The Scorpion Sting will always Strike Back ... Pandemic or not
Nothing could have prepared us for the havoc caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, a time marked by mental, physical, and emotional turmoil, which we are all still recovering from.
An unexpected "new normal" was suddenly upon us, and to survive, both people and companies had to adapt.
Despite all the confusion, our members remained confident, knowing they did not have to add legal concerns to their long list of worries.
Our digital platforms, Facebook and LiveChat, allowed you to communicate with us from home. Our 24-hour legal contact centre meant that our legal counsellors were just a phone call away, 24/7, 365 days a week.
The past two years have taught us that life is unpredictable and comes with challenges, but having a partner like Scorpion Legal Protection to help you navigate life's legal challenges certainly takes some weight off your shoulders.
You probably contribute to your employer's pension fund if you are employed. And like many, this provides much needed comfort and financial security, knowing that when you retire, your pension savings, accumulated during your years of service, will sustain you.
But what happens when you discover that you may not be set up for a happy retirement because your employer has been deducting contributions from your salary, but not paying over the contributions to the fund administrators? This is the harsh reality for many employees in South Africa.
The Pension Funds Act protects the rights of vulnerable workers who may fall victim to such unlawful practices. The Act requires employers to pay over member contributions to the fund within a specified period after deducting them from the member's pay. The Act also imposes harsh penalties and criminal sanctions for those guilty of not doing so.
But even with the above protection, you should take preventative measures to protect yourself from messy situations, which may take years to resolve.
What you can do
- Check your salary advice monthly for pension fund deductions
- Regularly request your benefit statement; it is your right to do so
- Monitor the amounts shown on the statement
- Complain to your employer about any irregularities or question any information that does not seem correct
Our Specialist Pension Funds Department worked tirelessly to assist Thabo* with his pension fund dispute.
After many years of employment, Thabo was dismissed in March 2022. He was unemployed and had no income, but things got worse for him when, to his shock and horror, he discovered that his employer was not paying his provident fund contributions to the fund administrator.
Thabo was in a desperate situation, but he knew that he had Scorpion behind him. He called on Scorpion's Pension Funds specialists for help.
Scorpion immediately contacted the employer, and after long settlement negotiations on Thabo's behalf, the employer agreed to pay him a total amount of R15,948.48, which he has been receiving in regular monthly instalments.
For more information and advice, our Pension Funds Specialist department is available to assist. Contact them immediately by visiting a branch nearest to you, or by contacting us via our 24-hour legal assistance line (0861 333 333), Facebook, Live Chat, or WhatsApp (011) 842 7890.
* Names have been changed to protect our member's identity
It is reckless not to pay your debts or to ignore your creditors. However, sometimes life happens, and you slip up on a payment or two, and the next thing you know, you stop paying your debts altogether.
Creditors may write off your debt, report you to the credit bureaus and never contact you again. However, sometimes you receive calls years later asking you to pay the debt.
What you should know
- Different debts have different prescription periods, e.g. a store account or personal loan will prescribe after three years, and a TV licence or a mortgage bond will prescribe after 30 years.
- If you do not receive a call or letter from the creditor demanding payment, the debt will prescribe after a certain period, and you are no longer obliged to pay it.
- Debt collectors will always try to get you to admit indebtedness or persuade you to pay. If you do, you interrupt prescription and must continue to pay for the debt.
- It is against the law for creditors or debt collectors to try and collect on a prescribed debt.
What to do if debt collectors contact you?
- If you are harassed or asked to pay a debt that you believe has prescribed, you can challenge this.
- Document your communications with the debt collector, and keep the emails or letters as proof.
- If they continue to harass you, they can be reported to the National Credit Regulator.
If you are a member wondering if your debt has prescribed, or worse, if a debt collector is harassing you, visit your nearest branch immediately or contact us via our 24-hour legal assistance line (0861 333 333), Facebook, LiveChat, or WhatsApp (011 842 7890), and our Specialist Personal Finance Department will contact you and give you advice and assistance.
Our commitment to providing the best service possible includes regularly reviewing our branch network.
Here are the changes we've made to our branch network recently:
Rustenburg branch (relocated)
Physical address: Ground Floor, Montana Park Building, Van Alphen Street, Rustenburg CBD
Kokstad Express Branch (relocated)
Physical address: Maxprop estate agents, 123 Hope Street, Kokstad
Apply now! 2023 Scorpion bursaries are still open
Application forms are available at your nearest full-service branch; alternatively, you may visit our website to download them. The closing date for submission of application forms is 04 February 2023.
Remember:
- You can only apply if you are a Scorpion member and your child intends to study for a law degree.
- Your child can only qualify if accepted by a recognised tertiary institution of their choice.
To apply, download the application form here.
*Ts & Cs apply (download the form to view full Ts & Cs). Bursaries are limited and are given at the discretion of Scorpion Legal Protection. Bursaries are awarded to the children of members. Applying does not mean you will get the bursary.
Here is what some of our members have said about us in their own words. Thank you for always encouraging us to go the extra mile.
"I went to Scorpion Legal protection Nelspruit and spoke to my adviser, and the service got me keen to want
more. The Legal Counsellor and the Scorpion team are more than just service providers."
"First, I would like to thank Scorpion Legal Protection for the excellent service they have provided me. A special thank
you to the legal counsellor from the Pretoria branch* who handled my case. May you continue providing excellent
service to your clients. Your dedication and efforts are appreciated. Keep up the brilliant service! I'm sending this
review with much gratitude and appreciation. I would highly recommend him and Scorpion Legal Protection."
"Thank you to the Legal counsellor from Gqeberha* for quickly resolving my pay query. It's always a great pleasure
working with you. Keep up the excellent work..."
*Names of counsellors removed to protect their privacy.
Have you received outstanding service from our staff? Keen to share? Get in touch with our Customer Care department on 0861 333 333 or leave your compliment on our Facebook page.
Don't miss out on critical communications from Scorpion that could affect your membership! Make sure your details are always up to date.
If your contact details have changed, please let us know. You can:
Just in case you missed important news and information we sent to you recently which affects your Scorpion membership, please update yourself here.