NCR fees explained: what you'll actually pay for debt review in 2026
Debt review costs about R350 upfront (application + admin fees). All other fees, the once-off restructuring fee (capped at R8,000), 5% monthly aftercare (capped at R450), and PDA distribution (R15/creditor), are deducted from your monthly distribution, not paid separately. The NCR sets and enforces every limit.
The rules first: NCR caps everything
Debt counselling fees in South Africa are regulated by the National Credit Regulator (NCR). That means there are legal maximums for every fee a debt counsellor can charge, and registered counsellors must operate within those caps. If anyone quotes you fees above these limits, that's a red flag.
Under NCR guidelines, a debt counsellor must provide you a full written breakdown of all fees before you sign anything. If you don't receive one, ask. If they refuse, find another counsellor.
The full list of fees (2026 figures)
Here are all the fees you may encounter, in the order they typically occur:
| Fee | Amount | When paid | NCR cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | R50 | Once-off, upfront | Fixed at R50 |
| Administration fee | R300 | Once-off, upfront | Fixed at R300 |
| Restructuring fee | 100% of new monthly payment | Once-off, from month 2 | R8,000 single / R9,000 joint |
| Reckless lending fee | Up to R1,725 (incl VAT) | Once-off, if applicable | NCR regulated |
| Aftercare fee | 5% of monthly payment (excl VAT) | Monthly | R450 cap (excl VAT) |
| PDA transactional fee | Per creditor per month | Monthly | R15 (incl VAT) per debt |
| Legal fee | Negotiated | Once-off, upfront | Not NCR-capped |
Below we break each one down, why it exists, when it's charged, and where the cap kicks in.
Application fee (R50) & Administration fee (R300)
These two fees together total R350, paid upfront when you start your application. They cover:
- Initial consultation and explanation of the debt review process to you.
- Capturing your information on the NCR Debt Help System.
- Filing the Form 17.1 notification to all your credit providers.
- Verifying your debts and income, including obtaining Certificates of Balance.
- Compliance work to ensure your application meets NCR regulations.
R350 is the entry cost of debt review. There is no monthly fee to "stay in the system" until your plan is restructured, these initial fees are it.
Restructuring fee (capped at R8,000)
This is usually the largest fee in the process and the one most people don't expect. It covers the substantial work of designing your new payment plan: negotiating with each creditor, preparing proposals, securing creditor acceptances, and structuring the legal framework.
The fee equals 100% of your first restructured monthly instalment, but is capped:
- R8,000 (excl VAT) for single applications.
- R9,000 (excl VAT) for joint applications (e.g. married in community of property).
Crucially, this fee is deducted from your monthly distribution, usually starting in month 2 of debt review, paid down over several months. You don't hand over R8,000 in cash upfront.
Say your new restructured monthly payment is R6,000. Your restructuring fee equals 100% of that, also R6,000 (since it's below the cap). It would typically be deducted from your distribution over the first 2-3 months, alongside the start of payments to your creditors. After that, the fee is fully paid and 100% of your monthly amount goes to creditors and ongoing fees.
Monthly aftercare fee (5%, capped at R450)
This is the only ongoing fee throughout your debt review, usually 36 to 60 months. It covers:
- Monthly management of your debt review account.
- Communication with creditors and ongoing negotiation where needed.
- Annual review of your financial position.
- Adjustments to your plan if your circumstances change (job loss, salary change, medical issue).
- Generating annual statements and certificates as required.
- Issuing your final clearance certificate.
The fee is 5% of your monthly restructured payment, excluding VAT, capped at R450/month excluding VAT. If your monthly payment is R10,000, the aftercare fee is capped at R450, not R500. If your monthly payment is R3,000, your aftercare fee is R150 (5%).
Like the restructuring fee, the aftercare fee is deducted from your monthly distribution before payments go to creditors. You never pay it separately.
Payment Distribution Agency (PDA) fee
A Payment Distribution Agency is the regulated intermediary that actually distributes your single monthly payment to all your individual creditors. In South Africa, the main PDA is Hyphen Technologies (Pty) Ltd, though there are others.
The PDA charges a small fee for each creditor it distributes to, capped at R15 (incl VAT) per debt, per month. So if you have 5 creditors, your PDA fee is up to R75/month total.
This is a small fee, but a necessary one, using a regulated PDA is what guarantees your payments reach the right creditors on time, every time.
Reckless lending fee (when applicable)
Under the National Credit Act, a debt counsellor must investigate whether any of your credit was granted "recklessly" by the lender, i.e. without proper assessment of whether you could afford it. If reckless lending is found, you may be entitled to have that debt reduced or struck out entirely.
The investigation costs up to R1,725 (incl VAT) per assessment and is a once-off fee, usually charged in the second month. This fee is only charged if the counsellor pursues a reckless lending assessment on your behalf.
Worth noting: a successful reckless lending finding can save you tens of thousands of rand, the fee is often massively worthwhile.
Legal fees (not NCR-capped)
When your debt review application goes to court for a court order, there are legal costs involved. These are not regulated by the NCR and vary by debt counsellor and case complexity:
- Consent order route (all creditors agree): typically R500-R2,000 in court costs, no attorney fees needed.
- Contested route (one or more creditors object): R2,000-R7,000 in attorney fees and court costs.
- National Consumer Tribunal route: no attorney fees, but a Tribunal filing fee.
Your debt counsellor should give you a clear estimate of these legal fees upfront before any court application. They should also negotiate to minimise them, often by working to secure all creditor consents, which avoids contested hearings entirely.
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What you'll actually pay in total
Let's put it all together for a realistic example: someone with R350,000 in total debt across 5 creditors, currently paying R12,000/month and restructured to R6,500/month for 60 months.
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application + Admin (once-off) | R350 |
| Restructuring fee (capped, paid down over ~1 month) | R6,500 |
| Legal fee (consent order) | R1,500 |
| Aftercare fee (5% × R6,500 = R325/month × 60) | R19,500 |
| PDA fee (5 creditors × R15 × 60) | R4,500 |
| Total fees over 60 months | R32,350 |
That's about R540/month all-in for the full debt review service. Compare it to the R6,500/month savings versus your original R12,000/month payments, and the math is straightforward, the fees pay for themselves several times over.
Red flags: what to avoid
Unfortunately, some operators in the SA debt help market are not legitimate. Watch for these warning signs:
- "Upfront fee" demands above R500. Legitimate debt counsellors only charge R350 upfront (application + admin). Anyone demanding R2,000+ upfront is not following NCR guidelines.
- "Guaranteed credit score repair" promises. No one can guarantee credit repair. Anyone making this promise is selling you something else.
- Reluctance to provide an NCR registration number. Every legitimate debt counsellor has a number starting with "NCRDC", they should display it prominently. Verify it on the NCR public register.
- Pressure to sign quickly. Debt review is a major decision. Any legitimate counsellor will give you time to read and reflect.
- Refusal to provide a written fee breakdown. This is your legal right under NCR guidelines.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I pay anything before the process starts?
Just the R350 (application + admin fees) once-off. All other fees come out of your monthly distribution, never paid separately upfront.
What if I can't afford the R350 application fee?
Speak openly to your counsellor. Some practices allow the R350 to be paid in two instalments or even deducted from the first month's distribution. The NCR's primary concern is access to debt review, so flexibility exists.
Why is the aftercare fee 5%, is it the same everywhere?
Yes. The 5%/R450 cap is set by the NCR and applies to all registered debt counsellors in SA. If a counsellor quotes a different percentage, they're not following the regulations.
Can the restructuring fee be more than R8,000?
Only for joint applications (married in community of property), where it's capped at R9,000. For single applications, R8,000 (excl VAT) is the hard maximum.
Are fees refundable if I withdraw from debt review?
The application fee (R50) is generally not refundable. Other fees depend on the stage of withdrawal, your counsellor should explain this clearly upfront. If a counsellor failed to submit your proposal within 60 business days, NCR rules require them to refund 100% of fees paid (excluding the application fee).