People searching for a way to remove debt or a debt review flag are the exact target of a paid removal offer that the National Credit Regulator has publicly warned against. The NCR is the regulator to contact, and its position on these offers should be read before paying anyone.
Task scope
This covers who to contact about being removed from debt review, about a debt counsellor, or about an offer to clear a debt review flag for a fee. It does not cover disputing the debt itself with a credit provider, which starts with that provider.
Route
- National Credit Regulator call centre: 0860 627 627
- NCR reception: 011 554 2700
- General enquiries: [email protected]
- Complaints: [email protected]
- Fraud and anti-corruption, KPMG Ethics Line: 0800 20 53 17
Requirements
The NCR has warned consumers about a surge in advertising for debt review removal, with some consumers charged in excess of R8 000 to have a debt review flag removed. The NCR states plainly that this debt review removal is not supported by law. It cites a High Court judgment delivered by three judges holding that removal is not possible for a consumer who has been declared over-indebted, and that the consumer needs to pay up all debt, except where a bond is not in arrears, to be removed from debt review. Where a consumer has a debt review court order, the NCR states that no court, not even the High Court, can rescind that judgment. The NCR has since issued Circular 2 of 2025 dealing with debt review removal, so check the current circular on its website for the position that applies now.
Steps
Contact the NCR call centre on 0860 627 627 before paying any company that offers to remove a debt review. Debt counselling itself is a lawful debt relief measure under the National Credit Act: a registered debt counsellor assesses your income against your expenses and debt obligations, negotiates reduced payments with credit providers, and the restructured arrangement is confirmed by a Magistrate Court or the National Consumer Tribunal. Check that any debt counsellor you deal with is registered with the NCR, and note that the NCR publishes a debt counselling fee structure guideline so you can check what you are being charged.
Escalation
Complaints about a debt counsellor, a credit provider debt counselling department or a payment distribution agent go to the NCR on [email protected], since monitoring their compliance is the mandate of its debt counselling department. Report misleading debt review removal advertising to the NCR as well. Corruption or wrongdoing involving the NCR itself goes to its independent KPMG Ethics Line on 0800 20 53 17 rather than to the NCR directly. Note that the NCR has published a notice that it was the victim of a cyber-attack, so allow for disruption and keep your own copies of anything you send.
Sources
- NCR debt counselling department page: ncr.org.za/index.php/departments/debt-counselling
- NCR warning on misleading debt counselling advertising: ncr.org.za/index.php/latest-news/8-latest-news/127-misleading-advertising-on-social-media-platforms-regarding-debt-counselling
- NCR contact block: ncr.org.za
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