Debt collection

This service is for businesses, creditors, landlords, service providers, contractors, and individuals owed money who need an attorney-led view of evidence, demand strategy, repayment options, litigation risk, and enforcement economics.

1. Unpaid invoices, fees, rent, loans, acknowledgements of debt, settlement amounts, or agreed charges.
2. Letters of demand, repayment proposals, settlement offers, and default notices.
3. Review of proof of debt, delivery records, statements, admissions, and correspondence.
4. Escalation strategy before litigation or enforcement.
5. Recovery economics where the debt value may be outweighed by legal costs.

1. Assessment of whether the debt is documented, due, payable, and commercially recoverable.
2. Demand letter or repayment correspondence where scoped.
3. Advice on limitation, prescription, jurisdiction, interest, costs, and likely resistance.
4. Settlement and repayment structure support.

1. Guaranteed recovery.
2. Tracing, asset searches, credit bureau reporting, or collection agency services unless separately arranged.
3. Sheriff, court, counsel, correspondent, or enforcement fees unless expressly included.
4. Advice to the debtor or conflicted parties.
5. Litigation conduct beyond the agreed phase.

1. Invoices, statements, contract, purchase orders, delivery notes, acknowledgements of debt, or settlement agreements.
2. Proof of delivery, performance, payment history, admissions, and correspondence.
3. Debtor details, company registration details where available, addresses, and contact details.
4. Dates of invoice, due date, last payment, last acknowledgement, and any demand already sent.
5. The amount claimed, interest basis, costs basis, and any settlement discussions.

1. Conflict check and debtor identification.
2. Review evidence, amount, due date, prescription risk, and recoverability.
3. Confirm demand, settlement, or escalation strategy.
4. Issue mandated demand or repayment correspondence.
5. Assess response and recommend settlement, litigation, or closure.

Responsible attorney

Gerhard Human

Last reviewed

2026-05-22

Area of law

Debt collection, Civil litigation

1. The debt may be prescribed or close to prescription.
2. The debtor may dispute the work, quality, authority, amount, delivery, or due date.
3. The debtor may be insolvent, deregistered, untraceable, or judgment-proof.
4. Interest and collection costs may not be recoverable without a proper legal basis.
5. Poor records can make a valid debt difficult to prove.

No outcome is guaranteed. Advice depends on the documents, facts, timing, legal position, opponent conduct, and the scope accepted in writing.

This page is general legal information for South African context. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. Work begins after conflict checks, FICA where required, scope confirmation and written mandate acceptance.