Questions to ask before paying for a repayment plan

You're sitting across from someone who's offering to organise your debt into a manageable repayment plan. They sound confident, they've got paperwork ready, and part of you wants to sign immediately just to feel like something's being done. But before you commit money or agree to anything binding, you need to ask questions that will show you whether they understand your situation or are simply moving you along a production line.

The right questions aren't about making small talk. They're about testing whether the person in front of you has actually thought through how your finances work, what happens when life goes sideways, and whether they're offering a plan that fits reality or just a spreadsheet that looks neat. Here's what to push on, and what separates a thoughtful answer from a brush-off.

What happens to my plan if my income drops?

This is your early-warning question. A good advisor will ask *you* what your income looks like, whether it's steady, and what the worst-case month looks like. They'll then talk through flexibility—whether the plan can be adjusted, what the process is, and whether you'll be locked into fixed payments that become impossible if hours get cut or a client disappears.

If they say "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it" or "Your income should stay stable," that's a warning. They're not preparing for reality. In South Africa, where load-shedding affects shifts, seasonal work is common, and retrenchment happens, a plan that only works if nothing changes isn't a plan—it's a wish. A credible advisor will explain that flexibility is built in from the start, and they'll talk about what conversations you'll need to have with creditors if circumstances shift.

How will you work out what I can actually afford each month?

Listen carefully to the answer. Are they asking about your essential costs—rent, food, transport, medicines, school fees? Or are they jumping to a number based on what they think you should be able to squeeze out?

A solid approach involves you walking them through a real month: what actually comes out of your account, what gets paid when, what's left over, and what emergencies tend to pop up. If they're working from a template or a generic percentage of your income, they haven't done the work yet. A good answer sounds like "I'm going to need you to send me your bank statements for the last three months so I can see where the money actually goes" or "Tell me about a month when things went wrong—what happened and how did you cover it?"

Who gets paid, in what order, and why?

This matters because not all debt is the same. Your rent is more urgent than a credit card. Your child's school fees have immediate consequences. Debt counsellors and financial advisors will prioritise differently based on what protects you most. They should be able to explain their reasoning—which debts are non-negotiable, which creditors are most likely to take action, and which can be stretched or settled for less.

If they're vague about the order or say they'll "work it out," ask them to walk you through a specific example using your own debts. A trustworthy answer will acknowledge trade-offs: "Your car loan and rent are non-negotiable because you need transport to work and a roof over your head. Your clothing account and personal loans will be negotiated down or extended, which will cost you interest but keeps you housed and employed."

What are your fees, and how do I know they're fair?

This isn't the same as knowing whether they're cheap. Ask what the fees actually cover, whether they're charged upfront, monthly, or as a percentage of debt reduced. Ask whether fees come out of your money or are added to what you owe. Then compare—not just the number, but what you're getting. Someone expensive who actually listens and builds a workable plan is better value than someone cheap who hands you a generic template and disappears.

Before you commit, you should feel that someone has actually sat with your finances, understood what matters to you, and built something that doesn't pretend your life is simpler than it is. Finding a verified debt counsellor or financial advisor on Strove who's willing to have these conversations properly means you'll spend time upfront and be less likely to end up reworking the plan in six months.