Debt Counsellor

Debt counsellors are responsible for dealing with complex debt situations, helping people to manage their finances and eventually become debt free. They provide impartial, confidential and practical help and advice to clients whose debts have got out of control, advising on issues such as financial planning, budgeting, money management and bankruptcy. they may be required to take on managerial responsibilities, such as leading a team of several debt counsellors or training new debt counsellors.

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Debt counsellors liaise with creditors on behalf of clients, give legal advice and support clients with court proceedings. They also give emotional support to clients who are stressed or anxious about their financial situation.

They may work with clients face-to-face, in an advice centre or office, or visit outreach centres or clients’ homes to give advice. Others may work on a telephone help-line. They occasionally need to attend court.

Their tasks might include:

• talking to clients about their debt situation
• looking at clients’ income and expenditure
• offering emotional support to clients
• working out a realistic budget
• helping clients to determine priority payments
• preparing monthly payment plans for clients to follow
• advising about bankruptcy and court proceedings
• checking that creditors are demanding the right amount
• negotiating with creditors to arrange affordable, realistic repayments for the client
• advising about any welfare benefits clients may be eligible for
• representing clients in court.

Relevant work experience is of more importance than formal qualifications and most debt counsellors begin in a related voluntary role. It is important to demonstrate good people skills, so experience working with people in any capacity, but particularly with those who are vulnerable, will be of relevance.

It would be useful to have worked in a finance-related job such as a bank cashier, or in debt recovery, or even in a non-professional role such as managing a budget for a community group or society. Experience using computers working in an administrative capacity, would also be useful as debt counsellors divide their time between desk-based duties and liaising with clients.

As debt counsellors progress they may be required to take on managerial responsibilities, such as leading a team of several debt counsellors or training new debt counsellors.

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Personal Requirements

• sympathetic, friendly and patient
• have excellent administrative skills
• have a non-judgemental and unbiased attitude
• able to communicate well, verbally and in writing
• ability to relate to people from all backgrounds
• have a genuine desire to help people
• have good negotiation skills, particularly when dealing with creditors
• able to stay calm under pressure

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How to Enter

Schooling & School Subjects

National Senior Certificate meeting requirements for the course.

Each institution has its own entry requirements.

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What to Study

Debt Counselling is a new profession. The National Credit Act makes provision for the Debt Counselling Programme to assist over-indebted consumers. The programme needs to be implemented by debt counsellors who are competent and registered by the National Credit Regulator (NCR).

There are eight NCR approved training service providers that offer Debt Counsellor training in South Africa. To register as a debt counsellor you are required to attend this 3-day training course and pass a written examination on day 4. In addition to this, any individual who wishes to register as a debt counsellor must comply with all the requirements set out in the National Credit Act and Regulations.

Further learning, beyond this course, is then required, including training in using the computer programme that is essential to the facilitation of the Debt Review process. Keeping up-to-date with the latest economic discussions and trends is vital. Since this is a new initiative in South Africa to educate and assist those who are over-indebted, debt counsellors must also be prepared to engage in regular problem-solving forums and to keep up to date on all changes. Successfully completing the course and registering as a debt counsellor is therefore only the first step in the process of becoming an effective NCR accredited debt-relief service provider.

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Employment

• debt counselling companies
• charities that provide debt counselling
• citizen advice bureaux
• trade unions
• self-employment, with relevant experience

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Further Information

Debt Counsellors’ Association of South Africa
P O Box 60
Germiston, 1400
Tel: 086 143 2272
https://www.dcasa.co.za/

Gauteng Debt Counselling
Office 64, Zambezi Junction
522 Breed Street
Gauteng
Tel: 087 056 0654
https://gautengdebtcounselling.co.za/

National Credit Regulator
127 15th Road
Randjespark
Midrand
Tel: (011) 554-2600
www.ncr.org.za

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Getting Started

• speak to a debt counsellor about this career
• volunteer to work in an advice centre, starting with giving general advice and once you have experience, training in giving money advice.

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Related Occupations

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