26/05/2025
Why Does Debt Review Not Work for Everyone?
This is an important question to unpack and understand. In my dealings with many clients over the years that come seeking help, many of them whom have been under debt review with other debt counsellors, I have found many common problems which I will go through below.
1) The consumer does not really understand what Debt Counselling is and how it works. They also do not understand the benefit they are receiving in many instances of far lower interest rates.
2) The consumer thinks that it is ok to miss payments
3) The Debt Counsellors do not make adequate provision for their living expenditure and therefore the amount they are supposed to pay is actually unaffordable and therefore the consumer is not able to maintain the payments expected of them.
4) Debt Counselling is sold to the consumer instead of them actually needing it, in other words a consumer who is currently up to date and paying their accounts is told they can pay substantially less in order to "free up" more money. I see this all the time, the consumer now pays less towards his accounts not fully understanding the implications of his decision, he then tries to do something eg. get a new cellphone contract and is told they cannot assist as the consumer is under Debt Review. The consumer was never advised of this but is now stuck under Debt Review.
5) Lack of proper communication with your Debt Counsellor. This causes many issues as a consumer might receive a message from a credit provider saying they did not receive payment. The consumer panics and thinks his money is being stolen and stops his payments to the PDA for his Debt counselling. If a consumer is getting a statement monthly, which they should be, then they would know the account in question has been paid and communicate the issue to the Debt Counsellor who will send the Proof of payment to the credit provider. It is important that you can speak to your Debt counsellor about any issue you are experiencing and that feedback is provided in order to ensure the matter has been resolved.
The Trick for Debt Counselling to work, is to Understand the solution that you are utilizing, be in a position to chat to your Debt counsellor and get help, maintain payments correctly and work together to get you Debt Free which is the aim and objective of going under Debt Review...