Boodle Language Policy

In terms of the National Credit Act, 34 of 2005:

⦁ Introduction

• Boodle (Pty) Ltd (BOODLE) enters into credit agreements with consumers which are regulated by the National Credit Act (NCA) and is a credit provider in terms of section one (1) of the NCA;
• BOODLE is a registered credit provider with the National Credit Regulator (NCR), in compliance with section 40 of the NCA, with effect from the 03 November 2011 (registration date) under registration number NCRCP5361;
• The NCR had registered BOODLE as a credit provider on the registration date, subject to general and specific conditions which required, inter alia, a language policy proposal to be sent to the NCR by BOODLE within twelve (12) months of registration which met the requirements envisaged in section 63 of the NCA (“Annexure A”);
• This document therefore sets out the proposed language policy adopted by BOODLE, for approval by the NCR, in compliance with the Specific Condition B1 detailed in the “Conditions of Registration as A Credit Provider in Terms of Section 48 of The National Credit Act” (Annexure A).

⦁ Proposed Language Policy

⦁ Acknowledgement of a consumer’s rights under the NCA

• A consumer has the right to request and receive any documentation, which pertains to a credit agreement and required in terms of the NCA (documentation), in an official language of their choice;
• A consumer may choose to receive this documentation in one of the following four (4) official languages: ⦁ English, ⦁ Afrikaans, ⦁ Sesotho, or ⦁ isiZulu
• In the exercise of good business practise, BOODLE is required to ensure that the documentation is available in at least two (2) of the official languages recognised in terms of section 63 of the NCA.
• BOODLE’s language policy must have a reasonable regard of the needs and preferences of the population it ordinarily serves to the extent that it balances the predominant language usage and regional circumstances together with practicality and expense of serving those consumers’ needs and preferences;
• It is generally accepted that it is not practical and is too expensive to produce our documentation in all eleven (11) official languages;

⦁ Policy Statement and Proposal in Terms of Section 63 of the NCA

• BOODLE’s products and services are available throughout the Republic of South Africa;
• BOODLE will communicate with its customers in English by default, being the recognised and accepted language of commerce, politics and law in South Africa;
• In the ordinary course of business, BOODLE’s customers will now have the opportunity to choose from four (4) official language preferences, namely English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, isiZulu:
  • The Pre-agreement statement and Quotation in terms of Section 92 of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005
  • The Credit Loan Agreement for Small credit Agreements in terms of Section 92 of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005.
  • Monthly Loan Statement.
  • Debt Enforcement Notices (Section 129).
  • General customer interactions, which includes emails and/or telephonic conversations.
• BOODLE’s customer services centre and internal collection agents are staffed with personnel that, jointly, have the ability to communicate in any of the said four chosen national languages
• Apart from the customers’ ability to seek explanation of documents from call centre staff, the customer may advise BOODLE that they elect to receive documents in one (1) of the languages referred to above via email from support@boodle.co.za,

⦁ Implementation Plan for Language Policy

Item

Implementation Date

Pre-agreement Statement & Quotation and Credit Loan Agreements in terms of Section 92 of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005

01 June 2024

Loan Statements

01 June 2024

Enforcement Notice (including Section 129 Notice)

01 June 2024

Marketing and Advertising

01 June 2024

General Written Correspondence

Currently Available

General customer interactions

Currently Available