Stern warning to credit providers

THE NATIONAL Credit Regulator (NCR) has urged all consumers whose bank cards, Sassa cards and identity documents that were taken by credit providers, to collect them.

Nomsa Motshegare, CEO of the National Credit Regulator, said that in terms of the National Credit Act (NCA) it was illegal and also a criminal offence for credit providers to retain any consumer instruments such as identity documents, bank and Sassa cards as a way to enforce credit agreements.

Motshegare urged consumers to report any incidents involving the withholding of cards to the police and the NCR.

“Between January and March of this year, the NCR conducted six raids together with the SAPS, where five criminal cases were opened. During these raids, 411 bank cards, Sassa cards and 37 consumer instruments (identity documents, passports and driving licences) were seized,” Motshegare stated.

“As we head towards elections, all credit providers are instructed to desist from retaining consumers’ cards and identity documents and should return them to the owners.”