The shady debt collectors will how ever try to tell you:
That TV Licence debt cannot prescribe because it is a statutory requirement, and/or that it is not a debt because one pays for it in advance and it does not fall under the NCA. (National credit act)
Now both of these arguments is flaunted and must be treated with the disdain it deserves. No where in the prescription act, or in the broadcasting act does it state that TV Licence fees does not prescribe. The fact is, that once a fee or payment becomes due, prescription starts to run. The other fact is, that the NCA define this debt, where you pay in advance but did not pay now you are in arrears, as “coincidental debt” and that brings it right into the cross hairs of the NCA. Prescription is thus applicable and will start to run from the first day after it was due to be paid. In other words, a pre-paid thing becomes a debt if not paid on due date. Then the argument of statutory requirement left the bus completely because many other debts are statutory requirements, such as school fees etc, they all prescribe, if there was no summons issued or no judgement taken against the debtor, and that is it.
Now take this article and go rub it under the noses of those shady debt collectors from the SABC, after all, it is the right thing to do!
