I recently launched our very own podcast on Ancor…

Over the last two year period during which we suffered the pandemic, I’ve had some really thought-provoking interviews with some pretty influential human beings…

One of the toughest interviews I’ve ever done was with then Heart FM’s famous DJ Clarence Ford, on ‘Debt Counselling’…

These podcasts have a similar theme in that they cover some of the most common myths and misconceptions in and around one of the best, yet most misunderstood debt management mechanisms available to the struggling South African consumer.

I must admit, I had a lot of fun doing these interviews with the respective media personalities, more importantly, I was very grateful that I was able to get my message across to thousands of South Africans.

Debt Management is not a ‘Taboo’ topic (as I’ve heard it called before) at all and I’m doing everything I possibly can to get rid of the negative stigma attached to it.

This stigma was created by a few industry players (some of the big ones in particular) who had or may even still have a blatant disregard for struggling consumers, but like corporate raiders, they only give a shit about their bottom line.

For me, this business is personal… It always was and always will be!!

Yes, of course, I’m an entrepreneur, I have a business with actual clients that I service, and I need to make money too. So I’m not going to feed you some BS about how “I’m doing this for the children…”, but I have a very deep passion to help as many struggling South Africans as I can.

The difference between me and many of my competitors is that I actually give a damn about someone struggling with debt because I’ve been there. I don’t just imagine how bad or stressful it must be for someone… I’ve actually been there. I’ve been in a position where our cars were repossessed and we’ve lost our house… Sadly, on more than one occasion!!

So I don’t just relate, I can totally resonate with an over-indebted individual on a deep level.

My biggest frustration to date is having to see so many South Africans give up their assets to bank repossession, that they’ve worked so hard for… I’m often saying how the worst part is not even them losing their assets, it’s the fact that even after the bank has repossessed their vehicle for example… They’re still left owing the bank on that contract. So it’s not just a matter of “oh it’s fine, the bank can take it back..”, no… You will most likely still owe on the contract (which is what you entered in agreement with the bank to in the first place, not the asset) because the asset you bought was just collateral for the bank.

I’m also always urging consumers to do their due diligence and proper research when choosing to work with a trusted, respected debt specialist.

If you’re not sure how to go about choosing a debt specialist to work with, you can find out here.

I hope you take some time to go through some of our podcasts and please do let me know what you thought about some of them.

You can access our podcast at https://anchor.fm/thedebtdude

Have a great Thursday and weekend ahead.

As always, cheers to your financial independence.

Andre Misrole

Chief Growth Officer