Long answer:
Calls usually reduce quickly after your debt counsellor sends Form 17.1 notices (within five business days of accepting your application) and should stabilise after your court/tribunal order, as long as you pay the single instalment on time. But it’s not an overnight “switch-off”: some follow-ups may still come while balances and payment instructions are being synced across systems. If calls persist or escalate, loop your counsellor in immediately with dates/times and account details so they can intervene formally
Why calls don’t stop the same day and what does change
When you apply for debt review, your registered debt counsellor must send Form 17.1 notifications to all credit providers and credit bureaux within five business days of accepting your application (Form 16). This signals that you’re under assessment and begins a structured process with creditors. Expect call volumes to drop after those notices, and to settleonce your plan is confirmed by a magistrates’ court or the National Consumer Tribunal. From that point, you pay one consolidated instalment via a Payment Distribution Agent (PDA), which routes the money to each creditor according to the order.
What’s changing behind the scenes
Credit providers update your account status to reflect debt review and wait for the formal proposal and order.
The PDA is set up to receive your single debit and disburse to each creditor.
Once the order is granted, enforcement generally proceeds through the plan (if you remain compliant), which removes the need for repeated collection calls. Read more here to under debt review process and overview
What you should do if creditors keep calling
Be polite, brief, and consistent.
Use a simple script: “I’m under debt review with [Counsellor Name, NCRDC ####]. Please contact my debt counsellor for all arrangements.”Capture the details.
Log date/time, agent name, company, account number, and what was requested. Send the log to your counsellor to follow up formally.Share any written notices immediately.
If you receive a Section 129 default notice or a summons during the process, forward it the same day—these precede litigation and must be handled correctly.Keep your single instalment current.
Missed/short payments can trigger s86(10) termination moves by credit providers after statutory timelines—collections and enforcement may then resume at original terms.
Timeline: what to expect from application to “peace and quiet”
Week 0: You apply (Form 16).
≤5 business days: Your counsellor sends Form 17.1 to all credit providers and credit bureaus; call volume typically starts easing.
Weeks 2–8 (varies): Proposal and negotiations; you pay your first consolidated instalment via the PDA.
Court/Tribunal order granted: The plan becomes binding; calls largely stop provided you pay on time.
Ongoing: If your life changes (income drop, rent increase), tell your counsellor early so they can seek a variation, staying compliant keeps calls off your back.
Why you might still get occasional contact
Systems lag: A provider’s internal system hasn’t yet synced your debt review status or new payment reference.
Third-party collectors: A creditor’s agency list may be a step behind; your counsellor will send proof and update requests.
Arrears predating review or excluded accounts: Items already in legal enforcement before you applied may sit outside the plan under Section 86(2); your counsellor will still budget for them, but those providers may continue direct contact until resolved.
Payment break/short-pay: If you short-pay, providers may escalate contact and, in time, consider s86(10)termination notices. Fix shortfalls fast and inform your counsellor.
How the court/tribunal order changes things
Once the court or tribunal confirms your rearrangement, you pay one instalment through the PDA and credit providers receive distributions in line with the order. That structure is why everyday “pay now” calls should tail off—there’s no longer a need for multiple due dates and ad-hoc arrangements.
Pro tip: Set your debit for payday +1 and check your monthly PDA statement to ensure all providers are being paid. If any distribution looks off, send the statement to your counsellor for reconciliation.
What if a creditor threatens legal action while you’re compliant?
Share any letter immediately (especially Section 129 notices). Your counsellor will engage the provider with your application references, proposal, and payment proof.
Stay calm: the order typically governs how payments must be made; genuine disputes can be resolved with proof of compliance and distribution statements.
When do the calls stop for good?
After you finish the plan and your debt counsellor issues the Clearance Certificate (Form 19), they must notify the credit bureaus to remove the “under debt review” flag. Bureau updates usually follow within several business weeks; always pull your reports and keep a copy of Form 19.
FAQs
Will creditors keep calling once Form 17.1 is sent?
Calls generally drop after 17.1 and stabilise after your order—provided you pay via the PDA on time.
Do I pay my creditors directly during review?
No. You pay one instalment via a registered Payment Distribution Agent; they disburse to each creditor according to your order.
What if I miss a payment and the calls restart?
Speak to your counsellor immediately. Repeated default can trigger s86(10) termination and s129 legal steps. Catch-up or a variation is usually better than silence.
How do I know the plan is binding?
You’ll receive confirmation that a court/tribunal order has been granted. Keep it with your records and check your PDA statements monthly.
After completion, who removes the “under debt review” flag?
Your counsellor—by issuing Form 19 and notifying credit bureaus; verify updates on your reports.
Call to action
Ready for fewer calls and one affordable instalment? Share your last 3 bank statements and creditor list. We’ll confirm eligibility, send 17.1 notices, and map your timeline to a court/tribunal order—so collection pressure can settle down fast.