What Happens If You Have an Emergency During Debt Review?

Going under debt review is a big step toward financial freedom. It’s designed to protect you from creditors and help you repay your debt in a manageable way. But let’s be honest — emergencies don’t really care whether you’re on a repayment plan or not.

Things happen. Unexpected funeral costs, medical bills, job loss — real stuff that can throw your finances off track. So, what do you do if one of these hits while you’re already on a debt review plan? Don’t stress. The whole idea of debt review is to support you even through life’s curveballs. Let's break down what your options are and how to handle this kind of situation.

1. Talk to Your Debt Counsellor First

The number one rule when you're going through a tough time during debt review is simple: communicate.

If something happens — be it a family emergency, job loss, or anything that affects your ability to make payments — contact your debt counsellor immediately. At Debt Review Centre, we’re here to help you navigate these situations.

• Give us a heads-up about your change in circumstances
• We’ll speak to your credit providers on your behalf
• We’ll work on possible relief options that could ease your burden

Remember: staying silent can make things worse. In fact, credit providers are more open to being flexible if they’re approached the right way — and that’s what we do on your behalf.

2. Relief Options That Can Help During an Emergency

If you can’t make your regular payment due to an emergency, there are a few lifelines available under debt review. These aren’t just made-up ideas — they’re real support mechanisms we can guide you through:

• Relief Period: A temporary break from payments, usually arranged with your creditors. This is useful if your cash flow is interrupted briefly.
• Debt Freeze: In more serious cases, we can apply to freeze your payments entirely for a period (think of it like hitting a pause button).
• Postponement Application: Also called a court-based relief, this allows your payments to be officially postponed for up to six months while you get back on your feet.

These options aren’t just for show — they’re designed to protect you from falling behind or even exiting the debt review with unpaid debt because of a temporary crisis.

3. Emergencies Come in All Shapes and Sizes

Here are a few examples of situations where relief may be needed while under debt review:

• Family funeral costs — a common and unexpected event in many South African households
• Emergency home or car repairs — essential for daily survival
• Job loss or reduced income due to illness or retrenchment

In any of these cases, your best bet is to contact us before missing any payment. That early warning gives us time to work with your creditors and possibly present a case for a temporary relief measure.

If you want to read more about handling income drops, we’ve explored this in detail in our post on dealing with loss of income during debt review.

4. The Legal Side: Court Relief Applications

Yes, there's even a legal route to help manage financial emergencies while under debt review. This is known as a debt postponement application. We basically approach the court with the following:

• A breakdown of your current financial crisis
• Supporting documents such as medical bills, funeral costs, or job loss letters
• A proposal to delay your payments for a certain period (usually up to 6 months)

The court then reviews your situation and, if approved, gives you the green light to press pause on payments temporarily. Of course, this doesn’t wipe your debt, but it gives you breathing room to sort things out without defaulting.

As mentioned in our transcript insight: “...we can ask the court to — due to this emergency in your life — postpone the date of payment by up to six months to assist you...” That’s real support, folks.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Go Through It Alone

Emergencies during debt review are more common than you might think. What’s important is how you handle them.

• Stay transparent with your debt counsellor
• Make use of available relief options — they’re there to help you
• Keep moving forward; a temporary setback doesn’t mean failure

If you've found yourself in a bind and you're on debt review, reach out to us at Debt Review Centre. We have your back, and we’ll do everything possible to make the journey easier for you. Because everyone deserves a second chance — even when things don’t go according to plan.

Need help now? Get in touch with a certified debt counsellor today and let’s figure it out together.