What people usually gather before a debt review talk
Debt review starts with information, not guesswork. A counsellor needs a picture of your income, monthly commitments, and the debts listed on your credit report, so the first task is to gather documents that show your financial position as it stands now.
Most South Africans begin with the basics: proof of income, bank statements, and a list of monthly expenses. If your salary changes from month to month, or if you earn commission, those records matter even more because they show the pattern behind the figures. In a place like Rosebank, where people may be juggling transport costs, school fees, rent, and a home loan or vehicle finance, the paperwork can tell a fuller story than a short conversation ever can.
- South African ID document or smart ID card
- Recent payslips or proof of income
- Three to six months of bank statements
- A current credit report, if available
- Statements for loans, store accounts, and credit cards
- Proof of residence, where requested
If a document is missing, that does not always stop the discussion, but it can slow the review of your situation. A neat file helps the counsellor compare what you earn, what you owe, and what is left for normal living costs.
How payslips, bank statements, and income proof fit together
Income evidence is the starting point for most debt review assessments. Payslips show regular earnings, while bank statements reveal what actually lands in your account and what leaves it each month. That matters when overtime, commissions, short-term work, or cash deposits are part of your normal income pattern.
For salaried workers, a recent payslip and a bank statement often work together. For self-employed people, freelancers, or commission earners, the picture may need more than one record. Tax-related documents, invoices, or business income records can help if they reflect the way money flows in practice. The point is not to impress anyone, it is to show the numbers clearly.
- Check that your name and employer details are readable
- Keep statement pages in date order
- Include the full month, not selected pages only
- Mark unusual entries such as bonuses or once-off payments
When income varies, a counsellor may need a broader sample before any budgeting discussion makes sense. The more complete the records, the easier it is to see whether debt review is a suitable route under the National Credit Act.
The debts list that makes the picture clearer
Many people underestimate how useful a full debt list can be. A credit report gives a formal summary, but your own records help fill in the details. This includes credit cards, personal loans, retail accounts, vehicle finance, and any overdue accounts that still affect your budget.
It helps to note the account number, creditor name, monthly instalment, balance, and whether the account is up to date or behind. If you have garnishee orders, judgements, or collection letters, keep those with the rest of the file. They can matter during the assessment process because they show the pressure already placed on your income.
- Store cards and revolving credit accounts
- Short-term loans and personal loans
- Vehicle finance agreements
- Mortgage or rental arrears records, where relevant
- Judgement papers or collection notices
People in Johannesburg sometimes discover that old store accounts are still listed long after they were forgotten. That is why the credit report should be checked against your own records, not treated as the only source. A debt counsellor can explain the difference between active accounts, arrears, and accounts already settled.
Credit reports and what they can reveal
A credit report is a snapshot of your credit history. It usually shows open accounts, repayment behaviour, arrears, judgements, and other information reported by credit providers and related systems. It does not tell the whole story on its own, but it helps identify where the pressure points are.
Before a debt review discussion, people often use the report to confirm which accounts still appear in their name. Sometimes an old account is paid off but still reflected incorrectly. Sometimes a balance is smaller than expected because an interest charge or missed payment changed the amount. The report is a useful check, but the details must still be read carefully.
Under the National Credit Act, consumers have rights and responsibilities around credit information and repayment behaviour. If anything on the report seems wrong, it is worth raising that with the relevant credit provider or studio through the proper process. OpenCredit can explain the general meaning of these records, but a registered debt counsellor or the National Credit Regulator should confirm the formal next steps.
Budget notes that help a counsellor see the pressure points
Debt review is not only about what you owe, it is also about what remains after normal living costs. That is why a basic household budget matters. Rent, transport, groceries, school costs, municipal bills, medical spending, and childcare can all shape what is realistically available for debt repayment.
People often arrive with a rough monthly picture in their heads, then realise the numbers are tighter than expected once everything is written down. That is not unusual. A budget file does not need to be fancy, just honest and complete. In Durban, for example, a household may carry water, electricity, and transport costs that change from month to month, while in Cape Town or Gqeberha coastal living can bring different household pressures and travel patterns.
- Monthly rent or home instalments
- Groceries and basic household items
- Transport or fuel costs
- School or crèche fees
- Medical aid or clinic expenses
- Utilities and municipal charges
A clear budget helps the counsellor understand whether debt review may assist with repayment planning. It also highlights whether the household can meet living costs while keeping debt commitments in view.
A Rosebank example: how one file might be arranged
Picture a working parent in Rosebank with two retail accounts, a vehicle instalment, and a personal loan. Their income lands into a main account, but overtime varies from month to month. They want to understand debt review before making any commitment, so the first step is to gather a practical file.
That file could include an ID copy, three months of payslips, three to six months of bank statements, account statements for each debt, and a basic monthly budget. If there are letters about arrears or legal action, those go in too. The aim is to give the counsellor a clean view of the situation, not a polished version of it.
For someone in Pretoria, Sandton, Midrand, Cape Town, Durban, or Gqeberha, the list looks much the same. The local details change, but the document trail is usually similar. Once the records are together, a registered debt counsellor can explain what debt review may involve and how the National Credit Act applies to the case.
OpenCredit offers guidance on the common papers people gather and the meaning of the process, but formal advice should always be confirmed with a registered debt counsellor or the National Credit Regulator.
