Any person can lodge a complaint in which the consumer is a natural person and in certain instances, if the consumer is a juristic person (e.g. company, partnership) or a trust with the necessary authority. Complaints may include complaints against any institution offering credit, against a debt counsellor, a PDA or a credit bureau provided the NCR has jurisdiction. Only persons with a written consent may lodge a complaint on behalf of another person. Consumers are encouraged to first lodge a dispute with the relevant credit providers, debt counsellors or credit bureaus before referring the matter to the NCR.