Commentary from our Manager: Inspections and AML Compliance
Commentary from our Manager: Inspections and AML Compliance
– Ms. Lovisa Indongo-Namandje
If you have tried to control your debt by budgeting and debt consolidation, but are still struggling and unable to make the minimum repayments it’s time to take decisive measures to keep your debt from spiralling out of control.
One way of doing so involves an administrator helping you in paying your debt and becoming debt free. This happens through a court process where you voluntarily apply to court to be placed under administration. We suggest that you only choose this option if there are no other options. This option should be used as a last resort.
Administration is aimed at giving you breathing space to repay your debt in full by reducing the monthly payments to an amount that you can afford. This way you will have some money for your basic needs.
You can only be placed under administration if your debt is not more than N$50,000.00 and you do not have enough assets to pay your debt. If you are listed on a credit bureau, you remain listed. The process is long and costly because it involves lawyers and legal fees. The administrator will also charge a fee for their services.
The Administrator does not give you any money but uses your own money to make the payments. An emoluments attachment order will be issued to collect money directly from your salary and pay it over to the administrator.
When you are placed under administration you lose control of your finances and the administrator takes over control. You must keep track and ensure that your administrator is making your debt repayments as they should.
Once under administration you must disclose the fact that you are under administration when applying for more credit or loans. Failing to do so is a criminal offence for which you can get arrested and appear in court.
Don’t despair there are some benefits to administration for example the people you owe money can no longer deal directly with you they must contact your administrator. So no more calls harassing you.
In our next issue we will give you more information on emoluments attachment orders, consent to judgments and other legal documents.
If you have tried to control your debt by budgeting and debt consolidation, but are still struggling and unable to make the minimum repayments it’s time to take decisive measures to keep your debt from spiralling out of control.
One way of doing so involves an administrator helping you in paying your debt and becoming debt free. This happens through a court process where you voluntarily apply to court to be placed under administration. We suggest that you only choose this option if there are no other options. This option should be used as a last resort.
Administration is aimed at giving you breathing space to repay your debt in full by reducing the monthly payments to an amount that you can afford. This way you will have some money for your basic needs.
You can only be placed under administration if your debt is not more than N$50,000.00 and you do not have enough assets to pay your debt. If you are listed on a credit bureau, you remain listed. The process is long and costly because it involves lawyers and legal fees. The administrator will also charge a fee for their services.
The Administrator does not give you any money but uses your own money to make the payments. An emoluments attachment order will be issued to collect money directly from your salary and pay it over to the administrator.
When you are placed under administration you lose control of your finances and the administrator takes over control. You must keep track and ensure that your administrator is making your debt repayments as they should.
Once under administration you must disclose the fact that you are under administration when applying for more credit or loans. Failing to do so is a criminal offence for which you can get arrested and appear in court.
Don’t despair there are some benefits to administration for example the people you owe money can no longer deal directly with you they must contact your administrator. So no more calls harassing you.
In our next issue we will give you more information on emoluments attachment orders, consent to judgments and other legal documents.
Keep your debt from spiralling out of control.
Key Takeaways
If you’ve tried budgeting or debt consolidation but still find yourself unable to meet your minimum repayments, it may be time to consider more decisive action to prevent your debt from spiralling out of control.
One such option is debt administration—a legal process through which an administrator helps you repay your debts and work toward becoming debt-free. This option is only recommended as a last resort, and only when all other alternatives have been exhausted.
Administration is designed to provide you with breathing space by reducing your monthly debt repayments to a more manageable amount—allowing you to still cover your basic living expenses. However, it's important to understand that:
One such option is debt administration—a legal process through which an administrator helps you repay your debts and work toward becoming debt-free. This option is only recommended as a last resort, and only when all other alternatives have been exhausted.
Administration is designed to provide you with breathing space by reducing your monthly debt repayments to a more manageable amount—allowing you to still cover your basic living expenses. However, it's important to understand that:
- You can only apply for administration if your total debt does not exceed N$50,000.00
- You do not own enough assets to cover that debt
This process requires a voluntary application to court, and once approved, your finances will be managed by a court-appointed administrator.
Important Considerations
- You will still be listed on a credit bureau, even after being placed under administration.
- The process involves legal and administrative fees, which can be costly.
- The administrator will not provide you with additional funds—they will use your own money to pay your creditors.
- A garnishee order (also known as an emoluments attachment order) will be issued, allowing deductions to be made directly from your salary.
Once placed under administration, you lose control of your financial decisions. It becomes your responsibility to monitor the administrator’s actions and ensure they are making the required payments on your behalf.
Disclosure Requirement
It is also a legal obligation to disclose your administrative status when applying for any new credit or loans. Failing to do so is a criminal offence and may lead to arrest and prosecution.
Once you're under administration:
Once you're under administration:
- Your creditors may no longer contact or harass you directly; they must deal with your administrator.
- You gain some structure and predictability in managing your repayments.
However, this is a serious commitment with long-term implications, and should only be considered after thorough evaluation.
In our next issue, we will explore related legal processes such as emoluments attachment orders, consent to judgments, and other important documents you should understand if you're managing debt.
In our next issue, we will explore related legal processes such as emoluments attachment orders, consent to judgments, and other important documents you should understand if you're managing debt.
Remember: Stay vigilant, seek advice, and take action early to prevent your debt from spiralling out of control.