In short
Debt Solutions 4U (NCRDC2423) has partnered with Debt Free with Armani (NCRDC1015), the practice founded by Tania Dekker, a registered debt counsellor since 2009 and twice voted one of South Africa's top five. Existing clients keep their counsellor, plan and fees unchanged. New clients get two NCR-registered teams behind one application.
If you have visited our site recently, you may have spotted the new logo: Debt Solutions 4U, powered by Debt Free with Armani. It is not a rebrand and it is not a takeover. It is a partnership between two NCR-registered debt counselling practices that have been doing the same work, the same way, for a combined two decades. This article explains who Debt Free with Armani is, why we joined forces, and what it means for you, whether you are already a client or still deciding if debt review is the right move.
Who Is Debt Free with Armani?
Debt Free with Armani is a debt counselling practice registered with the National Credit Regulator under NCRDC1015. Its founder and CEO, Tania Dekker, has been a registered debt counsellor since 2009. Before that she spent more than 15 years in corporate finance and financial management, which shows in how her practice runs: disciplined paperwork, clear budgets, and no promises that cannot survive a court date.
The industry has noticed. Tania has twice been voted one of South Africa's top five debt counsellors at the national Debt Review Awards, the same awards where DS4U has been a top-ten finalist three years running (2023, 2024 and 2025). You can meet her, alongside the rest of our team, on our team page.
Why Partner at All?
Because debt review is a capacity business. Every file needs a real person to assess the budget, negotiate with FNB, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Capitec and the retailers, prepare the court application, and answer the phone when something goes wrong. When a practice grows faster than its senior capacity, service quality is the first casualty. We have watched it happen across the industry, and we were not prepared to let it happen here.
Partnering with Debt Free with Armani adds senior, award-recognised counselling capacity to every stage of our process. It also adds a second pair of experienced eyes on the hard cases: the self-employed applicant with irregular income, the couple married in community of property, the client whose creditor is playing games with a Section 129 notice. Between the two practices there is very little we have not seen since 2009.
What Changes for Existing Clients?
Nothing that requires action from you. Your counsellor stays the same. Your court order or Form 17.2 stays the same. Your monthly payment, your Payment Distribution Agency, and your creditor arrangements all continue exactly as before. The partnership works behind the scenes, in review capacity and shared expertise, not in your paperwork.
One thing you might notice: faster responses on complex queries. Files that need a second senior opinion now get one inside the partnership instead of waiting in a single queue.
What It Means If You Are Still Deciding
Choosing a debt counsellor is a trust decision, and the industry does not always make it easy. There are excellent practices, and there are operators who promise miracle "debt review removal" or sign people up without a proper affordability assessment. We have written before about how to spot a debt review scam and how to choose a debt review company. The short version: verify the NCRDC number, read the reviews, and get the fees in writing.
On that test, here is what the partnership puts on the table:
| Credential | Debt Solutions 4U | Debt Free with Armani |
|---|---|---|
| NCR registration | NCRDC2423 | NCRDC1015 |
| Operating since | 2015 | 2009 (founder's registration) |
| Industry recognition | Debt Review Awards top-10 finalist 2023, 2024, 2025 | Founder twice voted SA top-5 debt counsellor |
| Clients assisted | 5,800+ | Established national practice |
| Public reviews | 4.9★ on Google (477+), 348 five-star on Hellopeter | Verifiable on the NCR register |
Both registrations are public. Check them yourself on the NCR register before you sign with anyone, us included. That is not false modesty. It is the habit we want every South African to build, because the people it protects you from are counting on you not checking. Our NCR debt review page explains what registration does and does not guarantee.
The Fees Do Not Change. They Cannot.
A fair question when two companies join forces: does the client now pay for both? No, and the reason is structural rather than charitable. Debt review fees are capped by the National Credit Act and monitored by the NCR. A R50 application fee. A once-off restructuring fee of up to roughly R9,000, built into your first restructured instalment. Monthly aftercare of about 5%, capped near R450. A PDA distribution fee of around R29.50 a month. Those caps bind every registered counsellor in the country, in any partnership, of any size. If you want to see what a restructured payment could look like for your own debts, the debt review calculator takes about a minute.
Where This Is Going
South Africa's household debt picture is not improving. Millions of credit-active consumers have impaired records, and the gap between salaries and the cost of living keeps widening. The demand for honest, compliant debt counselling will grow, and we intend to meet it without diluting the thing that earned the reviews: a real person who knows your file. The partnership is how we scale the capacity without scaling down the care. If you are wondering whether your own situation qualifies, start with our guide on when to consider debt review, or skip straight to a free assessment on debt review with DS4U.
Reviewed by a registered debt counsellor, NCRDC2423
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Debt Free with Armani?
Debt Free with Armani is an NCR-registered debt counselling practice (NCRDC1015) founded and led by Tania Dekker. Tania has been a registered debt counsellor since 2009, brings more than 15 years of corporate and financial-management experience, and has twice been voted one of South Africa's top five debt counsellors at the industry's national awards.
Does the partnership change my existing DS4U debt review?
No. Your debt counsellor, your court order, your payment plan and your Payment Distribution Agency all stay exactly as they are. The partnership adds capacity and senior experience behind the scenes. Nothing about your restructured agreement changes, and you do not need to sign anything new.
Are both companies registered with the NCR?
Yes. Debt Solutions 4U is registered as NCRDC2423 and Debt Free with Armani as NCRDC1015. You can verify both numbers on the National Credit Regulator's public register at www.ncr.org.za. Only NCR-registered debt counsellors may legally perform debt review in South Africa, and registration means both practices are bound by the NCR's conduct rules and capped fee structure.
Will debt review cost more because two companies are involved?
No. Debt review fees are capped by the National Credit Act regardless of who provides the service: roughly a R50 application fee, a once-off restructuring fee up to about R9,000, monthly aftercare of around 5% capped near R450, and a PDA fee of about R29.50 a month. The partnership does not add a cent to any of these. You still make one reduced monthly payment.
Should I consider debt review if I am struggling with repayments?
If your debit orders bounce, you borrow to cover essentials, or creditors have started calling, an assessment is worth 60 seconds of your time. Debt review under Section 86 of the National Credit Act typically cuts total monthly repayments by 30-50%, reduces interest rates, and legally protects your home, car and salary while you pay off what you owe. The assessment is free and does not obligate you to anything.
