Can I be declined for debt review?
Can you be declined for debt review? Yes — and any counsellor who says "everyone qualifies" should worry you. Here's why.
Question: Can I be declined for debt review?
Yes. And strangely enough, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Debt counselling is not supposed to be a product that everyone automatically gets. A debt counsellor must assess your financial circumstances and determine whether you are over-indebted. If you are found not to be over-indebted, the application can be rejected under the relevant provisions of the National Credit Act. The NCR's prescribed forms specifically include Form 17.2 for notification of rejection or restructuring.
Why might someone not qualify?
For example, you may not actually be over-indebted. Your income may be sufficient to meet your obligations. Your debt may be manageable with proper budgeting. Or there may be legal or procedural issues affecting particular credit agreements. One particularly important issue is timing. The NCA says an application for debt review cannot apply to a particular credit agreement if the credit provider has already proceeded with certain enforcement steps contemplated by sections 129/130. That is why waiting until your car or house is already in serious legal trouble can be dangerous.
What if I'm rejected?
Don't panic. A rejection doesn't mean "You're financially doomed." It means you need to understand why the application wasn't accepted and what options are available. Depending on the circumstances, there may be other ways to address the problem.
And here's an important warning.
Don't choose a debt counsellor who promises "Everyone qualifies." A responsible professional should be willing to tell you when debt review is not the appropriate solution.
Related reading: Am I over-indebted? Self-check · What happens when you WhatsApp a debt counsellor?
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