Getting out of debt review
How to cancel debt review
By Lerato Molefe · 6 min read · Updated 24 June 2026
To cancel debt review, the route depends on timing: before a magistrate's court has granted the section 87 order you can withdraw your application through your counsellor fairly easily, but after the order is granted you generally need a court application to rescind it, usually with proof that you are no longer over-indebted, since you cannot simply stop paying.
Cancelling debt review is a serious step - it removes your legal protection from creditors - so be sure it is the right choice.
This page explains how cancellation works at each stage, what it costs and what happens to your protection when you cancel.
Before a court order: withdrawing
If your debt review has not yet reached a magistrate's court order, cancelling is relatively straightforward. You tell your counsellor you wish to withdraw, and the application can be stopped. The bureaus are notified to remove the debt-review flag.
Be aware that withdrawing means your creditors can resume normal collection, including legal action, since you lose the section 88 protection. Make sure you can handle your repayments before you cancel.
After a court order: rescinding
Once the court has granted the order, you cannot simply cancel. You generally need a formal court application to rescind or withdraw the order. The court will usually want evidence that:
- You are no longer over-indebted, or
- Debt review was granted in error or no longer applies.
This needs legal help, costs attorney fees and is not guaranteed. The court protects creditors too, so it will not lightly release you from a binding plan.
What cancelling costs you
Cancelling has two kinds of cost:
- Money: withdrawing before a court order is cheap; rescinding after a court order means legal fees.
- Protection: the moment you cancel, you lose your shield against legal action and repossession on the debts that were in the plan.
Weigh both. If you are still over-indebted, cancelling can leave you worse off than staying in the plan to its clearance certificate.
Cancel vs finish: which is better?
| Cancel debt review | Finish debt review | |
|---|---|---|
| Credit flag | Removed on withdrawal/rescission | Removed via clearance certificate |
| Legal protection | Lost immediately | Kept until you are debt-free |
| Cost | Legal fees if after court order | Cost of the certificate |
| Debt | Still owed in full on original terms | Restructured and paid off |
If you can genuinely afford your original payments again, cancelling may suit you. If not, finishing the plan is usually safer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I cancel debt review?
Before a court order, withdraw your application through your counsellor. After the order, you generally need a court application to rescind it, usually with proof you are no longer over-indebted. You cannot just stop paying.
Can I cancel debt review after the court order?
Only by applying to court to rescind the order, typically with legal help and evidence that you can now meet your obligations. The court will not release you lightly from a binding plan.
Can I cancel my debt review if I change my mind?
If no court order has been granted yet, you can withdraw fairly easily through your counsellor. After a court order, cancellation needs a court application. Remember you lose your legal protection when you cancel.
What happens if I just stop paying debt review?
Do not do this. Stopping payments does not cancel debt review; it can lead to creditors resuming action and your counsellor terminating the arrangement, leaving you exposed. Use the proper withdrawal or rescission route.
Does cancelling debt review remove the flag?
Withdrawing before a court order, or successfully rescinding the order, leads to the flag being removed. But you then lose your protection from creditors and still owe the debts in full on the original terms.
Is it better to cancel or finish debt review?
If you can genuinely afford your original instalments again, cancelling may suit you. If you are still over-indebted, finishing the plan to its clearance certificate is usually safer and cheaper.
