February 2009

With the inception of the new National Credit Act (No. 34 of 2005) (NCA) many credit providers / micro-lenders, especially small and medium enterprises (SME’s) find themselves with great challenges in changing the way they enter into credit-agreements with and grant credit to a consumer. The introduction of the debt counselling profession further introduced challenges for credit providers in terms of the collection of outstanding debt and the enforcement of legal collection proceedings.

The Magistrates Courts are now playing a more prominent role within the credit arena and its role and implications for credit providers are often not understood.

It is in this light that the BANKSETA has articulated a clear need to build capacity within the banking and micro-finance sectors in terms of the impact and implications of both the NCA and the Magistrates Court Act (No. 66 of 1998) (MCA). Specific learning is required in terms of the processes and implications of these pieces of legislation.

Following on the previous year, BANKSETA has once again chosen Compuscan Academy to host FREE workshops aimed at familiarising small businesses in the banking and microfinance sectors with the requirements and implications of the National Credit Act as well as the provisions of the Magistrate’s Court Act, as it relates to the requirements and specifications of the NCA.

More specifically, each workshop will cover the following topics:

•           Credit Agreements and Pre-Agreement Quotations

•           Statements of Account

•           Pre-Agreement Disclosure

•           Marketing Practices

•           Interest Rates (What's Accepted and What's Not)

•           Debt Counselling

•           Unlawful Contracts

•           Magistrate Act Processes and Implications on Debt Collections

This year, between February and March 2009, 8 workshops will be conducted nationally in the following areas:

• 3 March 2009    Durban
• 4 March 2009    Johannesburg
• 5 March 2009    Polokwane
• 9 March 2009    Cape Town
• 11 March 2009   Bloemfontein
• 12 March 2009   Kimberley
• 17 March 2009   Port Elizabeth
• 18 March 2009   Umtata

Venue details and maps will be provided on confirmation and will be sent to the email address provided.

Should you and your staff wish to attend any of these workshops, kindly complete the registration form and send it to Compuscan Academy via fax or e-mail at least three (3) working days before the specified workshop date.

Enquiries can be directed to Compuscan Academy as follows:

Tel: +27 (0)21 888 6000

Fax: +27 (0)86 677 5311