Founder & CEO
Legal Protection | Debt Counselling | Consumer Advocacy
Neil Roets is the Founder and CEO of Debt Rescue, one of South Africa’s most recognized consumer finance experts. He established Debt Rescue in 2008, immediately following the rollout of the landmark National Credit Act (NCA), uniquely positioning him as a pioneer who helped shape early compliance and consumer framework models in the country.
With almost two decades of specialised experience in consumer debt solutions and financial rehabilitation, Neil brings an unmatched legal framework to the debt counselling space. Before launching Debt Rescue, he built a extensive career across multiple demanding pillars of the South African and international legal systems, practicing as an Attorney, Conveyancer, Notary Public, and qualifying as an England and Wales Solicitor.
Today, he directly oversees Debt Rescue’s macro strategic growth, operational compliance, and consumer protection advocacy initiatives, ensuring thousands of over-indebted South Africans can legally shield their critical assets—like family homes and vehicles—from immediate repossession.
• LLB (Bachelor of Laws) – Specialized university degree in statutory frameworks and consumer protections.
• Registered Debt Counsellor – Formally registered with the National Credit Regulator (NCR) since the inception of the current framework in 2008.
• Admitted Attorney, Notary Public & Conveyancer – Certified specialist in property law, legal document authentication, and high-court credit defense.
• Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) – Internationally accredited legal practitioner.
• Regulatory Alignment: Subject to the strict codes of conduct enforced by the National Credit Regulator (NCR) and the Legal Practice Council (LPC).
Neil has been a vocal proponent of systemic legal reform in the South African credit sector, frequently standing at the forefront of major judicial interventions to stop predatory lending and illegal debt collection.
Core Focus Areas & Specialisations:
• National Credit Act (NCA) Compliance: Ensuring credit providers and financial institutions adhere strictly to legal lending limits, fair interest caps, and statutory debt relief guidelines.
• Asset Protection Strategies: Deploying immediate, court-backed statutory protection under the NCA to shield distressed clients from litigation, asset foreclosure, and vehicle repossession.
• Debt Restructuring & Negotiation: Direct oversight of formalized repayment restructures that lower interest rates and consolidate multiple liabilities into a single, affordable monthly payment.
• Consumer Rights Advocacy: Driving public education initiatives to move consumers away from financial shame and toward structured, legally protected financial recovery.
Landmark Industry Contributions:
• The Fight Against Prescribed Debt: Following the implementation of amendments to the National Credit Act (NCA), Neil led a major national awareness campaign exposing debt collection agencies that were illegally attempting to collect on “prescribed debt” (debts older than three consecutive years that have legally lapsed).
• Exposing Systemic Collection Abuses: Neil has consistently used his legal background to challenge widespread industry malpractice, including blatant violations of the statutory in duplum rule (which caps total interest and fees at the principal debt amount), bogus garnishee orders, and unauthorized salary deductions from distressed consumers.
• Support for Access to Justice: As part of his broader commitment to consumer protection, Neil and Debt Rescue have actively supported legal innovation platforms that partner with non-profit organizations to make affordable legal documents and advice accessible to vulnerable South Africans.
Neil is widely regarded as the primary media voice for consumer financial health in South Africa. He is heavily relied upon by top-tier journalists and broadcast producers to translate complex macroeconomic shifts—such as SARB repo rate adjustments, fuel hikes, and inflation trends—into practical advice for everyday households.
His expert analysis, public advocacy, and economic data breakdowns are regularly featured across major national channels:
• Television & Broadcast: Regular investigative and live news appearances on Carte Blanche, eNCA, and SABC News.
• Financial & National Press: Frequently quoted subject-matter expert for BusinessTech, News24, Fin24, IOL, The Citizen, and Business Report.
• Core Subject Specialisations: National Credit Act adjustments, illegal collection practices (e.g., fighting the collection of prescribed debt), cost-of-living challenges, and structural debt restructuring strategies.
As a dual-regulated professional in South Africa, Neil operates under the strict ethical codes and statutory guidelines of both the legal and financial services sectors.
• Legal Practice Council Compliance: Bound by the rigorous professional and ethical rules dictating the conduct of admitted attorneys, conveyancers, and notary publics in South Africa.
• National Credit Regulator (NCR) Mandate: Fully compliant with the NCR’s statutory debt review processes, ensuring all restructuring negotiations are structured transparently, managed through accredited payment distribution agencies (PDAs), and secured via formalized court-ordered restructuring plans.
• Consumer Protection Focus: Under Neil’s direction, the company maintains a strict focus on sustainable financial rehabilitation, safeguarding essential family assets (homes and vehicles) while building a realistic path out of the debt trap.
Our reputation for excellence is built on years of successful outcomes and the trust of thousands of clients. By staying ahead of legal frameworks, financial best practices, and technological advancements, we ensure that our services remain at the forefront of the industry.
When you choose Debt Rescue, you’re choosing a partner dedicated to you.
