Getting out of debt review
How to remove debt review from your credit report
By DebtReviewZA editorial team · 5 min read · Updated 24 June 2026
To remove debt review from your credit report, you finish paying the debts in your plan and have your registered counsellor issue a Form 19 clearance certificate, which the counsellor sends to all credit bureaus, and the bureaus then remove the debt-review flag from your profile (which the NCR circular gives the bureaus three working days to do after the Debt Help System is updated).
The flag is a status marker, not a default, so removing it is about completing the process correctly rather than disputing a listing.
This page explains the removal mechanism, the timeline and how to confirm the bureaus have actually done it.
How removal works
The debt-review flag on your credit report is removed through a defined chain:
- You become paid up on the debts in your plan.
- Your counsellor issues the Form 19 clearance certificate within seven days.
- The counsellor notifies the NCR and all registered credit bureaus.
- Each bureau removes the debt-review flag (the NCR circular gives them three working days after the Debt Help System update).
You cannot remove it yourself by disputing it, because it is a true reflection of your status until you finish.
What you can and cannot dispute
You cannot simply dispute the debt-review flag while you are genuinely under debt review - it is accurate. What you can do is:
- Ensure the flag is removed once you are paid up and the certificate is issued.
- Dispute a flag that remains after your clearance certificate, because at that point it is incorrect.
- Dispute a flag you never caused, if you never applied for debt review: ask the counsellor for your signed Form 16 and complain to the NCR, which can find that you did not apply.
For genuine errors, lodge a dispute with the bureau and escalate to the NCR if needed.
Timeline for removal
| Step | Timing |
|---|---|
| Counsellor issues Form 19 | Within 7 days of you being paid up |
| Counsellor files certificate with bureaus | Within seven days of issuing it |
| Bureaus remove the flag | Three working days after the Debt Help System update (NCR circular) |
If the flag is still on your report well beyond this, follow up.
Confirming and escalating
Once your counsellor confirms filing, pull a free credit report and check the flag is gone. If it is still there:
- Contact the bureau with a copy of your clearance certificate.
- Ask your counsellor to re-notify the bureaus.
- If unresolved, complain to the NCR about the counsellor at [email protected], or raise a bureau complaint with the National Financial Ombud if the credit provider is at fault.
Keep your clearance certificate safe - it is your proof.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove debt review from my credit report?
Finish your debts and have your counsellor issue a Form 19 clearance certificate. The counsellor files it with the bureaus, which remove the flag. Then confirm on your credit report.
Can I remove the debt review flag myself?
Not by disputing it while genuinely under debt review, since it is accurate. It is removed once you are paid up and your counsellor issues the clearance certificate. You can dispute a flag that wrongly remains afterwards.
How long does it take to remove debt review from a credit report?
The NCR circular gives the bureaus three working days after the Debt Help System update, after your counsellor issues the clearance certificate within seven days of you being paid up.
What if the debt review flag stays after my certificate?
Send the bureau a copy of your clearance certificate, ask your counsellor to re-notify them, and if it is still not removed, complain to the NCR. A flag that remains after the certificate is incorrect.
Can I remove debt review from my report without paying my debts?
No. While the debts in your plan are unpaid, the flag accurately reflects your status and stays until you finish (only a home loan that is up to date may remain).
Who do I complain to if the flag is not removed?
Complain about your counsellor's conduct to the NCR at [email protected]. If a credit provider is wrongly keeping a listing, the National Financial Ombud handles credit-provider complaints.
