Finished debt review but the flag is still showing?

Finished debt review but the flag is still there? Don't panic — here's the process.

Question: I finished debt review, so why is the debt-review flag still showing on my credit report?

First: don't panic. There is a process that needs to happen after completion. When you have fulfilled the requirements of your debt-rearrangement agreement, your debt counsellor issues a clearance certificate (Form 19) where you qualify. The NCR's February 2026 guideline confirms that debt counsellors must file a certified copy of the clearance certificate with the credit bureaus within seven days of issuing it.

So what if the flag is still there?

Start by finding out: has your clearance certificate actually been issued? If yes, ask for confirmation that it has been submitted to the relevant credit bureaus. Then check your credit reports. If the information hasn't been updated correctly, you can raise a dispute with the relevant credit bureau.

And be careful of scams.

There are people advertising "We can remove your debt review immediately!" Be extremely cautious. The NCR has warned about operators making misleading promises to consumers about removing debt-review status. You don't need to pay someone thousands of rand simply because they promise to "delete the flag."

Remember:

Finishing debt review and having the credit record updated are connected steps — but they're not necessarily the exact same moment. If you've done the hard work of completing the process, you deserve to have the administration completed correctly too.

Related reading: Rebuilding credit after debt review: 12-month plan · Will debt review affect my credit score?

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