Debt review companies
Debt Care review
By Lerato Molefe · 5 min read · Updated 24 June 2026
- Type
- NCR-registered debt counsellor
- Service
- Full debt review under the National Credit Act
- Free assessment
- Yes
- Online portal
- Varies
- How they are paid
- Regulated NCR fees added to your monthly payment
- Contact
- Via their official website and NCR-registered details
Debt Care is an NCR-registered debt counsellor in South Africa offering free debt assessments, a single reduced monthly payment and negotiation with your creditors, but, as with all debt review, the debt review flag sits on your credit profile while active, you cannot take new credit and regulated fees are added to your repayment.
This review explains what Debt Care does, how the process works and the trade-offs, so you can compare it with other counsellors. We are independent and earn nothing from Debt Care. Note that Debt Care is a separate thing from the Standard Bank Debt Care Centre, which is a bank unit.
The legal process is the same at every registered firm because it follows the National Credit Act. The differences are service and fee transparency.
What Debt Care does
Debt Care is a debt counsellor. It assesses whether you are over-indebted, restructures your debt into one affordable monthly payment and has it distributed to your creditors by a registered agency, with the legal protection of debt review.
It is not a lender, and it is not the same as the Standard Bank Debt Care Centre, which is an internal bank team.
How the process works
Debt Care follows the standard legal steps: a free affordability assessment, an application notifying creditors and bureaus, a restructured plan confirmed by court where required, then one monthly payment until your debts are cleared and a clearance certificate is issued.
Most of the process can be handled remotely.
Debt Care vs the category norm
| Feature | Debt Care | Typical NCR debt counsellor |
|---|---|---|
| NCR-registered | Yes | Yes |
| Free assessment | Yes | Usually yes |
| Online portal | Varies | Varies |
| Court-confirmed plan | Yes | Yes |
| Single monthly payment | Yes | Yes |
| Clearance certificate | Yes | Yes |
Debt Care offers the standard counsellor structure. Compare on service and clear fees.
Fees and downsides
Debt Care charges the regulated fees from the NCR guidelines: an application or restructuring fee, a legal fee, a monthly aftercare fee and the distribution agency fee, added to your monthly payment. Fees scale with your debt, so we give ranges.
The downsides apply to every provider: the debt review flag while active, no new credit, fees off your monthly payment and a process that can take years. The benefit is one affordable payment and protection from legal action.
Frequently asked questions
Is Debt Care legit?
Debt Care operates as a registered debt counsellor with the National Credit Regulator. Verify the registration on the NCR website before committing.
Is Debt Care the same as the Standard Bank Debt Care Centre?
No. Debt Care is an independent debt counsellor. The Standard Bank Debt Care Centre is an internal bank unit that handles Standard Bank accounts only.
How does Debt Care work?
It assesses your affordability, files a debt review application, negotiates reduced instalments and collects one monthly payment distributed to your creditors until your debts are cleared.
Does Debt Care give loans?
No. Debt Care is a debt counsellor, not a lender. It restructures existing debt rather than giving new credit.
How much does Debt Care charge?
Fees follow NCR guidelines and scale with your debt: an application fee, a legal fee, a monthly aftercare fee and a distribution fee, all added to your monthly payment.
How long does Debt Care debt review take?
Unsecured debt usually clears in three to five years, while a bond can extend it. A clearance certificate follows once everything except a running home loan is settled.
Can I cancel Debt Care debt review?
After a court grants the order you cannot just stop. You complete the plan or apply formally for removal, usually by proving you are no longer over-indebted.
