How do I check if I am under debt review?

You can check your debt review status in three ways: by pulling your credit report from one of the four registered credit bureaus, by contacting your debt counsellor directly, or by checking the National Credit Regulator (NCR)'s debt counselling register. Your credit report is the most reliable and complete source because it shows the exact flag and how it appears to potential lenders.

Method 1 — Pull Your Credit Report from a Registered Bureau

When you are placed under debt review, your debt counsellor is required under section 86(4)(b)(i) of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 (NCA) to notify all credit bureaus within five business days of accepting your application. The bureaus then place a debt counselling flag on your profile.

You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each registered credit bureau under section 72(1) of the NCA. The four registered credit bureaus in South Africa are:

TransUnion — transunion.co.za | 0861 482 482
Experian — experian.co.za | 0861 105 665
Compuscan (XDS) — compuscan.co.za | 0861 514 131
Equifax — equifax.co.za | 011 799 3400

Request a full credit report from each bureau. On the report, look for:

A status code indicating "Under Debt Counselling," "Debt Review," or a similar notation on your consumer profile header
Individual accounts listed with a "DC" (debt counselling) or equivalent flag
The date the debt review notification was placed

Different bureaus use slightly different terminology, but all are required to reflect the debt review status accurately.

Method 2 — Contact Your Debt Counsellor

If you know which debt counsellor handled your application, contact them directly. They maintain a file for each client and can confirm:

Whether your debt review application is active
The date your application was submitted and notifications sent
Whether a court order has been granted under section 87 of the NCA
The current outstanding balance across your debts

If you do not know who your debt counsellor is, your credit report will sometimes reflect the debt counsellor's name or NCR registration number on the debt review notation.

Method 3 — Check the NCR Debt Counselling Register

The National Credit Regulator (NCR) maintains a register of all active debt review applications. You can contact the NCR to confirm whether your ID number is flagged in their system:

Phone: 0860 627 627
Email: [email protected]
Website: ncr.org.za

The NCR register is updated when debt counsellors submit Form 17.2 notifications and when clearance certificates under section 71(1) are received. There may be a short delay between events at debt counsellor level and updates to the NCR register.

What the Debt Review Flag Looks Like

On a typical credit bureau report, a consumer under debt review will see one or more of the following:

A header-level notation reading "Consumer is under debt counselling" or "Subject to debt review order"
Account-level status codes on each credit agreement included in the review, often shown as "DC" or "Debt Counselling"
The date the notification was received by the bureau (should be within 5 business days of your application, per section 86(4)(b)(i))

If your debt review has been completed and a clearance certificate issued under section 71(1), the flag should read as cleared, removed, or absent entirely. If it still shows after clearance, see our guide on removing the debt review flag from your credit record.

What If You Did Not Apply for Debt Review but the Flag Is There?

This sometimes happens due to identity fraud, a data error by a credit bureau, or an administrative mistake by a debt counsellor. If you find a debt review flag on your credit report that you did not authorise:

Lodge a formal dispute with the credit bureau under section 72(2) of the NCA — the bureau must investigate and respond within 20 business days
Report the matter to the NCR at 0860 627 627
Report potential identity fraud to the South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) at 0860 101 248

You may also need to lay a criminal complaint at your nearest SAPS station if identity fraud is confirmed.

Key Legislation

National Credit Act 34 of 2005, section 86(4)(b)(i) — Debt counsellor's obligation to notify credit bureaus within 5 business days
National Credit Act 34 of 2005, section 72(1) — Consumer's right to one free credit report per year from each bureau
National Credit Act 34 of 2005, section 72(2) — Credit bureau's obligation to investigate disputed information within 20 business days
National Credit Act 34 of 2005, section 71(1) — Clearance certificate removes debt review flag upon completion

Common Mistakes

Only checking one credit bureau — TransUnion may show a clear record while Compuscan still holds the flag; check all four
Relying solely on a verbal confirmation from your debt counsellor — always pull the actual credit report to see what lenders see
Assuming the flag is removed immediately after completing all payments — the clearance certificate must first be issued and transmitted to the bureaus
Ignoring an unexpected debt review flag — errors do not resolve themselves and can prevent you from accessing credit, employment background checks, or rental applications

For more on this topic, see what debt review is.

For more on this topic, see exiting debt review.

When to Consult an Attorney

Consult an attorney if a debt review flag appears on your credit report that you did not authorise and the credit bureau fails to resolve your dispute within 20 business days, or if you believe you have been placed under debt review by a third party fraudulently. An attorney can bring an urgent application to have the flag removed and pursue damages where warranted.

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Disclaimer: This answer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. About the Author: This answer was prepared by the Justibly Legal Research Team, reviewed for accuracy by practising attorneys admitted to the High Court of South Africa. Verify attorney credentials on the LPC register.

Last updated: April 2026