MDAssist misrepresenting their services

My experience with MDAssist has been frustrating and frankly life-altering. It taught me lessons that I feel other people should be aware of so that they can avoid falling into the same trap. Knowledge is power.

MDAssist gave me a call offering me a reduction of interest on my home loan and credit card debt. It should be noted that I have never ever missed a bond repayment and I would have been able to pay off my credit cards within a month. When I mentioned that to them, they said my banks had recommended me for this opportunity to reduce my interest.

When I asked for pros and cons, there told me there were no cons at all. I challenged that statement and they insisted that this is something that is good for me and there will be no repercussions at all for me. Having asked them what's in it for them, they said they are simply contracted as a 3rd party to process the credit reduction and that their role is to bring banks into line as banks are overcharging on interest. Their role, they said, was to help consolidate my payments into one so that I didn't have to make different payments to different institutions.

I also asked what would happen if I changed my mind and wanted to split my payments and pay the banks directly. They said this could be reversed any time. I also asked them if this process has a name so that I could look it up and they said no it doesn't.

It was only after the finalised documents started coming through to me that I learned I was now on 'debt review'. The implications have been negative for me.

Shortly after I understood what had happened, I requested to be taken off this so called consolidation programme and was told that was not possible and I would have to pay off the debt. This was not a problem and I told them I would happily pay the credit card debt immediately as it was not a substantial amount. They told me first I had to pay them R5,700 admin fees in order for them to request settlement quotes from the 2 banks in question so that I could pay it off and they could then clear me.

I paid their fee that same day - instant payment. This was on 19 August 2025. They went quiet. Today is 17 September 2025 and I have been battling to get assistance from them. It has been several weeks or calls, WhatsApps, emails (mostly on my side) with very little engagement from their side. I have since made full payments to the banks (also instant payments) and I still was not being told what next, or where we are in the process.

As a business owner, this debt review status has affected my business and my potential to get certain business contracts. It has also affected my ability to apply for a business credit card (not for credit purposes, but for me to be able to make online payments securely).

Three weeks ago, I was promised a manager would contact me to help me resolve this. This has not happened. I have received a snotty email from [email protected], along with some unhelpful responses from individuals.

Communicating with Yolanda Makubalo, Jo-Anne Bester and Lizeka Makubalo has yielded no fruit. Today, I spoke to Nawall, who promised me that Amelia would call me. She also said that I would have to wait 10-15 days for them to get a response from the banks. This is unacceptable, after almost a month of waiting.

I have communicated with them that I am unhappy with: 1. MDAssist misrepresenting themselves and failing to be transparent about their role - debt review should be clearly stated and explained. 2. Empty promises of being assisted / called back 3. Not receiving a receipt or acknowledgement of receipt of the R5,700 payment. 4. Not being given a clear indication of the process being followed. 5. Being ignored on the WhatsApp messaging line 6. Landline calls rarely being answered

All in all, a very disappoint experience that left a bad taste in my mouth.