Debt Review Exit Calculator
Calculate your months remaining, early settlement amount, interest savings, and credit score recovery timeline. Plan your financial fresh start.
Debt Review Exit Summary
Your Debt Review Details
The total of all debts restructured under debt review
Amount paid to creditors only — excluding your DC admin fee
Blended rate (credit cards often 0–5%)
NDMA cap R400/month
Typical 10–25% discount offered
Pay more monthly to exit faster without a lump sum
Results update automatically as you type
Exit Plan Results
Months Remaining Under Debt Review
44
At current pace — completion June 2030
Remaining Balance
R 144 837
outstanding principal
Interest Still to Pay
R 8 244
if continuing
Settlement Amount
R 123 111
at 15% discount
Saving by Settling Now
R 47 570
vs continuing
Current Debt Review Summary
- Total debt at startR 200 000
- Months paid so far18 months
- Paid to date (incl. DC fees)R 70 200
- Remaining balanceR 144 837
- Interest remaining (if continuing)R 8 244
- Total cost if continuingR 240 881
Get help planning your debt review exit
* Estimates only. Actual settlement amounts depend on creditor negotiations. Consult your registered debt counsellor.
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Continue vs Settle Early
Continue at Current Pace
- Months remaining44 months
- Completion dateJune 2030
- Total remaining paymentsR 153 081
- Interest still to payR 8 244
- Remaining DC feesR 17 600
- Score recovery startsJuly 2030
- Home loan viable fromJune 2031
Settle Early (Lump Sum)
- Settlement amount requiredR 123 111
- Discount (15%) saving-R 21 726
- Total saving vs continuingR 47 570
- Months gained43 months sooner
- Score recovery startsDecember 2026
- Home loan viable fromNovember 2027
By settling early you save 43 months and R 47 570 total
Credit Score Recovery Timeline
After debt review clearance certificate (Form 17.W) is issued
If Continuing at Current Pace
- 1
July 2030
Debt review flag cleared from credit bureaus (Form 17.W)
- 2
September 2030
Apply for a secured credit card or store account
- 3
December 2030
Apply for small personal loan or vehicle finance
- 4
June 2031
Home loan application becomes viable
- 5
June 2032
Near-average credit score achievable
- 6
June 2033
Good / excellent credit score fully restored
If Settling Early (Next Month)
- 1
December 2026
Debt review flag cleared from credit bureaus (Form 17.W)
- 2
February 2027
Apply for a secured credit card or store account
- 3
May 2027
Apply for small personal loan or vehicle finance
- 4
November 2027
Home loan application becomes viable
- 5
November 2028
Near-average credit score achievable
- 6
November 2029
Good / excellent credit score fully restored
💡 Can't settle in a lump sum? Pay more monthly
Add R 1 700/month extra to your restructured payment and exit approximately 15 months sooner, saving R 2 766 in interest.
Suggested Extra
R 1 700
/month
Months Saved
15
months
Interest Saved
R 2 766
Enter a custom extra amount in the calculator above to see your personalised projection.
Debt Review Exit Strategies
Three proven paths to financial freedom under South African law
1. Lump-Sum Settlement
Negotiate a once-off settlement amount with all creditors — typically 10–25% below outstanding balances. Creditors prefer certainty over waiting years for full repayment.
- ✔ Fastest exit (30–60 days)
- ✔ Largest interest saving
- ✔ Maximises credit recovery time
- ✘ Requires lump-sum funding
2. Debt Consolidation Loan
Once you have partial credit history restored (usually 6–12 months post-clearance), a consolidation loan can replace high-rate debts with a single lower-rate facility.
- ✔ No lump sum required
- ✔ Can reduce interest significantly
- ✔ Single monthly payment
- ✘ Requires credit approval
3. Accelerated Repayment
Increase your monthly payment by an extra R500–R1,000/month. Even small increases dramatically reduce your term due to the low restructured interest rate.
- ✔ No approval or paperwork needed
- ✔ Start immediately
- ✔ Incremental pressure
- ✘ Slower than lump sum
NCA Rules You Must Know
- 📄 Section 86(7)(b) NCA: A court may rescind the debt review order once all obligations are settled.
- 🧾 Form 17.W (Clearance Certificate): Issued by your debt counsellor; triggers bureau flag removal within 21 days.
- 🚫 No partial exits: You cannot exit debt review for some debts but not others — all debts must be settled.
- 💼 DC fee caps (NDMA): Restructuring fee: R8,000 (max); monthly aftercare: R400/month; legal fee: R750 (if applicable).
- ⚖️ Creditor cooperation: Creditors are legally obliged to accept settlement offers once debt review is active.
- 🔍 Credit bureau: Listings must be removed within 21 business days of Form 17.W receipt.
Debt Review Restructured Rate Guide
| Credit Type | Original Rate | Typical Restructured Rate | Saving Per R100k |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card (store) | 21–24% | 0–3% | R18,000–R21,000/yr |
| Personal Loan | 19.5–27.5% | 5–10% | R9,500–R17,500/yr |
| Vehicle Finance | 13–18% | 6–10% | R3,000–R8,000/yr |
| Home Loan (bond) | 11–13% | 11–13% (normal) | Minimal |
| Overdraft / Revolving | 20–27% | 0–5% | R15,000–R22,000/yr |
| Clothing / Furniture Account | 21–24% | 0–5% | R16,000–R19,000/yr |
* Rates are illustrative. Actual restructured rates depend on creditor agreement and court order.
Settlement Discount by Creditor Type
| Creditor Type | Typical Discount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Retail / Store Accounts | 20–35% | Most flexible; high profitability from interest |
| Personal Loan Providers | 10–20% | Negotiable; higher for older accounts |
| Vehicle Finance Companies | 5–15% | Lower discounts; secured against asset |
| Banks (unsecured) | 10–25% | Depends on account age and arrears level |
| Home Loan / Bond | 0–5% | Very low; secured against property |
| SARS Tax Debt | 0% | Cannot be discounted; must pay in full |
Debt Review Exit Cheat Sheet
📐 Key Formulas
- Remaining balance: P₀ × (1+r)ⁿ − PMT × [(1+r)ⁿ − 1] / r
- Settlement amount: Balance × (1 − discount%)
- Interest saving: Total remaining payments − Settlement amount
- Months remaining: Simulate month-by-month until balance = R0
📋 Exit Process Steps
- 1Contact your debt counsellor to discuss exit options
- 2Get a settlement statement from each creditor
- 3Negotiate a lump-sum discount (or arrange funding)
- 4Pay all creditors; obtain written paid-up letters
- 5Debt counsellor issues Form 17.W Clearance Certificate
- 6Certificate filed with credit bureaus (21 days to clear)
- 7Begin rebuilding credit with secured card or store account
📊 Credit Score Recovery Rules
- 🔵 Month 1: Bureau flag cleared after Form 17.W
- 🟢 Month 3: Apply for store or secured credit card
- 🟡 Month 6: Apply for personal loan / vehicle finance
- 🟠 Month 12: Bond / home loan applications open
- ⭐ Month 24: Near-average Experian/TransUnion score
- ⭐⭐ Month 36: Good/excellent score fully achievable
⚠️ Common Exit Mistakes
- ✘ Stopping payments without a clearance certificate
- ✘ Paying some creditors but not all (partial exits not valid)
- ✘ Not getting written paid-up letters from each creditor
- ✘ Assuming credit bureaus auto-update — always follow up
- ✘ Applying for new credit before score has recovered
- ✘ Using informal lenders to fund the settlement
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I exit debt review if I still owe a bond?
Yes, but only if all other unsecured debts are settled. The home loan can remain active under normal terms once all unsecured debt is cleared and the DC issues a clearance certificate.
Q: Can a debt counsellor refuse to issue Form 17.W?
A debt counsellor is legally required to issue Form 17.W once all obligations under the debt review order are settled. Refusal is a regulatory breach reportable to the NCR (National Credit Regulator).
Q: Is debt review the same as sequestration / insolvency?
No. Debt review under Section 86 NCA is a voluntary restructuring process that preserves your assets. Sequestration is a formal insolvency process that involves surrendering assets. Debt review is far less severe.
Q: Can I use a personal loan to fund the settlement?
Not while under debt review — you cannot access new credit during the process. However, family or a trust may fund the settlement on your behalf. This is common practice.
Q: How does the 15% NCR settlement discount rule work?
The NCR guidelines suggest creditors offer a minimum 15% discount on the capital amount for early lump-sum settlement. This is a guideline, not law, but is widely applied.
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