Debt Review Removal Process: Step-by-Step Clearing Guide
Articles | CreditSmart Essential Reading | Debt Review Removals
by CreditSmart Author
August 7, 2025

Are you currently under debt review and looking to regain your financial freedom? The Debt Review Removal process is a structured pathway that helps you legally exit debt review and restore your credit record. With CreditSmart’s expert guidance, this process ensures you’re on track to becoming creditworthy again.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through each step of the process, so you understand what to expect and how CreditSmart supports you every step of the way. 

Step 1: Free Assessment

Your journey begins with a Free Assessment from a CreditSmart Debt Advisor to see if you qualify for the removal process.

What’s assessed?

Your financial health, specifically, whether you’re still under debt review and if your income exceeds your expenses.

This first step is vital to determine your eligibility to start the removal process and sets the foundation for a clear exit strategy.

Step 2: Free Successful Application

Once qualified, you’ll complete a Signed Application and submit the necessary supporting documents.

What’s required?

  • Proof of income.
  • An expense breakdown.
  • Any paid-up letters from creditors (as your credit report may lack some of the latest details).
  • Identity document(s).
  • Completed application form.

**Providing accurate documents speeds up the process and allows our legal team to move swiftly. 

Step 3: Instruction to Attorneys

Once 50% of the legal fee is paid, CreditSmart formally instructs our legal partners to begin court proceedings.

What happens next?

Your case is handed over to our trusted attorneys, who prepare the legal documents required to apply for your Debt Review Removal court order.

Step 4: Court Date Received

Your file is in motion.

What’s next?

We notify you once a court date is secured. This is a key milestone where your application becomes an active legal case.

Step 5: Court Order Granted

With legal representation in place, our expert team attends court and secures the official order to remove your debt review status.

What this means:

The court order is your legal proof that you are no longer over-indebted. This is the document that sets everything else in motion.

Step 6: Final Payment Received

Before we proceed with changing your credit status, the final 50% fee should be paid.

You’ll receive:

  • A copy of the court order
  • An official letter confirming you are no longer over-indebted

**These documents are essential for step seven (7).

Step 7: Status Change Request

Now it’s time to clear your credit profile.

How?

CreditSmart Financial Services submits your court order to the National Credit Regulator (NCR), who then instructs all major credit bureaus (for example: VCCB, TransUnion and Experian) to update your profile.

Step 8: Status Updated

This is the congratulations that goes out to celebrate victory! You are no longer flagged as over-indebted. Your credit profile is officially cleared, opening up new financial opportunities.

What this means for you:

  • Access to credit opportunities.
  • A fresh start with lenders.
  • A foundation to rebuild your credit score

**Remember, slow and steady wins the race.

Why Use CreditSmart for Debt Review Removal?

  • Registered Financial Services Provider (FSP 52295).
  • Registered with the NCR (NCRDC3143).
  • Transparent pricing and step-by-step support.
  • Strong legal partnerships with registered attorneys.
  • Proven success in helping South Africans restore their credit.
Ready to Begin?

Don’t delay. Take the first step toward financial freedom today.
Click here for more information.

CreditSmart Financial Services (Pty) Ltd

CreditSmart’s Debt Review Removal:         Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I exit the debt review process early?
If you can resume original payment agreements or you have settled all your debts, you can exit the debt review process sooner.
Can I cancel debt review on my own?
No. A consumer cannot unilaterally cancel debt review. Only a Court order or a clearance certificate from your debt counsellor can ensure credit bureaus remove the flag.
What if I’ve paid off my debt?
You may qualify for a Form 19 Clearance Certificate. But if the process hasn’t been completed or is stuck, the legal route via the Magistrate’s Court may still be required.
How long does the debt review removal process South Africa take?
Our process is subject to the court’s diary and typically takes three to four months, as the hearing date is allocated by the clerk of the court and falls outside of our control.
Does the full amount need to be settled before the debt review flag is removed?
Yes. The full outstanding amount (including our fees, which cover legal costs) must be settled before we serve the granted order on the National Credit Regulator (NCR) and relevant credit bureaus to update your credit status. Should there still be outstanding fees on your account, we reserve the right to withhold the Court order until payment is complete.
Do I need to appear in court?
No, your legal representative will attend on your behalf.
Can my application for debt review removal be rejected in Court?
Yes, the Court can reject your application. Most commonly, if one or more of your credit accounts are still in arrears. If this happens, you will need to settle the outstanding amounts and may only reapply once your financial situation has improved. It’s important to ensure your accounts are up to date before initiating the process, as this strengthens your case and increases the likelihood of success.
Am I going to be able to obtain credit once my flag is removed?
You are legally allowed to apply for credit again. However, credit providers may still assess your risk based on your credit history, affordability, and previous defaults. Your credit score may still need time to recover, depending on how your accounts were managed during debt review.
Will my credit score improve immediately?
Once the debt review flag is removed and credit bureaus are updated, your score may improve gradually, but this also depends on your broader credit behaviour.
Is this process included in the fees I already paid during debt review?
No, this is a separate legal process and is not covered by your debt review payments.
Will credit providers still see that I was under debt review before?
No. Once the flag is removed, your profile will no longer reflect that you were under debt review. However, your payment history may still show missed payments or defaults if they occurred.

HANDY RESOURCES

  • CreditSmart Financial Services: Debt Review Removal Overview.
  • National Credit Regulator (NCR): debt review removal in South Africa March 2025 circular.
  • VHT Attorneys: expert tips & legal guidance.