I’m struggling with repayments
See your full picture — income, living costs and repayments — in a few minutes, without sharing contact details.
Check my budgetNational Debt Consultants
Struggling with debt? Let’s find your next step.
Clear guidance on debt review, debt mediation and debt review removal — so you can understand your options and choose what’s right for you.
No obligation to proceed. Use the calculator without sharing any contact details.
Regulated by the NCR · NCRDC4382
Speak to a consultant
Prefer to talk it through?
Leave your name and number and a consultant will call you back. No obligation, and your assessment is free.
Where are you right now?
Three common starting points
I’m already under debt review
Understand how your current arrangement works and what leaving debt review actually requires — it depends on an assessment, not on income alone.
My options under debt reviewI’m unsure where to start
Tell us what’s happening in a quick call. A consultant will explain what may apply to you and what happens next.
Request a callbackOur services
Three services for three different situations
Each one solves a different problem. Here’s the short version.
Debt Review
Formal restructuring for over-indebted consumers. We negotiate with your creditors, aiming for lower interest and one consolidated monthly payment.
Learn about debt review →Debt Mediation
An informal route for debt that is still manageable. We aim to protect your credit profile and avoid legal action by agreeing arrangements with creditors directly.
Learn about mediation →Debt Review Removal
Clears your debt review status once your debts are settled or your circumstances improve significantly, through the proper legal route.
Learn about removal →How it works
Three steps from first call to a plan you can keep
Assessment
We review your income, living costs and debts to see where you stand and which option, if any, suits you. The assessment is free.
Negotiation
If debt review or debt mediation is right for you, we negotiate with your creditors on your behalf.
Implementation
Your agreed arrangement starts. With debt review, your repayments are combined into one monthly payment.
Good to know
Your credit score may dip at first
Being under debt review is recorded on your credit profile. As your debts fall, your score can improve.
No new credit during debt review
New credit is generally not available to you while you are under debt review.
Missed payments can cost you
They can extend the process or add fees. If you are struggling, contact us early.
What does it cost? Your assessment is free. Costs depend on your situation and are explained in full at your first consultation, before you commit to anything.
Budget & Debt Calculator
See where your money goes each month
Enter your take-home pay, living costs and debt repayments to see what is left each month. Your estimate updates as you type.
- No contact details needed
- Nothing you type is sent anywhere unless you submit a form
- An estimate only — a consultant confirms your numbers
Why NDC
Why choose National Debt Consultants?
Established to give South Africans struggling with debt proper guidance, with an experienced, multilingual team.
Registered with the National Credit Regulator
Debt counsellor registration number NCRDC4382. You can check it against the NCR’s public register of debt counsellors.
See your numbers before you speak to anyone
The calculator needs no contact details, and nothing you type is saved unless you choose to send it to us.
Plain answers, including the limits
We explain each service and what it can’t do. No guaranteed savings, no guaranteed removal, no guaranteed approval — every case starts with an assessment.
A real office in Cape Town
Buchanan Square, 160 Sir Lowry Rd, Woodstock. Call (021) 054 1141 or email marketing@ndcsa.co.za.
Debt advice & resources
Understand your options, in plain language
Short, practical guides written for South Africa.
Debt Counselling
How Debt Counselling Works in South Africa
A plain-language walkthrough of what actually happens during formal debt review — from your first assessment to what protection it gives you along the way.
Debt Management
Debt Review vs Debt Mediation: What’s the Real Difference?
Two different routes, often confused with each other. Here’s what actually separates formal debt review from informal debt mediation.
Budgeting
How to Build a Realistic Monthly Budget
A budget only works if it reflects what actually happens in your bank account. Here’s a straightforward way to build one you can stick to.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is debt counselling?
Debt counselling, also called debt review, is a formal process under the National Credit Act for people who can no longer comfortably keep up with their credit repayments. A debt counsellor registered with the National Credit Regulator, such as NDC (NCRDC4382), assesses your income, living costs and debts and, if you are over-indebted, works with your creditors on a repayment arrangement you can manage.
How does debt review work?
There are three stages. Assessment: we review your income, living costs and debts to see whether debt review suits you. Negotiation: if it does, we negotiate with your creditors on a restructured repayment plan. Implementation: the agreed plan starts and your debts are repaid through one consolidated monthly payment. Whether it goes ahead, and on what terms, depends on your circumstances and your creditors’ responses.
Benefits of debt review?
Debt review aims to negotiate lower interest rates and to give you one consolidated monthly payment instead of many. While you keep to the plan, creditors are generally restricted from taking further legal action against you. Lower interest and smaller instalments are not guaranteed: they depend on what each creditor agrees.
What is debt mediation?
Debt mediation is an informal route for debt that is still manageable. We talk to your creditors directly to agree arrangements you can keep up with, aiming to protect your credit profile and avoid legal action. Unlike debt review, it does not carry formal legal protection, and a creditor can decline a proposal.
How long does debt review take?
It depends on how much you owe, what you can afford each month and what your creditors agree to, so we cannot give a single figure. At your assessment, a consultant will explain what to expect in your situation.
Will it affect my credit score?
Your credit score may dip at first, because being under debt review is recorded on your credit profile. As your debts reduce and you keep to the plan, your score can improve. Once you receive a clearance certificate, the debt review flag is removed.
How much does it cost?
Costs depend on your situation, so we do not publish fixed amounts. Your assessment is free, and a full breakdown of the costs is given at your first consultation, before you commit to anything.
What if I miss a payment?
Missing a payment can extend the length of the process or add fees, so please contact us as early as you can. If something has changed in your finances, tell us before a payment is missed and we will explain your options.
Can I apply for new credit during debt review?
No. New credit is generally not available to you while you are under debt review. If you have an urgent need, speak to your consultant before you apply for anything.
Can debt review status be removed?
Yes, but only through the proper route. Debt review can be cleared once your debts are settled and a registered debt counsellor issues a clearance certificate, or in some cases when your circumstances improve significantly and the legal requirements are met. An improved income alone does not remove it automatically, and approval is not guaranteed. Our Debt Review Removal service explains the options and what applies to you.
Not sure debt review is right for me?
That is what the free assessment is for. A consultant looks at your numbers and explains which option, if any, suits you: debt review, debt mediation or neither. You can also try our budget calculator first, with no contact details needed.
How do I contact NDC?
Call (021) 054 1141, email marketing@ndcsa.co.za, or request a callback using the form on this page. Our office is at Buchanan Square, 160 Sir Lowry Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7915.