Frequently asked questions

Debt review, also called debt counselling, is a legal process under the National Credit Act. A registered debt counsellor helps you reorganise your debts into one affordable plan that is usually confirmed by a court order.

Debt review is not a loan. It is a way to make your current debt affordable. No new credit is given.

You need to be over indebted and able to make a regular monthly payment that fits your budget. We check this during a free credit assessment.

Most unsecured credit can be included, like credit cards, store accounts and personal loans. Secured credit like a vehicle or a bond can be restructured under the plan. Exact treatment depends on your agreement and court order.

No. While you are under debt review, credit providers must decline new credit. The debt review flag is lifted after your clearance certificate is issued and bureaus are updated.

You pay one amount to a registered Payment Distribution Agent. The PDA pays your credit providers according to the plan. You do not pay the counsellor directly.

It depends on your balances, interest and what you can afford each month. Most plans finish within two to five years. The maximum term is 60 months. Our estimator on the Services page shows how payment and interest change the timeline.

When you finish the plan, your counsellor issues a Form 19 clearance certificate. Credit bureaus remove the debt‑review flag and update your profile.

After you complete the plan we issue a Form 19 clearance certificate and send it to the credit bureaus. They usually update within about 21 business days. Keep the certificate in a safe place. If an update takes longer we can follow up on your behalf.

Fees follow National Credit Regulator guidelines and are built into your plan. You do not pay separate monthly fees outside of the plan.

There are two routes. The simple one is to settle the listed debts and then receive a Form 19 clearance certificate. If your accounts are up to date and you can show that you are no longer over indebted you can ask the court to declare you not over indebted. If the court grants the order the debt review flag can be removed. Speak to us about your case.

Tell us as soon as possible. We can request plan changes and engage your credit providers. The court can confirm variations if needed.

Contact us right away. Missing payments can put the plan at risk. We will work on a recovery step with you and your credit providers.

We can help correct and update your credit record where accounts are paid or information is wrong. We cannot remove accurate unpaid listings. For paid judgments we can help you with the steps to request a rescission through an attorney. Timelines depend on the bureau and the data furnisher, often up to 20 business days after documents are received.

Many unsecured debts can become “prescribed” after three years with no payment, no written acknowledgement and no legal action by the credit provider. This usually does not apply to home loans, court judgments, TV licences or tax, which have longer periods. If you think a debt has prescribed, speak to us first. Do not pay or admit the debt until we have checked the position and helped you send the correct notice.

Our office is in Bothasig, Cape Town. You deal directly with the counsellor from first contact to your clearance certificate. We help clients across South Africa by telephone and offer in person appointments for nearby clients.

We do not notify your employer. They would only know if there is a separate legal process that involves your payroll. Most clients handle debt review privately.

Yes. Keep using your account for income and everyday payments. If you have many debit orders for existing debts it helps to open a low fee savings account and move debit orders that are not debt related to that account. This reduces the risk of a double collection in the first month. Do not use any credit while under review.

After your clearance certificate is issued and the credit bureaus are updated the debt review flag is removed. You can then apply for credit again if you need to.

• ID copy
• Proof of income. Latest payslip if your salary is fixed. If it changes or includes overtime send the latest 3 payslips
• Latest 3 months bank statements
• Recent proof of address
• List of basic monthly expenses
• If married in community of property add your marriage certificate. If married out of community of property with an ANC add the marriage contract
• List of credit providers and balances and any legal notices

Send us a message or WhatsApp. We will do a free credit assessment and explain the next steps. If debt review is right for you, we prepare a proposal and handle the contact with your credit providers.

We collect only what is needed to assess and manage your case. This can include your name and contact details, ID, proof of income, proof of address, bank statements, a list of credit providers and balances, and any legal notices you share with us.

We use your information to do your credit assessment, prepare a proposal, engage with your credit providers, arrange payment through a registered Payment Distribution Agent and finalise the court process where required. We do not sell your information.

Only the parties needed to deliver the service. That can include your credit providers, attorneys or advocates when a court application is needed, the Payment Distribution Agent and the credit bureaus when your clearance certificate is issued.

You can request access, correction or deletion as allowed by POPIA. Please complete the PAIA request form and include it with your request. You can also download the PDF. Contact us at [email protected] or see our Privacy & POPIA page for the process.

See our Privacy & POPIA page. Our PAIA manual is also available to view or download on the same page.