We are fighting to give you more for less!
We appreciate your loyal membership, and we are always finding new ways to give you more while still having one of the most competitive premiums in the market. This is why over time, we have added the following value-added services to our policies:
- Once you have paid your first premium, access to our in-house paralegal counsellors to protect you and your immediate family.
- In our Paralegal Services division, we launched various specialist departments to advise and assist members on those legal matters that require specialist legal expertise, for example, finance, insurance, property, contracts, and uncontested divorces. We will continue to open more specialist departments as and when the need arises.
- A Legal Expenses Accidental Death (LEAD) benefit for main members on all our policies.
- A Tax Assist department with qualified tax practitioners to help you with your personal income tax.
- A partnership with Families South Africa (FAMSA) to provide social work counselling services (for example, marriage and divorce counselling, grief and trauma counselling).
- Free last wills and testaments.
- A Total and Temporary Disablement and Retrenchment premium waiver benefit of 12 months if you are retrenched or injured and unable to pay your premiums.
Again, we thank you, our valued member, for choosing Scorpion Legal Protection. We strive to continue putting you first and making sure that you are legally protected and STRIKING BACK LEGALLY!
Personal income tax worries? Scorpion’s tax service has qualified tax practitioners at hand for you.
There’s a lot of uncertainty about taxes. What can you claim for? Must you file your taxes at all? What about the auto-assessments from SARS – can you just accept these?
* As part of Platinum and Policy A membership, Scorpion’s registered and qualified tax practitioners can help you ensure that your taxes are done right, and that you’re not under- or over-paying on your taxes and there are no nasty surprises from the tax man later along the line. And if you do have to deal with SARS later on, Scorpion is here to help you.
As a valued member, you have access to the Scorpion tax service*. Our team of qualified tax practitioners in the Personal Income Tax specialist department are ready to assist you. Please do not hesitate to contact us via our 24-hour legal assistance line (0861 333 333), or through Facebook, LiveChat, or WhatsApp on 011 842 7890.
* Scorpion’s tax help desk is available to our Platinum & Policy A members*. Our registered tax practitioners can ensure that your taxes are done right, and that there are no nasty surprises from the tax man later along the line. And even if there are, as long as your policy with us is active, we will be there to help. Let Scorpion do your taxes for you. Click here to find out more.
* Platinum members qualify for advice and assistance. Policy A members qualify for advice only.
BEWARE!
SARS auto assessments aren't as easy as they appear!
What is an auto-assessment?
An auto-assessment is an automatic assessment issued by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to certain taxpayers. SARS uses information from employers, financial institutions, health schemes, and retirement plan administrators to automatically assess you without your input.
Why has SARS introduced the auto-assessment process?
It eliminates the need for taxpayers to visit SARS branches to file their tax returns.
How will you know if you have been auto-assessed?
SARS will send you an SMS informing you that an auto-assessment has taken place or you will receive an SMS notifying you that an IT34 assessment has been issued.
Should I accept the outcome of the auto-assessment?
It is not recommended you just accept the auto-assessment. In some cases, your auto-assessment may be inaccurate or incomplete. Accepting the outcome of the auto-assessment could result in you owing tax or receiving a refund that is not correct (and then having to pay it back later). Rather check your assessment.
You have been auto-assessed. What now?
You have 40 working days to review your auto-assessment. If you do not take action within this timeframe, the auto-assessment will become your final assessment and it will be very difficult to correct your tax return later.
Most importantly, if your assessment is incorrect based on additional information declared to SARS after you have been auto-assessed, you may find yourself owing SARS and also being penalised for not declaring your total income earned. It remains your responsibility to ensure that you accurately report all your income earned and deductions made during the tax year in question.
Stop! Before you sign your rental agreement, or any contract for that matter, you must check carefully to make sure hidden costs haven’t been snuck into the fine print. Besides the actual agreed-on rental amount, there could be a number of additional costs written into your rental agreement.
Some things to look out for:
Estate agent’s fees
Some estate agents ask an admin fee, a fee for doing the pre-inspection, a fee for doing the credit check on you, and a contract fee on top of the deposit and one month’s rent for the first month. Make sure you are aware of exactly how much you will be expected to pay in the first month, or you could be surprised by unexpected costs.
Moving out costs
There may be costs involved when you move out, for example, if the landlord or agent specifies that you must have carpets professionally cleaned when you leave. The agent/landlord may not have told you about these costs, but if it’s in the rental agreement, then you are liable for them.
Repair costs
Check what repairs are included in the rent. The landlord is typically responsible for making large repairs, like a burst geyser, but may hold you responsible for small repairs like a leaking tap or a loose cabinet door.
Early termination costs
Make sure you know how many months’ notice you need to give and check if there are any reductions in your security deposit for early termination.
As a valued Scorpion member, we can help you with interpreting and vetting contracts through our Contract Specialist department. Please do not hesitate to contact us via our 24-hour legal assistance line (0861 333 333), or through Facebook, LiveChat, or WhatsApp (011 842 7890.)
Scorpion looks after your legal needs, but what about your mental wellbeing? We care about you, which is why, through our Community Connection programme, we have partnered with FAMSA (Families South Africa) to give you and your family access to social worker services for FREE.
What can FAMSA help you with?
- Marital and divorce counselling
- Mediation
- Personal growth, assertiveness, and stress management
- Grief and trauma counselling
- Conflict resolution
Want to use this service?
Step 1: Arrange a consultation with a Scorpion legal counsellor and tell them what you need assistance with.
How you can do this:
- Call 0861 333 333
- Visit one of our nationwide branches
- Use LiveChat, the pop-up chat box on our website www.scorpion.biz
- Send us a message on our Facebook page
- WhatsApp us on 011 842 7890
Step 2: Your legal counsellor will refer your matter to our Community Connection department, who will assess whether or not FAMSA can assist.
Step 3: If FAMSA can assist, your case will be referred to them and they will contact you and appoint a social worker in your area to assist with your case.
Step 4: FAMSA's services will be offered face-to-face (alone or in a group) or through telephone calls.
Membership terms, conditions and limitations apply.
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR 2023 BURSARY APPLICATIONS
From 1 October 2022, you will be able to get a bursary application at your nearest full-service branch. We may also send you a link to our bursary application form in the next newsletter. Applications will close on 15 January 2023.
Remember, you can only apply if you are a paid-up Scorpion member and your child intends to study a law course or law degree in 2023 and has been accepted by a recognised tertiary institution of their choice. Bursaries are awarded to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who performed well academically.
Ts & Cs apply. Bursaries are limited and are given at the discretion of Scorpion Legal Protection. Bursaries are awarded to children of members. Applying does not mean you will get the bursary.
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:
Welkom
Converted to an express branch on 1 October 2021
De Wet Wepener Inc
13 De Kaap Street, Welkom, 9459
Witbank
Converted to an express branch on 1 October 2021
Ngomana & Associates Attorneys
Cnr Mandela & Jellico Streets, eMalahleni (Witbank), 1039
Mahikeng
Converted to an express branch on 1 February 2021
Van Rooyen, Tlhapi, Wessels Inc
2867 Legatus House, 9 Proctor Street, Mahikeng
Potchefstroom
New express branch opened on 1 April 2021
Imraan Kaka Attorneys
3 Owen Street, Potchefstroom, North West Province
Mthatha
New express branch opened on 1 June 2022
S Booi and Sons Attorneys
Suite 3, Clublink Building, 28 Madeira Street, Mthatha
Port Shepstone
Relocated to new offices on 1 March 2022
Nonjabulo Moleele Attorneys
Section 4, Bona Sera Building, 21 Price Street, Port Shepstone
MULTIPLE SERVICE POINTS
If you prefer face-to-face consultations, you can visit our legal counsellors at any of our nationwide full-service branches. We have express branches in outlying areas to take down your matter or send documents through to our legal counsellors.
View our list of full-service branches here.
View a list of our express branches here.
In addition, you can access Scorpion's legal counsellors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through our legal call centre on 0861 333 333. You can also reach them through our website, WhatsApp (011 842 7890), or Facebook page.
If a legal counsellor cannot resolve your matter, your claim will be assessed for cover and may be referred to our network lawyers.
Don't miss important 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 use the following link to update yourself: https://www.scorpion.biz/2022-latest-news.aspx
We're always delighted when our clients take the time to say nice things about us, but what makes it even better is when those compliments are not just about what we do, but how we do it. Your compliments inspire us to try even harder.
These extracts are from mail from actual members and written in their own words.
A well-known bank was after me for a loan account that had been paid up. Scorpions appointed a Scorpion legal counsellor from the Durban branch* to handle the case. After a tortuous legal engagement, the bank has finally sent me a paid-up letter. Thank you, Scorpion. Your sting is strong.
I was assisted by a Scorpion legal counsellor from the Pretoria branch* with a very a big smile and she showed a lot of professionalism and has made me feel calm during this difficult time.
Thank you, Scorpion legal counsellor from the Durban branch*. Thanks to you I have received a new fridge much better than the one I had, they thought they could bully me not knowing I have Scorpion on my side, I would recommend anyone to join.
*Names of legal counsellors changed to protect identity.