Debt review in South Africa
Reduce debt pressure with a legal debt review process
Debt review helps over-indebted South Africans restructure repayments into a more affordable plan. DRC guides you through the process with NCR-registered debt counsellors, clear next steps, and support from the first assessment to your final clearance certificate.
Legal process
Debt review is regulated under the National Credit Act.
NCR-registered help
A qualified counsellor checks whether the process fits your situation.
Affordable plan
Your income, expenses, and debt commitments shape the proposal.
Clear next step
Start with a calculator estimate or a free assessment.
What debt review does
Debt review is for people who have income but cannot keep up with their credit agreements. Instead of trying to survive creditor pressure month by month, the process creates a structured repayment plan that protects essentials and works toward becoming debt-free.
One structured monthly payment instead of juggling many accounts
Legal protection once the process is underway
A repayment plan built around what you can afford
A clear route toward a clearance certificate
Trust proof
Proof points before you start debt review
A visitor should understand why the process is regulated, what happens after they ask for help, and why the first step is an assessment rather than a promise.
NCR-registered process
Debt review support is handled through a regulated South African debt counselling process.
Assessment before promises
A counsellor checks income, expenses, and credit commitments before recommending a route.
Clear next steps
After you submit a form, the next step is a practical assessment and explanation of your options.
Fee and process clarity
Fees, responsibilities, and timelines should be explained before any formal debt review commitment.
Last reviewed: June 2026. DRC should approve any new testimonials, public numbers, or case examples before publishing.
How the DRC debt review process works
Free assessment of income, expenses, and debts
Affordability check and debt review application
Creditors and credit bureaus are notified
A realistic repayment proposal is prepared
Creditors are engaged and the plan is formalised
You pay one affordable monthly amount until clearance
Debt review, counselling, and consolidation are not the same
Debt counselling is the professional service that assesses your situation and manages the debt review process. Debt consolidation is normally a new loan. Debt review restructures your existing debts through a regulated process and is often a better fit when borrowing more money would make the problem worse.
Compare your options
Debt review FAQs
What is debt review?
Debt review is a legal debt relief process in South Africa for over-indebted consumers. A registered debt counsellor assesses your finances and helps restructure payments into a more affordable plan.
Who qualifies for debt review?
You generally need a regular income and must be struggling to keep up with debt repayments. A debt counsellor checks your income, expenses, and credit commitments before confirming whether debt review is the right fit.
Will debt review stop creditor pressure?
Once the process starts and creditors are notified, communication and legal pressure should move through the debt review process rather than direct collection pressure on you.
Can I take new credit under debt review?
No. Debt review is designed to help you recover without taking on more credit. You can apply for credit again once the process is completed and your clearance certificate is issued.
Is debt review the same as debt consolidation?
No. Debt consolidation is usually a new loan. Debt review restructures existing debts through a regulated legal process and does not require you to borrow more money.
How do I start?
Start with a free assessment or use the debt review calculator to understand whether your monthly payments could become more manageable.
Start with a clear answer
Use the calculator or speak to a counsellor so you know whether debt review is the right route.