Debt review removal carries real risks and costs that must be understood before proceeding.
• Loss of legal protection: once debt review is removed, creditors can immediately pursue legal action for any outstanding amounts. Vehicle repossession, home loan acceleration, judgments, and garnishee orders all become possible.
• Obligation to pay original contractual amounts: the court application requires you to demonstrate you can afford original contractual monthly payments. Once the order is granted, you must make those payments or face immediate creditor action without any protection.
• Legal and professional fees: a Section 87 or 165 court application involves significant fees. NDRC professional fees plus attorney fees at Magistrates Court Tariff plus sheriff disbursements. Total costs for a standard matter range from R15,000 to R20,000 excl. VAT. These fees are disclosed upfront and staged, but they are real costs.
• Time investment: the court process takes 3 to 6 months. During this period, administrative demands on you are real even though NDRC and attorneys manage most of the process.
• Risk of an unsuccessful application: if the court is not satisfied that you are no longer over-indebted, the application may be dismissed. Professional fees for work already performed may still be payable.
• Credit score transition: the period between removal and credit score recovery is not instant. Some consumers exit debt review expecting immediate credit access and find the process of credit score rebuilding takes longer than expected.
NDRC only recommends debt review removal to consumers who genuinely qualify, meaning they can demonstrably afford to resume original contractual payments. Our free assessment includes an honest evaluation of your eligibility and financial sustainability post-removal.