Debt review companies
Zero Debt 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
Zero Debt 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 every debt review provider, 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 sets out what Zero Debt does, how the process runs and the honest trade-offs, so you can compare it with other counsellors fairly. We are independent and earn nothing from Zero Debt.
The legal process is identical at every registered firm because it is set by the National Credit Act. The variables are service and fee clarity.
What Zero Debt does
Zero Debt 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. It negotiates reduced instalments and interest and provides the legal protection of debt review.
It is not a lender. Despite the name, Zero Debt does not wipe your debt away - it restructures repayment so you can clear what you owe over time.
How the process works
Zero Debt 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.
Much of this is handled remotely, so location is rarely a barrier.
Zero Debt vs the category norm
| Feature | Zero Debt | 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 |
Zero Debt offers the standard counsellor structure. Compare on service and a clear written fee breakdown.
Fees and downsides
Zero Debt 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 rather than a fixed amount.
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 Zero Debt legit?
Zero Debt operates as a registered debt counsellor with the National Credit Regulator. Verify the registration on the NCR website before committing.
Does Zero Debt cancel my debt?
No. Despite the name, Zero Debt does not erase debt. It restructures your repayments so you can clear what you owe over time.
Does Zero Debt give loans?
No. Zero Debt is a debt counsellor, not a lender. It reduces payments on existing debt rather than giving new credit.
How much does Zero Debt 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 do I contact Zero Debt?
Use the contact details on the official Zero Debt website or their verified NCR listing. We do not publish phone numbers because they change.
How long does Zero Debt 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 Zero Debt 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.
