Stassen Debt Counsellors

07/09/2026

Who Handles Your Debt Review Payments?

▪️When you are in debt review, you may have several different credit providers who all need to be paid every month.
▪️A Payment Distribution Agent, commonly called a PDA, can make that much easier.
▪️You make one monthly payment to the PDA.
▪️The PDA divides that money between your credit providers according to your repayment plan.
▪️Payments are made using the correct amounts, account details and references.
▪️The PDA keeps a record of the money distributed.
▪️You receive statements showing where your money went.
▪️PDAs charge a small regulated fee for distributing payments.
▪️You have the right to pay credit providers directly instead.
▪️If you pay directly, you are responsible for making every payment correctly, in full and on time.
▪️You also need to provide proof of those payments to your debt counsellor.
▪️Never act on unexpected instructions to send your debt review payment to new bank details without checking first.
▪️At the time of writing, the NCR currently have three registered PDAs: Hyphen PDA, DC Partner PDA and Intuitive PDA (iPDA)

PRACTICAL TIPS

📌Pay on time. Do not leave your monthly debt review payment until the last possible moment.
📌Use the correct reference. An incorrect reference can make it harder to identify your payment.
📌Check your statement. Make sure the payments shown broadly match what you expect.
📌Keep your records. Save statements and proof of your own monthly payment.
📌Ask about anything unusual. A strange amount or missing payment is easier to investigate sooner rather than months later.
📌Be suspicious of changed banking details. Independently verify any unexpected request to pay into another account.
📌Tell your debt counsellor when circumstances change. Do not simply change your monthly payment yourself.
📌If you pay directly, stay organised. Every payment must still be made correctly, in full and on time, and proof should be supplied to your debt counsellor each month.

31/08/2026

💥How Long Does Debt Review Take?💥

📌There is no fixed debt review timeline.
📌Around60 monthsis often used as a general industry benchmark.
📌Some consumers finish much sooner. Others need longer.
📌How long it takes depends mainly onhow much debt you haveandhow much you can realistically afford to repay each month.
📌Your repayment plan should still leave enough money for normal living expenses.
📌Reduced interest rates or other concessions, where applicable, can help debts get paid off faster.
📌Extra payments can make a big difference.
📌Bonuses, salary increases, tax refunds or money from selling something can be put towards debt.
📌As individual accounts are settled, more of your monthly payment can start flowing towards the remaining debts.
📌You normally donothave to finish paying off your home loan before qualifying for a clearance certificate, provided the legal requirements are met.
📌The important thing is not to compare your timeline with someone else’s.Keep paying consistently and keep moving towards your clearance certificate.

💥PRACTICAL TIPS💥

Want To Finish Debt Review Sooner?

📌 Pay a little extra:Even small additional amounts can help reduce balances.
📌 Use part of your bonus:You do not necessarily have to spend every bonus you receive.
📌 Review your budget after an increase:Consider putting some of the increase towards debt before lifestyle costs expand.
📌 Pay windfalls towards debt:Refunds, incentives and unexpected money can help move the finish line.
📌 Sell things you no longer use:An unused asset could become a useful lump sum payment.
📌 Stay in touch with your debt counsellor:Ask for updates and make sure your repayments are progressing as expected.
📌 Do not miss payments:Trying to pay extra occasionally is no substitute for making the required regular payments.
📌 Avoid comparing yourself with others:Your income, debt and household needs are different.

17/08/2026

💥What Does the Debt Review Flag Mean?💥

▪️A debt review flag is a temporary listing on your credit report. It shows that you have formally applied for debt review and are repaying your debts through a structured plan.
▪️While the flag is active, credit providers should not grant you additional credit. This protects you from adding more debt while you are already working towards becoming debt free.
▪️The flag is not permanent. Once you meet the legal clearance requirements, your debt counsellor can issue a Form 19 clearance certificate and notify the relevant parties. Your debt review listing can then be removed.
▪️Be careful of anyone promising to remove the flag for a fee without the debts being settled. ▪️There are no secret shortcuts. Never stop making your debt review payments without first speaking to your registered debt counsellor.
▪️The flag is there to protect your progress, not punish you.

💥PRACTICAL TIPS💥

✅️Check who you are dealing with
Confirm that your Debt counsellor appears on the NCR’s official register.
✅️Understand before you sign
Asking for advice does not automatically mean you have applied for debt review. Read forms carefully before signing them.
✅️Keep making your payments
Never stop paying because someone claims they can quickly remove your debt review flag.
✅️Track your balances
Ask your debt counsellor for updates and keep copies of settlement letters and paid up letters.
✅️Check your credit reports
After receiving a clearance, check your credit reports to make sure the debt review listing has been removed.
✅️Report suspicious offers
Be cautious of anyone offering guaranteed flag removal through special contacts or unofficial methods.

13/08/2026

Today we had the pleasure of attending the Debt Counsellors Association of South Africa (DCASA) Conference at Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre. What an insightful and inspiring day! ✨

A huge thank you to all the speakers for sharing your knowledge, expertise and valuable insights with us. Every presentation was informative and gave us plenty to take back into our practice.

Thank you to DCASA for hosting such a wonderful event! Here’s to continued learning, growth and making a difference in the lives of our clients. 💙👏🏼

03/08/2026

💥Debt Review: One Plan, One Payment💥

• Many people enter debt review after months of choosing which credit providers to pay and which payments to miss.
• Missed payments lead to growing balances, collection pressure and possible legal action.
• Debt review replaces several difficult payments with one organised monthly payment.
• The repayment amount is based on the consumer’s income, necessary expenses and debts.
• The most important rule is to pay the agreed amount in full, on time and every month.
• Regular payments reduce uncertainty and help the consumer make steady progress towards becoming debt free.
• The payment must be protected through budgeting, planning and early communication with the debt counsellor.
• The habits learned during debt review can later be used to build savings and work towards new financial goals.

Contact us today on 073 657 4007 or [email protected] for a free consultation.

21/07/2026

How To Spot Scammers While You Are In Debt Review

21/07/2026

13/07/2026

💥A DEBT REVIEW LISTING ISN'T YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM!💥

▪️Many consumers are frightened of having a debt review listing on their credit record.

▪️However, if you are already missing repayments and struggling to pay your debts, the debt itself is usually causing much bigger problems than any listing.

▪️Debt review does place temporary restrictions on taking out new credit, but it also helps consumers repay their debt through an affordable repayment plan and provides important legal protection once the process is started.

▪️Also, the listing is not permanent. Once you successfully complete debt review and qualify for clearance, it is removed.

▪️Rather than asking whether debt review will affect your credit record, ask yourself what will happen if you continue missing payments for another year.

▪️For many people, getting help sooner rather than later is the first step towards dealing with their debt.

08/07/2026

💥DEBT COUNSELLING WORKS - IF WE WORK TOGETHER!💥

Debt counselling is an effective way to regain control of your finances, but your commitment is just as important.

▪️Keep in regular contact with your debt counsellor.
▪️Inform us immediately if your income or expenses change.
▪️Respond to calls, emails, and requests for information.
▪️Continue making your argued monthly payments.

Good communication helps us protect you, negotiate with your credit providers, and keep your debt review on track.

Stay in touch. Stay protected. Stay on path to becoming debt free.

📞Contact us today at 073 657 4007 for a free consultation and credit check.

25/06/2026

💥The Good News and Bad News About Inflation and Interest Rates💥

The Good News✅️
• Inflation increased, but by less than economists expected.Lower oil prices have improved the inflation outlook.Markets now expect less pressure for future interest rate increases.Consumers with debt may welcome signs that borrowing costs (the Repo Rate) could remain more stable at upcoming SARB meetings.

The Bad News❎️
• Inflation is still higher than it was a month ago.Housing, utilities and transport remain major cost pressures.Previous increases in fuel and transport costs may still affect prices in the coming weeks.Consumers may not see immediate relief at the tills.

What This Means
• Continue managing your budget carefully.Don't assume prices will immediately fall.Stay prepared for changing economic conditions.If financial pressure continues despite your best efforts, seek professional advice sooner rather than later.