them to disclose a bunch of information to the NCR and report regularly on their clients (even if they only have one client).
NCR registration numbers for credit providers look like this:
NCRCP1000
NCR registration numbers for PDAs look like this:
NCRPDA1
NCR registration numbers for Debt Counsellors look like this:
NCRDC1000
The CP or DC or PDA part of the number indicates what type of registrant you are dealing with which is helpful. There are only 4 NCR registered Payment Distribution Agents at present so that is also something to keep in mind.
Certificates
Registrants all pay fees to the NCR to be registered and the NCR sends them an official certificate each year (and some stickers to put on their doors). The idea behind these certificates is that they are displayed where walk in clients can see them (or perhaps displayed online on websites) to reassure the consumer that they are dealing with a legitimate registrant.
Below is an example of what such a certificate could look like (we have blanked out some of the info but these are displayed publically for all to see). As you can see they are pretty easy to photoshop these days but they will have the registration number on it which you can check against the NCR’s database. This means it is more hoops for a crook to try hop through and hopefully gives you an added measure of confidence in the service provider you are dealing with. You will also note that the certificates now have expiration dates (right at the bottom) so you will be able to see if the service provider that you are dealing with is currently registered.
You will also see, in the certificate above, that it features the NCR registration number of the credit bureau in question. In this case NCRCB2. Debt Counsellors and credit providers get the same looking certificates with their details on each year.
Want To Check Someone Is Legitimate?
The NCR have an online publicly available database of all these registrants which you can find on their website www.ncr.org.za.
The database shows all the details of the credit provider from their telephone number and email to their physical address and NCR unique registration number.
You can search the database even if you only have some of the information (though it is not the greatest search engine in the world so you may have to search a few times to double check).
The database is unfortunately split into those who are currently registered, those who once were registered and those who were removed from practicing. This can make searching a bit difficult but just keep trying if you do not find someone right away.
Alternatively, you can use plain old Google to search, using this search phrase: site:ncr.org.za [and then put in the name or number you are looking afterwards- without the brackets]
That will enable good old Google to search the whole site for any mention of that name or registration number right from your search bar or the Google home page. Thanks Google.
Avoid Being Scammed or Taken Advantage of
It is important to deal with legitimate service providers who are accountable to the NCR as this can help you if things do not work out as planned.
It also means these companies or practices should only charge fees in line with the Act or guidelines. Dealing with debt mediators (who are not registered with the NCR but pretend to offer debt review) or Mashonisas (loan sharks who are not registered with the NCR) can put you at risk of being taken advantage of by people who do not stick to the law.
You can also find details of many fine Debt Counsellors, credit providers and PDAs and others (like attorneys or software firms) in the Service Directory Listing Section of Debtfree Magazine each month.
But Is Debt Review Right For You?