Duo in crisis after debt counselling
More than R65 000 collected but not a cent is paid over to creditors
When Precious Ramutha and Cynthia Dlamini decided to go for debt counselling they did not know they were jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
They are now harassed by attorneys who threaten to attach and sell their properties because their debt counsellor has not paid their debts.
Ramutha and Dlamini were battling to pay their debts when they came across pamphlets in Pretoria advertising the services of Nyanisi Shuma Debt Management.
They went to their offices, where they entered into an agreement with a counsellor to have their debts reviewed, they said.
Ramutha said she signed a five-year contract with the company after they promised to negotiate with her creditors to pay less than she was paying.
Although Nyanisi Shuma has deducted R44 528 from her bank account to date, they have not distributed a cent to Ramutha’s creditors.
Her accounts have now been handed over to attorneys who are harassing her for payment.
“What makes me angry is that before consulting them my accounts were up to date and now I’m in arrears and about to lose my house because of them,” she said.
She said Nyanisi Shuma keep telling her they were still negotiating with her creditors and her accounts were being assessed.
She said that she was now blacklisted.
“I’m miserable and regret ever asking for their help.”
Dlamini said they were advised to open new bank accounts and order their human resources department to pay their salaries into the new accounts.
The HR department was against this but eventually succumbed when they received a letter from the debt counsellor, Dlamini said.
They were further instructed to set up a new debit order in favour of the debt counsellor.
Dlamini has paid R20 488 since she was placed under debt review, but no payments have been made to her creditors.
She said she was quoted R5 000 for an initial secretarial advisory and consultation fee that she agreed to pay.
Dlamini said she did not realise they would have to start negotiations with creditors first before payment was eventually made to them.
“This has increased interest on the amount I owe, which could have been avoided.”
Elias Kgopa of Nyanisi Shuma said they had been paying the debts, but could not produce proof of payment.
Consumer Line has seen about 40 text messages from creditors reminding Dlamini and Ramutha to pay their debt and informing them that as of May 31, their accounts would be handed to attorneys.
The National Credit Regulator’s office advised Dlamini and Ramutha to lodge a formal complaint so they can investigate.