“I have heard that in war, haste can be folly, but have never seen delay that was wise.”— Sun Tzu, The Art of War Debt recovery can feel very much like a battle. Creditors often face evasive debtors, mounting legal costs, and drawn-out proceedings that sap both time and resources. Yet South African law delivers […]
Prescription, Procrastination, and Personal Liability for Corporate Debts Read More »
“He who is quick to borrow is slow to pay” (Old proverb) A recent High Court decision means that, for the first time, creditors of debtor companies are specifically cleared to apply for the company’s directors to be declared “delinquent” in certain circumstances. And that has significant implications for both directors and creditors. For directors
Now Creditors Can Apply for Directors to be Declared Delinquent – Why is That Important? Read More »
“Creditors have better memories than debtors” (Benjamin Franklin) How well you manage your debtors’ book, and how successful you are in actually collecting monies due to you, should always be a management priority. It can spell the difference between a successful, profitable business and a failed one. If you are new to the game (the
“The requirement that credit providers must be registered allows for their control and regulation, especially in relation to their financial probity and integrity, thereby avoiding the unscrupulous exploitation of credit consumers by so-called fly-by-night operators and loan sharks.” (Extract from judgment below) A recent High Court case highlights once again the dangers of lending money,
Don’t Give a Loan or Credit to Anyone (Not Even a Friend) Without Legal Advice! Read More »
You should always take as much security for your claims as you possibly can before advancing credit or lending money to a debtor. That’s because if your debtor fails and is “liquidated” (if a corporate) or “sequestrated” (if an individual), without security you will have only a concurrent claim in the estate. And with a
Creditors: How to Secure Your Claim with a Notarial Bond Read More »
“A court shall not authorise execution against immovable property which is the primary residence of a judgment debtor unless the court having considered all relevant factors, considers that execution against such property is warranted” (High Court Rules) Selling a house in execution is not as simple as getting judgment and sending the Sheriff of the
It’s Not Simple to Sell a House in Execution (Even if a Trust Owns It) Read More »
“… for the benefit of immunity from liability for its debts, those running the corporation may not use its formal identity to incur obligations recklessly, grossly negligently or fraudulently. If they do, they risk being made personally liable.” (Quoted in the judgment below) Particularly in hard times, it is not at all uncommon to find
“How sharper than a serpents tooth it is to have a thankless child!” (Shakespeare) “Family helps family in times of need” – that’s been part of human culture since long before the dawn of history but be sure to observe all legal formalities. A recent High Court decision provides an excellent example of the risks
The Trouble with Family Loans: A R540,000 Lesson Read More »
When debtors once have borrowed all we have to lend, they are very apt to grow shy of their creditors company (John Vanbrugh) Bad debt is a major issue for many businesses in these hard economic times – not taking robust steps to collect it could be fatal to your own financial position. So if
Debtor Not Paying? Consider a Liquidation Application Read More »
“Bankruptcy – a fate worse than debt” (Anon) One of a Body Corporate’s fundamental duties is to collect monthly levies from the scheme’s members, and to take robust action to recover any arrears. As with any other creditor/debtor relationship however, trying to recover debt can be an exercise in frustration and delay, and the more
Bodies Corporate: Before You Sequestrate to Recover Arrears… Read More »
