THE total number of civil summonses for debt for the three months up to May 1999 increased by 3,9%, according to figures released by Staistics SA on Thursday. Total summonses rose from 393896 in the three months to May 1998 to 409356 this year. However, the total number of civil summonses for debt recorded for the three months up to May 1999, after seasonal adjustment, is 3,1% lower than the preceding three months. Judgments for debt jumped by 21,9% from 196507 to 239457 compared with the corresponding period of a year ago. Furthermore, the total number of civil judgements for debt recorded for the three months up to May 1999, after seasonal adjustment, is 11,8% higher than the preceding three months. The largest contributors to the 3,9% increase in civil summonses for debt were summonses relating to money lent (+27,3%) and goods sold on open account (+10,9%).