Can Short-Term Loans Be Included in Debt Review?
Short-term loans can generally be included in debt review if they are credit agreements governed by the National Credit Act. Your debt counsellor will restructure the repayment as part of your overall plan. Be cautious of unregistered lenders, whose agreements may fall outside the NCA and cannot always be included.
Key Points
- Short-term credit agreements can usually be included.
- Loans must be governed by the National Credit Act.
- Unregistered lenders' agreements may not qualify.
- Provide full loan details to your debt counsellor.
Which short-term loans can be included?
Short-term loans from registered credit providers — such as payday loans and small personal loans — are generally credit agreements under the National Credit Act and can be included in debt review.
Your debt counsellor will confirm whether each agreement qualifies when reviewing your documents.
What about unregistered lenders?
Loans from unregistered lenders (sometimes called mashonisa or loan sharks) may fall outside the NCA and cannot always be included in debt review. These lenders often operate unlawfully and charge excessive interest.
If you have borrowed from an unregistered lender, disclose this to your debt counsellor, who can advise on how it may be handled.
Why short-term loans cause problems
Short-term loans often carry very high interest rates and fees, and consumers frequently roll them over — taking a new loan to repay the previous one. This cycle can quickly become unaffordable.
Including these loans in debt review can break the cycle by restructuring the repayment into an affordable amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Worried That Your Debt Has Become Unaffordable?
Debt Guidance can assess your income, essential expenses and debt commitments to determine whether debt review may be appropriate.
Reviewed by Carolina Guevara Harris
Registered Debt Counsellor · NCRDC3152
Last updated: 17 September 2025
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