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This blog offers general guidance based on information available at the time of publication. For the most up-to-date details, please contact Netcash or other service providers directly.
If your business collects debit orders in South Africa, an important rule change takes effect on 13 April 2026. From this date, customers will have 60 calendar days to dispute a debit order, changing how EFT debits, DebiCheck, and Registered Mandates are handled.
This change is being implemented across South African banks as part of an industry initiative led by the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA), together with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).
The change is intended to simplify debit order disputes by replacing different timelines and processes with one standard 60-day rule. This guide explains what is changing, what falls away, and what businesses should do now to prepare.
In short, from 13 April 2026, South African customers will have 60 calendar days to dispute EFT debits, DebiCheck debit orders, and Registered Mandates. After that, banks will no longer process disputes automatically, and customers will need to contact the business directly.
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What the New 60-Day Debit Order Dispute Rule Means
From 13 April 2026, customers will have 60 calendar days to dispute a debit order in South Africa.
This industry-wide rule applies across all Low-Value Debit (LVD) instruments, including EFT Debits, DebiCheck, and Registered Mandates (RM). The dispute window starts the day after the debit is processed and ends on the 60th calendar day.
In simple terms:
- One standard dispute window
- One clear timeframe
- No more long-tail reversals months later
What’s changing vs what’s falling away
The table below shows which parts of the old dispute process fall away and how the new 60-day framework will work going forward.
The dispute period for all debit order collection instruments will be reduced from 365 days to 60 days. Under this new rule, disputes filed more than 60 days after the transaction will not be accepted, and customers will have to contact creditors directly to voice their complaints.
Take a look at the table below for more information.
| What’s changing? | What happens to existing dispute processes? |
| The current 40-day dispute period for EFT debits falls away | The 40-day automated EFT debit dispute process extends to 60 days |
| The option to dispute debit orders for up to 365 days will no longer apply | The manual dispute process after 40 days is phased out |
| EFT debit reversals can now happen within the full 60-day window | Disputes submitted before 12 April 2026 follow the old rules |
| A single, consistent 60‑day dispute window will apply to:
● EFT Debits ● Registered Mandates (RM) ● DebiCheck (DC) debit orders | After 60 days, banks will no longer process disputes |
| Electronic mandates are now valid for dispute resolution | After the 60‑day window, customers will need to contact the creditor directly |
| Valid DebiCheck mandates remain non-disputable |
|
How the new 60-day rule affects EFT Debits vs DebiCheck
While the new debit order dispute rule of limiting the dispute window to 60 calendar days applies to both EFT and DebiCheck debit orders, its impact on each payment system slightly differs.
Here’s a tabulated breakdown of the new rule’s impact on each:
| EFT Debits | DebiCheck |
| Still fully disputable within the 60-day window | Authenticated upfront by the customer through their bank |
| Now exposed to immediate reversals for longer (60 days vs 40) | Valid mandates are not disputable in the same way |
| Higher risk if mandates are weak or unclear | Strong protection against fraudulent reversals |
| No recourse via banks after 60 days | Reduced operational and financial risk |
Key takeaway
If your business still relies heavily on standard EFT debit orders, your exposure to disputes and reversals remains higher. DebiCheck reduces this risk by requiring upfront customer authentication through their bank.
How Debit Order disputes will work after 13 April 2026
After 13 April 2026, all new debit order disputes will follow one automated 60-day process across applicable debit instruments.
From 13 April 2026, dispute handling becomes much simpler.
- Customers have 60 days to dispute a debit order
- The process remains automated for the full 60-day period
- No manual escalation after 40 days
- After 60 days, banks will not automatically process disputes
Instead, customers must contact the business directly to resolve any issues.
It’s also important to note:
- Disputes lodged before 12 April 2026 will follow the old rules
- Only new disputes fall under the 60-day framework
For businesses, this creates a clearly defined risk window. What happens in those 60 days matters most. Disputes within 60 days follow the standard debit order dispute resolution process.
Why PASA, SARB and FSCA are introducing this change
This isn’t just a technical update. It’s a structural shift in how debit order risk is managed across South Africa.
Regulators are introducing the 60-day window to:
- Reduce the abuse of long-term reversals
- Improve operational efficiency and compliance
- Align dispute processes across all debit order systems
- Improve fairness between payers and collectors
- Simplify dispute handling with one consistent rule
- Reduce long-term financial risk for businesses
For years, businesses have had to deal with disputes long after services were delivered. This change brings much-needed certainty.
How businesses should prepare for the new 60-day rule
With the rule change approaching, preparation is critical. Businesses that act early will reduce risk and avoid disruption.
Here’s where to focus:
1. Strengthen mandate management
Ensure all customer mandates are:
- Properly authorised
- Digitally stored
- Easy to retrieve during disputes
2. Move towards DebiCheck
Where possible, transition to DebiCheck collections to:
- Reduce dispute rates
- Improve payment certainty
- Protect revenue
3. Monitor disputes proactively
The 60-day window is now your key risk period. Track disputes closely and respond quickly.
4. Improve customer communication
Many disputes stem from confusion. Make sure:
- Billing descriptions are clear
- Payment terms are transparent
- Customers know what they’re being charged for
5. Review internal processes
Align your finance, billing, and collections teams with the new timelines to avoid delays or missed actions.
Need help preparing for the new debit order dispute rules?
Chat to Netcash to find out how our reliable payment services manage cash flow.
For most businesses, the key action is simple: tighten mandate management, improve customer communication, and review whether DebiCheck should replace standard EFT debit collections wherever possible.
How Netcash helps businesses stay compliant and reduce risk
Regulatory changes like this can feel overwhelming, particularly for SMEs. But with the right payment partner, like Netcash, they become an opportunity to strengthen your processes.
Netcash helps businesses:
- Implement compliant debit order collection systems
- Transition from EFT debits to DebiCheck
- Store and manage mandates securely
- Monitor and manage disputes effectively
- Reduce failed payments and revenue loss
As the 13 April 2026 deadline approaches, now is the time to act. Businesses that adapt early will not only stay compliant but also gain a competitive edge through stronger, more secure payment processes.
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Author:
Paul Adant
Business Solutions Manager
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Paul has over 30 years experience in banking and the payment industry, he has a passion for translating needs into effective solutions. Cultivating strategic partnerships with integrated software vendors and producing cost effective, efficient and time saving business solutions make him a valuable member of the team at Netcash.
