Debt review and legal notices: check your account stage
14 April 2026 · Cornel Strydom
If you are concerned about legal action and debt review, start by establishing the stage of each account. An enquiry, a formal application, a repayment proposal and a court order are different points in the process. The documents and payment history determine what an adviser needs to check.
Before making an application
Collect your account statements, arrears letters and any legal notices. Share the full documents promptly, including when you received them. Tell the counsellor about later letters or court papers even if you have already discussed the account.
If you received a Section 129 notice, use the preparation checklist. Do not assume a callback request responds to a notice or stops a deadline.
After submitting an application
Ask for confirmation of the application and the notices issued. Check which accounts are being assessed and raise any missing or incorrect account information. Keep copies of the documents you signed.
The national debt review guide explains the application, assessment and proposal stages.
While a repayment proposal is being considered
Ask which terms have been accepted, which are disputed and what legal step remains. Understand what payments are required while the matter is being handled. A proposed instalment is not proof that every part of the arrangement has been approved.
Once there is a formal arrangement
Keep the order or agreement and payment instructions together. Check statements and allocations against your payments. If a creditor contacts you, keep the correspondence and ask your counsellor to confirm the account status.
Read the separate creditor-contact guide for questions to discuss.
If a payment becomes difficult
Tell your counsellor what changed and provide an updated budget. Ask what can be considered under the current arrangement before changing or stopping payments. If you have already missed a payment, report it promptly.
The emergency checklist and missed-payment guide explain what to prepare.
If enforcement has already progressed
Get advice on the actual documents and deadlines. Do not rely on a general website explanation to establish whether a specific account can be included in debt review or whether enforcement can be stopped.
For background, read the collection-process overview or the repossession guide. Bring the records to a qualified adviser who can assess your situation.
Related questions and next steps
- How debt review works
Understand the assessment, repayment proposal and steps towards completion.
- Garnishee orders and salary deductions
Learn about the legal documents involved in debt collection.
- Reckless credit allegations
Read about the assessment of lending and a case described by DRC.
- Received a Section 129 notice?
Understand the notice and prepare for a conversation about your options.
See what your monthly payment could look like
Use the free calculator to enter your income, expenses, and debt payments. You will get an immediate estimate of your possible debt review payment and monthly savings. It is not an application.