• We assess your income, household expenses, credit agreements and outstanding debts to understand your financial position.
• Your debt counsellor determines whether you may be over-indebted and whether debt review may be appropriate for your circumstances.
• If you proceed with debt review, your financial circumstances are used to develop a repayment proposal based on what you can reasonably afford after essential living expenses.
• The proposed arrangement considers your eligible credit agreements and overall financial position.
• Your relevant credit providers and credit bureaus are notified when your debt review application proceeds.
• Your debt counsellor manages the assessment and restructuring process in accordance with the National Credit Act.
• Your debt counsellor works with the relevant credit providers to establish a repayment arrangement based on your assessed affordability.
• Depending on the circumstances, the restructuring may involve changes to repayment terms or interest rates.
• Where required, the proposed repayment arrangement is submitted for consideration by the appropriate court.
• Where the relevant requirements are met, the agreement can become legally binding through a court or consent order, providing the applicable legal protections under the debt review process.
• You make one structured monthly payment through a registered Payment Distribution Agency (PDA).
• The PDA distributes the payment to your participating credit providers according to the applicable repayment arrangement.
• Once the applicable debts have been settled and the requirements for completing debt review have been met, your debt counsellor can issue a Debt Review Clearance Certificate (Form 19).
• The relevant credit bureaus are then notified so that your debt review status can be updated.
Debt Rescue provides debt review services to consumers across South Africa, with online and in-person consultations available.
Our services support consumers in major centres including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Kempton Park, Durban and other areas across the country.
Whether you prefer to begin your assessment online or arrange an in-person consultation where available, you can access support from NCR-registered debt counsellors and a team experienced in helping South Africans manage over-indebtedness.
What is debt review?
Debt review is a formal debt-relief process under South Africa’s National Credit Act (NCA) for consumers who are over-indebted and unable to meet their credit obligations as they become due.
A registered debt counsellor assesses your financial circumstances, including your income, living expenses and credit agreements, to determine whether you are over-indebted and whether debt review is appropriate.
If you qualify, your eligible debts can be restructured into a repayment arrangement based on your assessed affordability.
Debt review does not eliminate your debts. Instead, it provides a structured way to repay them while helping you manage your monthly financial obligations.
How does debt review protect me from creditors?
Debt review can provide legal protection associated with the process, helping qualifying consumers manage their debts without the same pressure of dealing with multiple creditors individually.
The nature and duration of these protections depend on the stage of the process and compliance with the applicable repayment arrangement. Maintaining your agreed repayments is therefore an important part of remaining protected.
Debt Review vs Debt Counselling
Debt counselling and debt review are closely connected, but they refer to different aspects of the process.
Debt counselling is the professional service provided by a registered debt counsellor, including assessing your financial circumstances and assisting with debt-relief options.
Debt review is the formal process under the National Credit Act through which qualifying over-indebted consumers can have eligible debts assessed and restructured into a repayment arrangement.
*Debt review is not a debt write-off or a new loan. It is a regulated process that restructures the repayment of eligible debts while you work towards becoming debt free.
For a detailed explanation of the formal process, see our Debt Review Guide
Debt review may be an option if you are struggling to meet your monthly credit obligations and your income is no longer sufficient to cover your living expenses and debt repayments.
However, debt review is not suitable for every financial situation. Before applying, it is important to understand both the benefits and implications of entering the process.
While under debt review:
• You generally cannot obtain new credit.
• Your credit profile reflects that you are under debt review.
• You are required to maintain the agreed repayment arrangement.
• Your debts remain your responsibility and are not written off.
• The process continues until the applicable debts have been settled and the requirements for completion have been met.
A registered debt counsellor can assess your circumstances and explain whether debt review may be appropriate for you.
Who Is Eligible for Debt Review?
Debt review is intended for consumers who are over-indebted and unable to meet their credit obligations as they become due.
You may need to consider debt review if:
• Your monthly debt repayments have become difficult to manage.
• Your income does not comfortably cover your essential living expenses and credit obligations.
• You have multiple credit agreements with different providers.
• You are struggling to keep up with your monthly repayments.
• You need professional assistance to assess your financial position and debt-relief options.
An NCR-registered debt counsellor will assess your individual circumstances to determine whether you are over-indebted and whether debt review is appropriate.
Can Unemployed Individuals Qualify?
Each application is assessed according to the consumer’s individual financial circumstances. Your income, expenses, debts and ability to make a repayment are considered when determining whether debt review is appropriate.
Online Debt Review Application
You can start your debt review journey online with Debt Rescue through a free, no-obligation assessment.
Our team will assess your financial circumstances and explain the next steps if debt review may be appropriate for you.
• How Payments Work
Once your repayment arrangement is in place, you make a structured monthly payment through a registered Payment Distribution Agency (PDA).
The PDA distributes the payment to participating credit providers according to the applicable repayment arrangement, simplifying the management of multiple debt repayments.
• What Happens If I Miss a Payment?
Maintaining your agreed repayments is important throughout debt review. If you experience a financial emergency or believe you may struggle to make a payment, contact your debt counsellor as soon as possible so that you can understand your options.
• Budgeting Support
Your repayment arrangement is designed around your assessed affordability, taking essential living expenses into account. Your debt counsellor and support team can help you understand your repayment obligations and manage your debt review journey.
Debt review operates within the framework of South Africa’s National Credit Act (NCA) and must be facilitated by an NCR-registered debt counsellor.
The process can provide qualifying consumers with legal protections relating to creditor action and the restructuring of eligible debts. The extent of these protections depends on the circumstances and stage of the debt review process, as well as compliance with the applicable repayment arrangement.
Debt Rescue works with NCR-registered debt counsellors to guide consumers through the assessment, restructuring and repayment process.
For more information about finding a registered debt counsellor, see our How to Find a Registered NCR Debt Counsellor in South Africa article.
• Experienced NCR-Registered Debt Counsellors
Debt Rescue has over 18 years of experience helping South Africans navigate debt counselling and debt review.
Annaline van der Poel is a registered debt counsellor associated with Debt Rescue. She has been registered with the National Credit Regulator since 2008 under NCRDC595 and is a Full Member of the Debt Counsellors Association of South Africa (DCASA 0976).
Neil Roets, Debt Rescue’s Founder and CEO, has also been an NCR-registered debt counsellor since 2008. His background includes an LLB, qualifications as a Notary Public and Conveyancer, and qualification as a Solicitor in England and Wales.
• Personalised Support
Every consumer’s financial circumstances are different. Debt Rescue assesses your income, expenses, credit agreements and overall financial position to help establish an appropriate repayment arrangement.
• Dedicated Relationship Manager
Debt Rescue clients also have access to a dedicated Relationship Manager, providing a consistent point of contact throughout their debt review journey.
Your Relationship Manager can help you understand your next steps, navigate questions and access the support you need throughout the process.
• Nationwide Access
Debt Rescue provides debt review support to consumers across South Africa, with online and in-person consultation options available.
• Industry Recognition
Debt Rescue has also received recognition through the annual South African Debt Review Awards. In 2025, Debt Rescue was listed among the Top 5 National+ Debt Counselling Practices.
If you are struggling to manage your monthly debt repayments, a free assessment can help you understand your financial position and whether debt review may be appropriate for you.
Start your free, no-obligation Debt Review Assessment today and take the first step towards a structured repayment plan.
