Top 5 debt review companies in South Africa: there is no official ranking

A list that ranks debt review companies one to five suggests a measured difference in quality. We have no measure of client outcomes or complaint rates for any of these firms, so we do not rank them. A firm that suits one person may frustrate another.

The better question is not which company is number one, but which counsellor explains fees clearly, answers when you call and looks after your file properly. The NCR also warns against adverts that promise percentage savings, written-off debt or "government approved" relief, so treat any "best" claim in an advert with care.

People search for a top 5, so here are five NCR-registered counsellors, in alphabetical order.

The NCR registers counsellors as individuals, not companies, so each number belongs to a named person who trades under the company or brand name. The numbers are as shown on each company's website or on the NCR register when we checked. Registrations can lapse or be cancelled, so check the NCR register yourself before you sign.

Every firm sets its own rules on who it takes on, and the NCR says only over-indebted consumers qualify for debt counselling. The NCR defines over-indebted as an income that is not enough to cover all your living expenses and debt repayments.

• DebtSafe says it only takes applicants who earn R8,000 or more a month and owe more than R30 000.
• Zero Debt says you need a monthly income and will not qualify if you are unemployed.
• DebtBusters says you may qualify if over 50% of your income goes on debt or your debt-to-income ratio is above 40%, and that there is no minimum credit score.

These are the firms' own statements. Ask any counsellor you approach what its entry rules are before you pay anything.

1. Confirm the counsellor is on the National Credit Regulator's register. Counsellors are registered as individuals, so check the counsellor's name and NCRDC number.
2. Approach two or three counsellors. Remember that the R50 application fee is payable before the assessment starts, so ask what you will be asked to pay at each step.
3. Get every fee in writing and compare it with the NCR fee list. See what the fees are.
4. Ask how aftercare works and how you follow your plan.
5. Pick the one that is clearest and most responsive, not the biggest advertiser.

This approach beats any pre-made ranking because it reflects your own experience with the people who will manage your file.

Every counsellor on your list should have NCR registration you can verify, give you every fee in writing, explain the process and its consequences before you sign, get a court or Tribunal order where required, and issue a clearance certificate at the end. If any of these is missing or unclear, drop the firm.

Debt review does not cancel debt and it is not a savings plan. Your payments are lower, so the repayment period may be longer. There is no payment holiday: you must pay as advised from the start. You cannot take new credit while you are under review, and if you default the credit provider may terminate the review and take legal steps.

The NCR says the debt review flag is not a negative listing. It shows that you are under debt review, and it comes off once your counsellor issues a clearance certificate.