Debt Review · 5 MIN READ
Debt Review: what you need to know before you apply
The process, the trade-offs and the questions worth asking first.
Start by separating the enquiry from the application
A short online form can help you organise your situation. It cannot establish the full picture a professional needs. At this stage, you may only have rough debt balances and a regular income amount. That is enough to start asking better questions.
Before completing further paperwork, ask the person assisting you: “Is this just an enquiry, or am I now applying for Debt Review?” Read what you are signing and keep a copy. A friendly phone call should not leave you guessing about a formal commitment.
What a debt counsellor looks at
A proper assessment needs more detail than a single monthly salary figure. Prepare your income records, living expenses, credit agreements and recent account statements. If you have irregular income, explain the pattern rather than presenting your best month as normal.
The counsellor should explain the proposed process and costs in language you understand. Ask what happens next, what information creditors receive and how you will be kept informed. Record the counsellor’s name and registration number.
The trade-offs matter
Debt counselling does not cancel debt. Further credit is restricted while you are under the process, and fees apply. A repayment arrangement can also affect how long you repay. Discuss your full circumstances with the counsellor before deciding.
Do not compare proposals using only the first monthly payment. Ask for the expected duration, fees, total repayment assumptions and what could change those assumptions. If a figure is an estimate, it should be described as one.
Take these questions to your first conversation
You do not have to memorise financial terminology. A short written list will help you compare what you are told.
- What is your NCR registration number, and where can I verify it?
- What stage am I agreeing to, and what documents will I receive?
- What fees would I pay, when, and to whom?
- How will I see whether payments reached each account?
- What should I do if my income changes?
Where this website fits
Money Wize Owl provides a preliminary assessment using the ranges you choose. Its R5,000 income and R30,000 debt thresholds are referral rules for this funnel, not legal minimums. Selecting a range uses a representative amount, so the result remains approximate.
Use the result to decide whether to seek an individual assessment. You can read the other guides or use the budget planner before requesting contact. There is no credit check in this online screening.
Sources & further reading
Check the original guidance for the full context and any later updates.
Found something that needs correcting? Email sales@wizeowl.today. Please do not email account statements or identity documents.
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