I'm just looking for advise on debt repa...

Asked by the Customer on 03-08-2020 15:31:04
Question posted in the Consumer Protection Law category relating to Gauteng

I'm just looking for advise on debt repayment once I'm immigrating, what are my options say if I lose my job overseas as a Permanent Resident and I'm unable to pay my monthly installments, will they be able to criminally charge me for outstanding debt?

Message from the Attorney

Posted by Att. Patrick on 03-08-2020 15:44:40

Hi there and thank you for your question,

I am a practicing attorney based in South Africa and I will assist you with your question. Please feel free to ask as many follow up questions in order to clarify your question. If you have a new question, you must please open a new thread.

Absolutely not, they are NOT able to charge you criminally. The reason for this is that no crime has been committed. You are involved in a civil dispute with the company, not a criminal dispute. If they try to file a complaint with SAPS, SAPS will literally laugh at them and tell them to go see a lawyer. A lawyer would then need to draw up a summons and have that served on you, before they could go to court to get a judgment. There will then be plenty of time for you to defend the claim, or to enter into a settlement agreement with them.

If there is a part of the answer which you need more advice on, or clarity please continue in this same thread instead of opening a new question.

Att. Patrick

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Message from the Customer

Thank you,
"There will then be plenty of time for you to defend the claim, or to enter into a settlement agreement with them."
Ii I they then want to serve a summons on me while I'm abroad, will they be able to proceed without me, and will that judgement then result in a criminal offence?

Message from the Attorney

Posted by Att. Patrick on 03-08-2020 16:37:03

No. They will need to serve the summons on you in terms of the Rules of Court. If they have a domicilium for you, they could serve it on that address. Otherwise, they need to serve it on you personally, or where you live, or where you work. If you don't live / work in SA, then their only option is personal service. 

No civil judgement will EVER lead to a criminal offence! Never

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