Long answer:
A Debt Review Clearance Certificate (Form 19) is the official document a registered Debt Counsellor issues when you’ve finished debt review. It confirms you’ve satisfied the conditions of your court/tribunal order; your counsellor then notifies the credit bureaux to remove the “under debt review” flag from your profile. Under the National Credit Act (NCA), the certificate must be issued once you meet the legal criteria, and it’s the only recognised way to exit debt review after an order has been granted.
What the Clearance Certificate Proves
You have discharged all obligations under every credit agreement covered by your debt review order. A debt review clearance certificate signifies the end of a successful debt review process. It confirms that the consumer has satisfied all the repayment obligations under the restructured payment plan formed during the debt review process. Issuing of a debt review clearance certificate signals. The effect is that even if the consumer has a long-term agreement subject to debt review, for example, a mortgage bond, they can obtain a clearance certificate after every other short-term credit agreement under debt review is paid in full. The National Credit Act (NCA) 34 of 2005 indicates that the debt counsellor, and not the courts, must issue a clearance certificate.or
You’ve met the statutory conditions to exit (e.g., only a mortgage remains and you can afford it going forward, per Section 71), and your counsellor is satisfied the legal criteria are met. The certificate format is prescribed as Form 19.
- The completion of the debt review signifies that creditworthiness is restored. The individual can regain access to credit facilities as their credit profile is no longer flagged as under debt review. The successful completion of the debt review positively influences the credit score over time.
Once issued, your debt counsellor must notify the credit bureaux and relevant systems (e.g., the NCR’s Debt Help System) so the debt review indicator is expunged from your record. Section 71(5) provides for clearing bureau listings on receipt of the certificate.
Who Issues It—and When?
Only a registered Debt Counsellor may issue the clearance certificate (Form 19). The NCA regulations say a counsellor must issue it within seven days after the consumer has satisfied the qualifying conditions (e.g., all obligations in terms of the order have been paid up).
Practical timing: after the certificate is issued and sent to bureaux, profile updates typically follow—industry guidance and consumer-facing explainers report several business weeks for bureaus to reflect the change, though the legal trigger is the certificate itself. Always verify by pulling your credit report.
When Are You Eligible?
You qualify for a clearance certificate when any of these Section 71 routes are satisfied (plain-English summary):
All credit agreements in your order are settled.
Your debt counsellor confirms paid-up letters / balances and issues Form 19.- They have paid up all their debts listed in the debt review court order or in the debt review repayment agreement;
- They have paid up all of their short-term credit agreements that are listed in the debt review court order or debt review repayment agreement. Short-term credit agreements may include vehicle financing, credit card debt, and personal loan agreements. In this case, the consumer is only left with a mortgage loan, not in arrears, as per the debt review court order or debt review repayment agreement.
- Credit providers must issue paid-up letters before a debt counsellor can issue a clearance certificate, to ensure that the debt has been repaid in full. Once the clearance certificate is issued, this must be forwarded to all the credit bureaus with the paid-up letters. The debt counsellor and credit bureaus must update their systems to show that the consumer has completed the debt review process.
Mortgage-only scenario (common edge case).
If all short-term debts in the order are settled and only your mortgage remains, and you’ve demonstrated the ability to meet future mortgage obligations, the debt counsellor can still issue Form 19. (They will verify affordability and good standing.)You’re no longer over-indebted and meet the statutory requirements.
In rare cases involving legal nuances (e.g., court findings), speak to your counsellor/attorney. Remember: after a court order is granted, Form 19 is the recognised, lawful path to exit—not “voluntary withdrawal.”
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your Clearance Certificate?
The debt review removal process is the steps the debt counsellor follows to remove the debt review flag on a consumer’s profile. To remove a person from debt review, the debt counsellor undertakes the following steps:
- Pull Up Your Credit Report: We begin by retrieving your credit report to get a comprehensive view of your current credit status and obligations.
- Obtain Paid-up Letters from Credit Providers: We seek confirmation from your credit providers that your debts have been settled. This confirmation comes in the form of paid-up or prescribed letters. If you already have these letters, please forward them to us.
- Updating your records in the NCR Debt Help System: We update your status on the National Credit Regulator (NCR) Debt Help System (DHS) to reflect a so-called "F2 status", which indicates that you have settled your debts. Read more about the DHS.
- Generation of Form 19: Next, we generate your debt review clearance certificate (Form 19), the document required for the removal process that details the settlement of your debts.
- Forward Form 19 to all your Credit Providers: We send your Form 19 to all your credit providers to inform them of your updated status and the settlement of your debts.
- Certification of Form 19: Once Form 19 is completed and distributed, we ensure it is certified to confirm its authenticity.
- Updating your Records with Credit Bureaus: Finally, we send the certified Form 19 and the paid-up letters to all relevant credit bureaus (e.g. Experian, TransUnion, and XDS). This ensures that your credit records are updated to reflect the clearance of your debts.
These steps ensure that your debt review status is accurately removed and your credit profile is updated.
How Much Does it Cost?
The National Credit Regulator (NCR) prescribes debt review fees. However, the NCR regulations are silent concerning debt review removal fees. That is why debt review clearance certificate fees vary from one debt counsellor to another. At Debt Sage, we charge R1450 (excluding VAT) to issue a debt review clearance certificate. Need a clearance certificate? Contact us.
What are the Elements of a Debt Review Clearance Certificate?
A clearance certificate has the following elements:
- Consumer Details: The clearance certificate will include the (i) full legal name of the consumer, as well as (ii) their identification number, e.g. national South African ID or passport number.
- Debt Counsellor's Details: The clearance certificate will include (i) the full name of the debt counsellor responsible for managing the consumer’s debt review process, (ii) the official registration number of the debt counsellor as issued by the National Credit Regulator (NCR), and the debt counsellor’s contact details, including phone number, email address, and office address.
- Credit Provider Details: (i) All the creditors involved in the consumer's debt review process, (ii) specific details of the accounts held with each credit provider, including account numbers and the type of debt, and (iii) contact details for each credit provider, such as phone numbers and email addresses.
- Statement of Completion: The clearance certificate will include (i) a confirmation of fulfilment, a formal statement confirming that the consumer has met all the obligations under the restructured debt repayment plan, (ii) the date of completion, i.e. the date when the consumer completed the debt repayment, and (iii) certification: an official certification by the debt counsellor that all conditions for the debt review clearance have been satisfied.
Who Informs the Credit Bureaus When a Debt Review Clearance Certificate is issued?
After issuing the debt review clearance certificate, the debt counsellor communicates with credit bureaus and credit providers by sending Form 19. Upon issuance, the debt counsellor notifies the credit bureaus, ensuring that the debt review status is updated in their records. This update is crucial for improving the consumer's credit profile.
How Long Does it Take For The Credit Bureaus to Remove the Debt Review Flag?
Once your accounts are paid off and we have issued the clearance certificate, we send the certified Form 19 with paid-up letters to all relevant credit bureaus. The time it takes for the debt review flag to be lifted depends on how quickly the credit bureaus update their records, but it is generally completed within 21 days.
What If My Profile Still Shows “Under Debt Review”?
Contact your Debt Counsellor with your latest credit report—ask them to re-send the certificate to any bureau that still shows the flag.
Log a dispute with the bureau(s) attaching your Form 19.
If needed, escalate via your DC and the NCR to resolve non-updates. (Keep proof of delivery.
Can I Exit Without a Clearance Certificate?
If a court order already confirmed your debt review, no—the NCR’s guidance is explicit that Section 71/Form 19 is the legitimate route. “Voluntary withdrawal” is not a pathway once you’ve formally entered debt review via the court/tribunal process. Be cautious of services promising “instant removals.”
Limited alternatives exist only in specific legal scenarios (e.g., an application showing you are no longer over-indebted before finalisation and no order has been granted). Always get legal advice; it’s not a shortcut and doesn’t replace Form 19 where an order exists.
Life After the Certificate
The debt review flag is removed; you can re-enter the credit market responsibly. Note: lenders will still evaluate you as per normal credit criteria.
Keep a 3–6 month budget buffer so you don’t slip back into arrears.
Consider a credit-rebuild plan (e.g., small, manageable facilities paid in full each month) only once your reports confirm the flag’s removal.
Common Questions (FAQs)
Is the clearance certificate a PDF I can print?
Yes. It’s an official document (Form 19) issued by your counsellor. Keep a copy and share it with bureaux if you need to dispute a lingering flag.
My house bond isn’t finished—can I still get Form 19?
Often yes, if every other debt in the order is settled and you can afford the home loan going forward. Your counsellor must be satisfied with affordability before issuing.
How fast should my credit reports change?
Your DC must issue Form 19 within 7 days of you meeting the conditions; bureaux updates normally follow within a few weeks. Always check your reports and follow up if the flag remains.
I got a “quick removal” offer online. Legit?
Treat it with caution. After an order is granted, Form 19 is the only lawful path. Report suspicious adverts to your DC or the NCR.
| Situation | Debt Review Flag | Legal Standing | What You Should Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Still in debt review | Present | Protected by order | Keep paying via PDA; avoid new credit |
| Plan complete; Form 19 issued | Pending removal | Exit triggered | Verify bureau updates; keep confirmations |
| Flag not removed after weeks | Should be removed | You have Form 19 | Ask DC to re-send; lodge bureau dispute; escalate if needed |
Conclusion
Maintaining communication with the debt counsellor and credit bureaus is crucial to ensure the credit profile is accurately updated after receiving the clearance certificate. Having financial advice during this phase can also be beneficial to navigate any complexities or issues that may arise during the transition out of debt review. Contact Debt Sage today. We can issue a clearance certificate once you've paid all accounts under debt review, allowing you to enter into new credit agreements.