Getting out of debt review
How much does it cost to remove debt review?
By DebtReviewZA editorial team · 6 min read · Updated 30 September 2026
Getting off debt review the lawful way has no separate removal fee. Once your debts are paid, your counsellor issues the clearance certificate, and the NCR's fee list has no charge for the certificate. What you do pay are the normal debt counselling fees and the debts themselves. No court can rescind an order, so no removal service can buy you an early exit.
This page sets out what debt review costs under the NCR fee guideline, what a removal firm might ask for, and the costs that come with the narrow exceptions.
What the certificate itself costs
The NCR fee list has no separate fee for issuing a clearance certificate. Your counsellor issues it once you have paid the debts in your plan, files it with the national register and the credit bureaus, and the bureaus remove the flag. See debt review removal for the steps.
Debt counselling is not free, though. The fees below are for the whole process, and you pay the debts themselves on top of them.
The debt counselling fees you do pay
These are the amounts in the NCR's debt counselling fee guideline. They are before VAT.
| Fee | Amount | When it is due |
|---|---|---|
| Application | R50 | Upfront, in full, before the assessment starts |
| Administration | R300 | Upfront, in full |
| Restructuring | The lower of the distributable amount or R8,000 (R9,000 if married in community of property) | Once-off, in month one, after the restructuring documents are submitted |
| After-care | 5% of the distributable amount, up to R450 | Monthly, after month two |
The distributable amount is what is payable to your credit providers under the initial repayment plan. It is not the same as your instalment.
Other costs can apply. A fee of R500 for submitting to the National Consumer Tribunal appears on the NCR list where a consent order is filed. Attorney fees are not fixed: they are agreed with the attorney and given to you in writing when you apply. Ask your counsellor to list every fee in writing before you sign, and ask for a receipt each time you pay.
Do not pay a removal fee
In March 2022 the NCR said consumers were being charged in excess of R8000 for 'debt review removal', which is not supported by law. In NCR Circular 2 of 2025 it said consumers are asked to pay up to R10 000 upfront and in most instances the status is not removed as claimed.
Under section 126A(3), anyone offering to improve a credit record or remove bureau information may not receive any payment until the service has been fully performed, and must give you a disclosure statement. Most removal firms are not registered with the NCR, so you may have no recourse if they fail. See free debt review removal for more on what is and is not free.
Costs if you leave through an exception
- Magistrate finds you not over-indebted before an order. If the court rejects your application, you remain liable for the counselling fees for work completed and for legal fees under the NCR fee guidelines.
- Changing counsellor. The new counsellor may not charge you again for an application, administration, restructuring or legal fee you have already paid, and unused fees must be refunded. Fees for work already done must be paid before you transfer.
- You never applied. You complain to the NCR. Your counsellor must make available your signed Form 16 or the documents showing when you gave your information.
No court can rescind a granted order, so there is no court fee that gets you out after one.
Handling fees safely
- Do not give your counsellor money to pay your credit providers. Counsellors are not allowed to collect and distribute that money. Pay the credit providers directly or through a registered Payment Distribution Agent.
- You do not have to borrow to pay debt counselling fees.
- Fees prescribe three years after the day they became due, unless legal action was started or you admitted the fee.
- Check that your counsellor is registered with the NCR and ask for their name, place of practice and NCR registration number.
- If you are unhappy with your counsellor's fees or conduct, complain to the NCR on 0860 627 627 or [email protected].
Cost by situation
| Your situation | What it costs |
|---|---|
| Debts paid up | No separate certificate fee; you have paid the debts and the counselling fees |
| Not paid up, before an order | No withdrawal; fees for work done and legal fees if the magistrate rejects the application |
| Not paid up, after an order | No court can rescind the order |
| Changing counsellor | Fees for work done; fees already paid may not be charged again |
| Removal firm quoting a fixed price | The NCR has reported up to R10 000 upfront, and the status is usually not removed |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to remove debt review?
There is no separate fee for the clearance certificate on the NCR's fee list. You pay your normal debt counselling fees and your debts. There is no lawful early removal, and no court can rescind an order.
What are the debt counselling fees?
Under the NCR guideline, before VAT: R50 to apply and R300 for administration, both upfront; a restructuring fee of the lower of the distributable amount or R8,000 (R9,000 if married in community of property) in month one; and after-care of 5% of the distributable amount, up to R450, monthly after month two.
Why do some companies charge thousands to remove debt review?
They are charging for something the law does not allow. The NCR has reported consumers paying up to R10 000 upfront while in most cases the status was not removed. Under section 126A(3), no payment is allowed until the service is fully performed.
Do I pay the NCR to remove debt review?
The NCR's debt counselling fee list has no removal fee. The certificate comes from your counsellor, and the NCR does not phone consumers about their debt review status. Report any caller claiming to be from the NCR.
Does a home loan change the cost?
The fee list has no separate certificate fee either way. A home loan that is up to date can remain when you are cleared, provided all your short-term debts are paid.
Can I ask for a refund if I transfer counsellors?
Unused fees must be refunded when you transfer, and the new counsellor may not charge you again for fees you have already paid. Fees for work actually done must be paid before the transfer.
