Many South Africans want to know whether they can cancel debt review and if so, how. The short answer is:
You can only cancel debt review once your debt has been fully settled, and your debt counsellor has issued a clearance certificate (Form 19).
Below is a clear guide on how debt review cancellation works, what the legal requirements are, how long the process takes, what it costs, and how Meerkat can help you complete the process online.
Yes, but only if one of the following is true:
All your debts (except your home loan) are fully settled, and you can afford your bond repayments again; or
You have settled all debts, including your bond; or
You withdrew from debt review before a court order was granted.
If a court has already declared you over-indebted, you cannot simply cancel debt review because you changed your mind or became frustrated. The law protects consumers by ensuring only those who are genuinely rehabilitated exit the system.
Watch this video on TikTok with our Founder & CEO of Meerkat, David O'Brien as he chats about debt review removal
Fully Paid Debts: If you've settled all debts under debt review (excluding a home loan), you're eligible for a debt review clearance certificate. This is the most important criteria for removing debt review.
Early Exit: To exit debt review before full repayment, you must apply to a court to be declared no longer over-indebted. This is can be proved if your circumstances have changed. Be very careful about people claiming they can remove you from the debt review process early. You cannot just voluntarily exit the process.
Process: The debt counsellor will then send your clearance certificate to credit bureaus to remove the debt review flag from your credit report. You have now been successfully removed from the debt review process!
Debt review removal typically costs around R3,000, depending on your debt counsellor and case.
This fee includes:
Verifying settlement
Issuing the clearance certificate
Uploading to credit bureaus
Handling communication with creditors
Some providers may charge extra for reinstatement, disputes, or additional case handling. Always ask for a full breakdown.
Free debt review removal does not exist! There will always be fees involved for debt review removal. Be very careful about people or companies claiming they can remove you from debt review for free.
You also don't need to get a lawyer to remove you from the debt review process. You just need to meet the criteria for debt review removal and get a registered debt counsellor, like Meerkat, to do so for you.
If you see adverts offering free removal, proceed carefully.
Here are common red flags:
❌ Claims that debt review can be cancelled without paying off your debt
❌ Offers to remove the flag “overnight”
❌ No NCR registration
❌ Requests for payment through cash send or personal accounts
Only registered NCR debt counsellors can issue Form 19 clearance certificates.
You are allowed to work with a new registered counsellor if:
Your original counsellor no longer operates, or
They are not responding to your requests
A new counsellor can verify your paid-up status and issue a clearance certificate.
Meerkat is an NCR-registered financial services provider that helps South Africans remove their debt review status quickly and legally.
We offer:
Fast online application
Assistance retrieving paid-up letters
Clear guidance throughout the process
Submission to all major credit bureaus
Start your removal process now.
The various credit bureaus have different timelines and it can take between one to 2 months for the flag to be fully removed.
Only if no court order was granted, otherwise you must settle your debt first.
Around R3,000, depending on case complexity.
Yes, once the bureaus update your profile.
A registered debt counsellor.
Cancelling debt review is possible but only once your legal obligations are met. If you’ve completed your payments, the final step is simply getting your clearance certificate filed correctly with the bureaus.
Meerkat can assist you with:
Certificate submission
Creditor verification
Removing the debt review flag
Support throughout the process
👉 Start your online application today.
MyMeerkat FSP is an authorised financial services provider (FSP 50979) and registered debt counsellor (NCRDC2613)