Held on 18 February at Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg, the Conference was attended by members of First National Bank, Nedbank, PASA, attorneys’ firms, the Consumer Profile Bureau and many others. Also in attendance were the Banking Ombudsman, Clive Pillay and Credit Intel Key Accounts Manager, Bennett Baloyi.

With each passing day, the debt collection industry awaits the promulgation of the notorious National Credit Amendment Bill; most notable for a proposed ban on the collection and sale of prescribed debt, which will see many debt collectors either close down completely or take significant financial knocks. Michael Shackleton spoke on the Bill and suggested that the proper implementation of the already existent National Credit Act would strike a fair balance between promoting the business of legal credit lenders and protecting debtors from unscrupulous lenders.

Shackleton also indicated that the NCAB will create greater regulation under which credit providers will have to operate, at a time when reduced regulation and the cutting of bureaucratic red tape is necessary to reduce unemployment and to cause small companies to thrive. Small companies are the engine of job creation in Gauteng.

Marina Short, CEO of the Consumer Profile Bureau, delivered an outstanding speech on regulatory data and the credit market. She is somewhat of an authority regarding credit and she genuinely provided valuable insights to all the attendees.

FutureSoft CEO, Peter Rafferty, spoke on the prescription of debt whilst advocate Hannelie Gray talked on emolument attachment orders.

Thav Reddy, Head of Compliance at Nedbank’s MFC division, educated attendees on how to manage the implementation of the Protection of Personal Information Act.

Marie Smit, Compliance Manager at PASA, suggested measures on how to increase the security of payments, something which is surely on the mind of all, considering the technological developments of the present day and the so-called “scam artists” living by fraudulent means within the Republic of South Africa.

Leon Townsend delivered an incredible and interactive speech concerning strategies to limit fraud. He is Executive Director at Censeo and a Certified Fraud Examiner. His organisation assists credit providers to assess which debtors to provide loans to by determining which prospective debtors are the most prone to commit fraud.

The conference was chaired by Credit Intel Senior Legal Executive Michael Shackleton, who is well known as a leading attorney in debt collection.

It was a highly educational and thought provoking Conference which Credit Intel was glad to be part of. Credit Intel prides itself on professional service and seeks to become the authoritative voice on debt collection in South Africa. Being invited to present and give inputs at Conferences such as these indicates that many people are turning to Credit Intel as an authority on debt collection.