The Act encourages consumers to resolve their complaints directly with the company, and failing that to use “alternative dispute resolution” mechanisms such as ombuds offices.

If the consumer has tried to resolve the complaint with the company and they do not give him/her the required response, then you can help the consumer to contact the following offices:

FOR ANY COMPLAINT ABOUT A BANK

The Ombudsman for Banking Services

Tel: 0860 662837, Fax: (011) 8380043, Email: info@obssa.co.za Website: www.obssa.co.za

FOR ANY NON-BANK CREDIT, CREDIT BUREAU OR DEBT COUNSELING COMPLAINT

Credit Ombud

Tel: 0860 662 837, Fax: 011-781 0589, Email: info@ndma.org.za Website: www.creditombud.org.za

FOR ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT DEBT COUNSELLORS/DEBT COUNSELLING

Before contacting the credit ombud about a credit bureau complaint, contact the credit bureaus first. The four major credit bureaus are:

Compuscan Tel: 021 888 6000, Website: www.compuscan.co.za

Experian Tel: 0861 105 665, Website: www.experian.co.za

Transunion ITC Tel: 0861 482 482, Website: www.itc.co.za

XDS Tel: 011 645 91000, Website: www.xds.co.za

If you are unhappy with the outcome from the above, go to the National Credit Regulator (NCR ) Tel: 0860 627 627, Website: www.ncr.org.za