Do you charge an upfront fee for your debt collection service?

No. We work on a no-success, no-fee basis.

What do you require to start the process?

The debtor's contact details & the latest statement.

How long will the process take?

This is matter-dependent; however, it normally takes about a week.

Are you registered with the CFDC?

Yes. Our certifications are available upon request.

Debt Collection

SVG Corporate specialises in professional debt recovery, collecting unpaid invoices for South African businesses on a no success, no fee basis.

How It Works

This guide explains what South African law actually says, how commercial debt recovery works, and what to do the moment an account stops paying on time.

What is Debt Collection?

Business-to-business (B2B) debt recovery is the process of collecting money one business owes another through structured communication, formal demands, and, if necessary, decisive legal action. This framework focuses on securing outstanding invoices, overdue commercial account balances, or unpaid business service fees that have passed their agreed terms to protect your accounts receivable and keep your corporate cash flow stable.

The Cost of Delay

Timing is closely tied to the value of debt. An overdue invoice rapidly loses its collection potential the longer it sits unmanaged on an aging ledger, whereas initiating external recovery procedures early gives your business the highest probability of a successful outcome. Most successful collections are secured within the first 60 days, making early intervention vital to stop a simple payment delay from turning into a permanent financial loss.

The Recovery Process

Our collection process is designed to be fast and effective. Our top priorities are obtaining payment, establishing and maintaining engagement with debtors, and providing feedback.

Communication

Our process includes a sequence of formal letters issued over the course of the collection process. These are supported by frequent and strategic communication efforts to encourage debtor engagement.

Information Gathering

Generally, upon handover of a matter, we proactively attempt to gather more additional information about the debtor at no cost. If the recovery process requires further support, we may recommend optional additional services.

Active Engagement

We prioritise establishing and maintaining communication with the debtor by actively seeking responses or engagement. This includes using e-mails, phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and other platforms.

Timeframe & Reporting

Our process is structured to allow for feedback within two weeks; however, due to possible delays, we request a working period of up to sixty days per matter. We make every effort to ensure that clients receive regular feedback.

Plan of Action

Our primary goal is to secure immediate payment. If payment is not be made promptly, we focus on obtaining a written response from the debtor, outlining their proposed plan of action for settling the outstanding amount.

Case Specific

This is a general overview of our collection process. Each matter is handled on a case-by-case basis, tailored to its unique level of complexity. If you wish to learn more about our operations in greater detail, Contact Us.

The Recovery Matrix

Our approach focuses on collecting what is rightfully yours, while protecting your relationships with clients. By using firm negotiation and structured demands, we resolve outstanding accounts quickly and quietly, avoiding the heavy costs and delays of going to court.

Pre-legal recovery

Negotiated, no court needed

No success, no fee

60 days average

Relationship usually preserved

Needs invoices and a paper trail

Legal recovery

Court action and judgment

Court and attorney fees

Months at minimum

Unpredictable

Full court-ready file required

Legal Compliance

Council for Debt Collectors: Debt collection in South Africa is regulated by the CFDC under the Debt Collectors Act 114 of 1998. SVG Corporate is a registered, compliant partner, protecting your business from the legal liability of an unregistered collector. Debtors take that seriously, and every letter we send carries real legal standing. Our CFDC registration number is 00129452/25.

The Three-Year Rule: Under the Prescription Act 68 of 1969, most commercial debt in South Africa becomes legally unenforceable three years after it falls due, unless a payment or written acknowledgement resets the clock. Left unmanaged, a fully valid debt can simply fall outside the law's reach. Acting early is what keeps an overdue account collectable, not just legally valid.

Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC):

A debtor's status can shift without warning through liquidation, business rescue, or CIPC deregistration, changing your recovery options and timeline. We track that status throughout the file, so your strategy adjusts the moment anything changes.

Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA): Recovering debt means handling sensitive information. SVG Corporate protects that information to strict POPIA standards, so recovering what you're owed never creates a compliance risk of its own.

Why SVG Corporate

Choosing the right debt collection partner is so much more than simply appointing someone to recover outstanding amounts.

Partnering with us can strengthen your credit control and significantly enhance your cash flow. Here’s why we’re uniquely equipped to provide exactly what you need, and more:

Comprehensive Solutions

While most debt collection companies take a one-size-fits-all approach to debt recovery, we believe in a more considered approach; one that adapts to the needs of each case.

Unlike many debt collection companies that send a single letter and wait, our strategy includes:

Multiple letters
E-mail outreach/correspondence
Telephone engagement
WhatsApp messaging
Communication through multiple platforms where necessary

Our debt recovery strategy goes beyond generic, outdated methods, leveraging behavioural principles alongside data insights and debtor profiling. By customising our approach to each matter, we maximise results while eliminating delays. This personalised approach has consistently proven to enhance success rates.

We also offer end-to-end debt collection services (from pre-litigation efforts & tracing to private investigation & legal action, managed in-house or through our partners). This means that you won’t need to coordinate multiple service providers or processes, streamlining & accelerating the debt recovery journey.

Going Beyond the Basics

We strive to deliver a fast, transparent, & risk-free collection process that consistently goes beyond client expectations.

We dedicate all effort to achieving an outcome within a maximum of 60 days, rejecting the practice of holding matters indefinitely or for unnecessary, lengthy durations.

We operate on a no recovery, no fee basis. Unlike many debt collection agencies, we do not charge any monthly or administration fees (etc.); charges apply only when we’ve delivered results, or when additional services are requested.

We work to recover fees and interest wherever possible to safeguard your profits, unlike many debt collection agencies that overlook this opportunity.

We aim to release funds within 24–48 business hours; significantly faster than the industry standard, where payouts can take weeks. Furthermore, we offer clients the flexibility to receive payments directly (an option rarely provided by other debt collection companies/agencies).

We commit to delivering regular updates & monthly reports to keep you informed and in control, unlike most debt collection agencies that leave you in the dark following handover.

While many debt collection companies limit themselves to local cases, we have experience handling cross-border matters. Unlike most debt collection agencies that charge higher fees for international recoveries, we keep a consistent fee structure regardless of the debt's location.

While some debt collection companies/agencies may neglect essential legal procedures (exposing you to complications, such as litigation/legal consequences), we follow protocols to prevent delays & uphold your legal standing (etc.).

We are able to initiate legal action if/when necessary, including issuing summons, obtaining default judgments, & securing warrants of execution (etc.), at industry-competitive rates. We collaborate with partners who act swiftly, go beyond the bare minimum, & provide regular updates (etc.). Additionally, we manage every aspect of the legal process, including handling all communication with the lawyer(s) on your behalf.

We have access to a leading credit bureau and global information and insights company, which we use to record default listings. A listing significantly undermines a debtor's creditworthiness and warns other creditors, placing real pressure on the debtor to make payment. This is a service many debt collection agencies do not offer, leaving clients without its benefits or needing to engage a separate provider.