How to check a negotiator gets settlements in writing

A negotiator who won't document what they've achieved with your creditors is not protecting your interests—they're protecting themselves from accountability. Before you hire anyone to negotiate on your behalf, you need a clear system to verify that settlements they claim to have reached actually exist in writing.

Request a settlement letter for every creditor contact

The only proof that matters is a letter or email from the creditor themselves confirming the terms of any agreement. When a negotiator tells you they've struck a deal—whether it's a payment plan, a reduced lump sum, or a portion forgiven—ask them to provide the creditor's written confirmation within five working days. A legitimate negotiator will have this as standard practice because they know settlements only stick when both sides have signed off. If they hand you a letter from *themselves* summarizing what the creditor supposedly agreed to, that is not the same thing. Push back and ask for the creditor's letterhead, not a summary.

Insist on copies before you pay anything new

Never pay an upfront fee or make a first payment to a creditor based on a verbal promise or the negotiator's notes. The settlement letter should arrive before money moves. This protects you from situations where a negotiator claims a deal exists but the creditor has no record of it, leaving you in breach anyway and now out of pocket. Request that settlement letters are addressed to you personally, or at minimum copied to you with the creditor's signature or official email confirmation. If the negotiator resists providing this, walk away.

Check the negotiator is registered and insured

Debt counsellors registered with the National Credit Regulator (NCR) are legally bound to maintain written records of agreements and to act in your interest. Ask for their NCR registration number and verify it on the NCR's public register. If they're not registered as a debt counsellor, ask what their legal standing is—some negotiators operate as attorneys or as part of financial advisory firms, and these should have their own professional credentials. Request proof of professional indemnity insurance, which covers you if they fail to document a settlement properly or if a creditor later disputes the terms. A reputable negotiator will provide this without hesitation.

Speak to previous clients about what they received

When you ask for references, don't just tick the box that someone answered their phone. Ask the previous client these specific questions: Did the negotiator give you a written settlement letter from each creditor? Did it arrive before you paid anything? Were there any disputes later where the creditor denied the terms, and if so, how did the letter help settle it? Did the negotiator keep you updated in writing throughout, or only verbally? Ask the reference to describe the actual settlement letter they received—what it said, who signed it, whether it was on the creditor's official letterhead. If references are vague or say they can't remember what was in the letters, be cautious.

Keep your own paper trail from day one

Request that all communication from the negotiator to you is in writing—email, not WhatsApp. If they give you verbal updates, follow up with an email summarizing what they said and asking them to confirm or correct it. This creates a record of what they promised and when. Once settlement letters arrive, file them carefully and cross-reference them against your original debt statements to confirm the creditor names, account numbers, and amounts match. If a settlement says you owe R5,000 but your original statement said R7,500, clarify the difference in writing before you agree to anything.

A negotiator worth paying will understand that written proof is not a courtesy—it's the only thing that protects both of you. On Strove, you can compare verified debt counsellors and negotiators who are transparent about their process and willing to show you their track record in writing.