The NCT allows anyone to appear before them on behalf of another party if they have a proper mandate.
For example, a Debt Counsellor could apply on behalf of a consumer, an ADRA could appear on behalf of a consumer who is fighting with a bank over the balance owed on an account, or an Attorney could appear on behalf of a consumer.
In many cases over the years, consumers have made use of an attorney’s services to bring their debt review matters to the NCT (technically these are 86(7)(b) matters so not technically debt review rather debt restructuring to avoid debt review). In such cases, the consumer would agree to separate fees directly with an attorney. These would also include the filing fees (now at R621.14)
Many Debt Counsellors and credit providers would like to see the NCT’s mandate expanded so that they can handle all debt review related matters instead of having to flood magistrates courts country wide with applications.
Thus far this has not happened as it would depend on the removal of: (b) from one line of the Act in an amendment.