What to hand a negotiator to prioritise the right debts

You're drowning in multiple debts. Your phone rings constantly. You've missed payments, and you're not sure which creditor to pay first—or whether you can afford to pay any of them right now. The real question isn't just "How do I get help?" It's "What do I actually bring to a negotiator so they know which debts matter most and which ones I can realistically tackle?"

A debt counsellor or negotiator needs specific information from you to prioritise effectively. Handing them the right documents and data at your first meeting saves weeks of back-and-forth and means they can start working on your behalf faster. Here's what that looks like in practice.

Start with a complete debt schedule

Before any negotiator can prioritise, they need to see everything you owe. Write down or print out every debt: credit cards, personal loans, vehicle finance, store accounts, medical bills, and any informal loans from family or other creditors. For each one, note the creditor's name, the original amount borrowed, how much you still owe, the monthly payment you're supposed to make, and how far behind you are (if at all). If you have statements, bring those. If you only have SMS reminders or emails from collectors, those count too.

This list is your foundation. Without it, a negotiator can't see the full picture and might miss a debt that should be tackled first. It also shows the negotiator you're serious and organised, which builds confidence that you'll stick to any arrangement they broker.

Know which debts are urgent and why

Not all debts are equal. Some carry consequences that hit harder and faster than others. Vehicle finance, for example, can lead to repossession if you fall too far behind; home loans carry the risk of foreclosure. Unsecured debts like credit cards and personal loans are painful but less immediately catastrophic. SARS debt or municipal debt can trigger asset seizure or legal action with speed.

Before you sit down with a negotiator, be honest about which debts scare you most and which ones have real teeth. Bring any letters you've received from creditors threatening legal action, repossession, or wage garnishment. A negotiator needs to know this context because it shapes the order in which debts should be tackled. Secured debts with imminent risk usually come first; it's about protecting what you can't afford to lose.

Hand over your income and expense reality

A negotiator can't negotiate a payment plan you can't actually meet. Bring payslips, a copy of your latest bank statement, and an honest list of your monthly expenses: rent or bond, electricity, water, food, transport, insurance, dependents' needs. Don't pad the numbers or hide spending—negotiators work with real figures because creditors will eventually verify them anyway.

This step reveals how much money you actually have left at the end of the month to offer creditors. If it's nothing, your negotiator needs to know that before proposing a settlement. If it's something, they can use it to build a realistic case for reduced payments or write-offs. Creditors are more likely to negotiate when they can see you've genuinely tightened your belt.

Gather any existing correspondence

Bring letters, emails, and SMSs from creditors or collection agencies. If you've already tried to negotiate with anyone, bring records of those conversations too. This shows your negotiator what promises have been made (and broken), which creditors are aggressive versus reasonable, and whether anyone has overstepped into harassment.

The negotiator also needs to know if you're already in a debt review process, have a judgment against you, or are facing court action. These aren't disqualifiers—they're facts that shape the negotiation strategy.

Walking into a negotiator's office with these documents and details signals that you're ready to solve this. You're not just hoping for a miracle; you're bringing the raw material they need to build one. Once they have it, they can start reaching out to your creditors with real numbers and a realistic plan, which dramatically improves the odds of settlements you can actually live with.