Q: What Are the Disadvantages of Debt Review? (2024)

Disadvantages (and their impact):

No access to new credit.

During Debt Review, you cannot access new loans or credit cards. While this helps break the borrowing cycle, it canrestrict your financial flexibility.

This is a big ask for most people. And understandably so, stepping away from the dependency on credit is a big hurdle. Even though this is the hardest part of the Debt Review process, it is essential for the fairness and effectiveness of the process, and here are the key reasons why:

Prevention of Further Debt Accumulation: Granting you access to additional credit would defeat the purpose of Debt Review. Acquiring more credit would lead to more debt, making it impossible to meet your repayment obligations. One of the essential reasons for Debt Review is to ensure that you can afford your repayments while having sufficient funds for your daily expenses.

Court Order or Legal Agreement.When you enter into Debt Review, you receive a Court Order. This legally binding agreement outlines the terms of the debt repayment plan, which is the reduced repayment plan, making your debt affordable. It also provides you with legal protection against repossession. Part of this court order includes restrictions on obtaining new credit, which brings us to the following reason:

Protection of Creditors’ Rights.Creditors agree to participate in the process, expecting you to follow the repayment plan agreed upon in the Court Order. If you take on new debt while under Debt Review, it essentially breaks that legal agreement and jeopardises the creditor’s ability to recover the amount you legally owe them.

Regulatory Compliance and Fraud Prevention.The Debt Review process is regulated by laws (the National Credit Act) and strictly governed by the NCR (National Credit Regulator). This is to protect South African consumers like you, ensuring fair treatment by creditors. Also, restricting access to new credit helps prevent individuals from engaging in fraudulent behaviour, such as taking on additional debt without the intention of repaying it, which could harm creditors and the integrity of the debt review process.

Extended Repayment Plan

Your debt payment period will be extended to lower your monthly instalments drastically. This means it will take longer to pay off your debts, and you’ll continue to accrue interest on the outstanding balance, leading to higher overall interest payments.

This might feel like a raw deal, but remember, this process is for individuals facing extreme financial hardship and unable to afford their monthly financial obligations. The legal framework surrounding debt review takes this into account. And the only way to get the creditors to ease their repayment requirements is by extending the repayment period.

The duration of your Debt Review will depend on your unique situation. Request a free, no-obligation quote to get a better idea of the repayment period.

You can view it as the middle ground, where creditors still get their dues, and your financial strain is lifted, permitting you that much-needed breathing space to afford your debt repayments and your family’s essential living costs.

When your financial circ*mstances improve – like a new, higher-paying job – you can always pay off your debt faster, speeding up the process.

Impact on Credit Score

While Debt Review is not a blacklisting, it is flagged on your credit report for the duration of the process.

Credit reporting agencies and creditors are typically subject to regulatory oversight, which includes requirements for accurate and transparent credit reporting practices. Including Debt Review status on credit reports helps ensure compliance with these regulations. This pertains to the first disadvantage mentioned earlier. Creditors must make responsible lending decisions, and granting credit to individuals who cannot afford their current obligations will be considered reckless lending.

It’s important to note that being over-indebted for an extended period negatively impacts your credit score. Individuals seeking a solution like Debt Review are most likely behind on some of their payments, meaning their credit record is already flagged from those overdue payments.

After the Debt Review process is completed, a Clearance Certificate will be sent to the credit bureaus and your creditors. This legal document requires them to remove the Debt Review flag, allowing you to start rebuilding a healthy credit score.

Q: What Are the Disadvantages of Debt Review? (2024)

FAQs

Q: What Are the Disadvantages of Debt Review? ›

Disadvantages (and their impact): No access to new credit. During Debt Review, you cannot access new loans or credit cards. While this helps break the borrowing cycle, it can restrict your financial flexibility.

What are the disadvantages of debt review? ›

While debt counselling offers many advantages, it's important to be aware of the potential downsides: Temporary Credit Restrictions: During the debt review process, you won't be able to apply for new credit. While this can be frustrating, it's necessary to ensure you don't take on more debt.

What are the disadvantages of debt collection? ›

Using a debt collection agency can be costly - the commission on the money recovered is typically 8 to 10 per cent for commercial debts. You may lose your customer if the agency has poor communication skills. If the agency takes a heavy-handed approach, your reputation may be damaged.

What is the disadvantage of debt relief programs? ›

Pros of debt settlement programs include speeding up the repayment process, reducing the total amount owed, and avoiding lawsuits. Cons involve a negative impact on credit score, accumulation of late fees and interest charges, and results that can't be guaranteed.

What is the main disadvantage of debt? ›

The main disadvantage of debt financing is that interest must be paid to lenders, which means that the amount paid will exceed the amount borrowed.

How long does it take to be removed from debt review? ›

Realistically, the debt review cancellation process can never take less than 60 days. Firstly, the court application must be prepared and a court date must be obtained. The court date is never likely to be less than 2 weeks away, as the court application must be served on the debt counselor and the creditors.

What are the disadvantages of review of records? ›

Completing the record review early in the functional assessment can provide the team with clues to variables that are affecting the behavior but may not be immediately obvious. A disadvantage of the record review is that the materials reviewed may not reflect the current status of the student.

What are the negative effects of debt? ›

There's a strong link between debt and poor mental health. People with debt are more likely to face common mental health issues, such as prolonged stress, depression, and anxiety. Debt can affect your physical well-being, too. This is especially true if the stigma of debt is keeping you from asking for help.

What the worst debt collectors can do? ›

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act says debt collectors can't harass, oppress, or abuse you or anyone else they contact. For example, debt collectors can't: Make repeated phone calls that are intended to annoy, abuse, or harass you or any person answering the phone.

Why should debt be avoided? ›

Debt can be a problem when you owe money you can't pay back. If you don't pay back the money you borrowed, future lenders won't trust you and you may even have legal problems. Before you borrow money to buy something, it can be helpful to make sure what you're buying is something you really need.

Can I still use my credit card after debt settlement? ›

Conversely, keeping older accounts open with low balances can potentially benefit your credit profile over time. To start rebuilding credit: Responsibly using a credit card after a debt settlement can help you rebuild your credit over time.

Is debt relief a good idea? ›

If you're one of the millions of Americans struggling to repay high-interest debt, a debt relief plan may be an option to help you get your finances on track. But it's not a quick fix. It's a long-term solution designed to help you get out of debt over a period of time — typically several years.

What are the disadvantages of debt relief order? ›

Disadvantages of Debt Relief Orders
  • There are tight income, asset and debt restrictions on who can apply for a DRO.
  • If your circ*mstances change, you may still be required to repay your creditors.
  • Your debt relief order will appear on your credit file for six years.

What are the disadvantages of debt collection division? ›

Damage to customer relationships: Debt collection can damage customer relationships, especially if it is handled with an aggressive tone and manner. This can lead to lost customers, complaints to the Better Business Bureau, and a negative reputation for the business.

What is the biggest problem with debt? ›

Rising debt reduces business investment and slows economic growth. It also increases expectations of higher rates of inflation and erosion of confidence in the U.S. dollar.

Why is debt not good? ›

Debt might be considered bad if it's difficult to repay or doesn't offer long-term benefits—think loans with high interest rates or unfavorable repayment terms, for example.

Is it wise to go under debt review? ›

A Clear Path to Financial Freedom By following a debt review plan, you commit to a structured repayment process. This disciplined approach not only helps you clear your existing debts but also instils better financial habits, setting you on a path to long-term financial health.

How long does debt Review stay on your name? ›

How long does debt review stay on your name? 'Debt review' stays on your name until you complete the debt review process, get your clearance certificate and are declared debt-free. This usually takes between 36-60 months, but it can be even faster. After the process, the debt review status is permanently removed.

Can I pay my creditors directly while under debt review? ›

The answer: Yes, you can pay your creditors directly while under debt review if you choose to do so from the start. A consumer in debt review has two options for repaying their debts, according to the National Credit Act: Pay your debt yourself, or allow your debt counsellor to do it for you.

What happens if I don't pay debt review? ›

Debt review, also known as debt counselling, is a legal process, and your payment plan has been accepted by all your creditors. A court order has also been granted. If you default on your plan, you are breaking your agreement and your creditors are within their rights to initiate legal proceedings.

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