The Debt Collection department is made up of a team of paralegal secretaries who interact with our clients and their debtors and who administer the legal processes involved in debt collection. The litigation attorneys and the team Leader, who is a partner in the practice, support them where necessary. In addition, a member of our accounting staff is permanently seconded to the team to ensure the integrated financial management of the Collections process.

The team makes use of modem Windows® based collection software, which not only generates the documentation but also provides up-to-date information of the status of debtors' and clients' accounts. Communication is, where supported by our client's and other persons own IT infrastructure, effected on a backbone of Internet technology.

Our collections fees are based on the tariffs laid down by the Magistrate's Court Act and by our own professional controlling body. We endeavor to collect, insofar as the Magistrate's Court Act allows, all the legal costs from the debtors. Where the Law does not permit the recovery of a cost item, we will attempt to secure payment of that item by way of agreement with the debtor.

Our approach to debt collection may be summarized as being based on ethical and effective procedures. We are sensitive to the fact that different claims and debtors require subtly differing approaches. For instance while we will take every possible lawful action to recover a debt, our experience has taught us that it is often inadvisable to alienate our clients' debtors who are, after all, their customers and who may, on their rehabilitation, continue to be customers, sometimes even better ones! On the other hand some debtors require a far more robust approach and we will not hesitate to act accordingly.

We are prepared, in appropriate circumstances and subject to certain formal requirements, to charge our fees on a contingency or "no-win no - pay" basis. Please feel free to approach us to discuss this option.