Debt review removal companies: be careful

There are two legitimate ways the debt review flag comes off your profile. The first is finishing the process: once your debts (except a still-running home loan) are settled, your counsellor issues a clearance certificate and the credit bureaus remove the flag. The second is exiting early, which generally requires showing a court that you are no longer over-indebted, before a final order is granted.

Neither route is an instant, paid switch. A removal company cannot legally make the flag vanish overnight, and [free debt review removal](/debt-counselling/free-debt-review-removal/) of an incorrect flag is often possible by dealing with the bureaus directly.

Many people search for how much it costs to remove debt review. The honest answer is that there is no fixed Rand figure, and in several situations the cost can be little or nothing:

• If the flag is incorrect or out of date, you can dispute it with the credit bureau for free.
• If you have finished the process, your clearance certificate should come at no extra charge beyond your agreed fees.
• Early exit may involve a legal or court application, which has costs, but be wary of firms inflating these.

Lawyers that remove debt review and removal companies can help in genuine disputes, but get any fee in writing first.

Be cautious of any debt review removal company that:

• Guarantees to clear your name in days for a flat upfront fee.
• Claims it can remove a valid, active debt review flag without finishing the process or a court order.
• Pressures you to pay before explaining the legal basis.
• Will not show its NCR registration or legal credentials.

These promises often cannot be kept. In the worst cases, you pay for nothing, or the firm leaves your accounts exposed by quietly cancelling protection without a proper plan.

Before paying a removal company, try the free or low-cost steps:

1. Check your credit report for an incorrect or outdated debt review flag.
2. Dispute any error directly with the credit bureau, which is free.
3. If you have finished paying, ask your counsellor for your clearance certificate.
4. If you genuinely qualify to exit early, get independent advice on the court route before paying a third party.

Many people do not need a paid removal company at all, especially where the issue is simply a flag that should already have fallen away.

Under the National Credit Act you have the right to accurate credit information, to a clearance certificate once you complete debt review, and to dispute errors with the bureaus for free. No one can lawfully charge you to remove a flag that the bureau should clear at no cost.

If a removal company misleads you or a creditor mishandles your information, escalate to the National Financial Ombud (NFO), which absorbed the Credit Ombud in 2024. Complaints about a debt counsellor go to the National Credit Regulator (NCR).