Writing a hardship letter
A hardship letter asks a creditor to restructure what you owe. The ones that work are short, specific and unemotional — they give the person reading it something they can approve without escalating.
State the account number and your identifying details at the top so it can be actioned without a search.
Explain what changed, briefly and factually: reduced hours, retrenchment, illness, a death in the family. One or two sentences. Attach evidence if you have it.
Make a specific offer: an amount, a start date and a duration. "R450 a month for six months from 25 September" is something a person can approve. A request for consideration is not.
Say what happens afterwards — when you expect to resume full instalments — and ask for written confirmation of the arrangement, including how interest and bureau reporting will be handled during it.
Send it before you default, and keep a copy. If the creditor later takes enforcement steps, a documented attempt to arrange payment matters.
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Page last checked 10 August 2026. Statutory caps and lender terms change — confirm anything you intend to rely on with the provider or the National Credit Regulator. Found something wrong? Tell us and we will correct it.