How to Verify Your Debt Counsellor
Protect yourself. Make sure your debt counsellor is legitimate and registered.
Unregistered or fraudulent debt counsellors can:
- Charge illegal fees and take your money without helping you
- Provide advice that makes your debt worse, not better
- Have no legal standing — creditors won't recognize their work
- Leave you worse off than when you started
- Scam you or sell your personal information
How to Verify a Debt Counsellor
The National Credit Regulator (NCR) maintains an official register of all legitimate debt counsellors in South Africa.
To verify:
- Visit https://www.ncr.org.za/register_of_registrants/
- Look for the debt counsellor's name or registration number (starts with NCRDC)
- Check that they are listed as 'Active' (not suspended or cancelled)
- Note their registration number for your records
A legitimate debt counsellor will proudly share their registration number. If they:
- Refuse to give you their NCRDC number 🚩
- Say it's 'private' or 'confidential' 🚩
- Give you a number but it's not in the NCR register 🚩
- Claim they're 'semi-registered' or 'in process' 🚩
If any of these apply, do not work with them.
Legitimate debt counsellors are accessible and transparent about their contact details.
Red flags:
- Only contact through a website form (no direct number/email) 🚩
- Multiple websites with slightly different names 🚩
- No verifiable office address or business registration 🚩
- Only social media contact 🚩
- Aggressive 'limited time offer' pressure 🚩
Scammers use pressure and promises. Legitimate counsellors are honest about what they can and can't do.
🚩 SCAM SIGNS
- • Promises to 'erase' your debt
- • Asks you to pay them before creditors
- • Guarantees credit score improvement
- • Says you'll get approval immediately
- • Uses high-pressure sales tactics
- • Won't explain their process clearly
✓ LEGITIMATE SIGNS
- • NCR registered and searchable
- • Honest about the process
- • Takes time to understand your situation
- • Explains what they can realistically help with
- • No upfront payment required
- • Clear about fees (all disclosed)
Founder & Lead Debt Counsellor
Samantha Knoesen
NCRDC3995
Direct Contact
Sam
066 193 7596 (WhatsApp)
Report it to the National Credit Regulator (NCR). They investigate complaints against debt counsellors.
Visit NCR WebsiteReady to take the next step? Let's chat.
Message Sam on WhatsApp ☕