Is saving only for rich people?

No. Saving is for everyone. You can start with R50/week and build momentum. Small consistent deposits add up quickly — R50/week becomes R2,600/year, which can cover emergencies or build toward goals.

What exactly is debt review?

Debt review is a formal process under South African law where a registered debt counsellor helps over-indebted individuals restructure their debts into affordable repayments. It protects you from legal action and can reduce monthly payments by up to 40%.

Can I rebuild my credit score after debt?

Yes. Credit repair is possible. After debt review, paying on time, reducing debt, and addressing disputes improves your score gradually. Most people see improvements within 12-24 months of consistent payments.

Is financial education really important?

Absolutely. Understanding money — budgeting, saving, debt, credit — changes outcomes. Most financial stress comes from not knowing options. Education removes shame and builds confidence.

How does an interest calculator help?

An interest calculator shows you exactly how much debt grows over time. It demonstrates the cost of delay and helps you understand why paying extra on principal saves thousands.

Will debt review affect my credit score? The honest answer

Short answer: yes. Honest answer: it's more complicated than that — here's what actually happens to your credit profile.

Question: Will debt review affect my credit score?

Yes. But let's explain what that actually means. When you enter debt review, the fact that you are undergoing debt counselling is reflected on your credit profile. And while you're under debt review, you generally cannot take out new credit. That can sound frightening. But here's the bigger question: What is your credit profile already saying about your financial situation?

If you're already missing payments, using more and more credit, or falling behind on accounts, simply avoiding debt review doesn't magically make your credit position healthy. Debt review is designed to deal with the underlying affordability problem.

The important distinction

Debt review is not designed to improve your credit score in the short term. It is designed to help an over-indebted consumer restructure their debt and repay it. The NCR describes debt counselling as a debt-relief measure intended to rehabilitate over-indebted consumers.

What happens when you finish?

This is where many people get confused. Debt review is not supposed to remain on your credit profile forever. Once the requirements for a clearance certificate have been met, the debt counsellor issues the certificate and the relevant debt-review information can be removed from the credit records. The NCR's 2026 guideline states that a debt counsellor must file a certified copy of the clearance certificate with the credit bureaus within seven days of issuing it. The NCA also provides for the debt-review information to be expunged once the clearance certificate is received.

So is debt review "bad for your credit"?

It's more accurate to say: debt review changes your access to credit while you're in the process. But the purpose is to get you to a point where you can eventually return to the credit market from a healthier financial position.

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DCSA | Debt Clear SA (Pty) Ltd
📞 071 900 6298 · WhatsApp Sam
📧 info@dcsam.co.za
🌐 www.dcsam.co.za

Sometimes protecting your future finances is more important than protecting today's credit score.

Will debt review affect my credit score? The honest answer

The important distinction

What happens when you finish?

So is debt review "bad for your credit"?

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