Best Debt Settlement Companies – Become Debt-Free
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Make a commitment to get out of debt with a dedicated team that will support you every step of the way, providing you with the necessary resources and assistance to achieve financial freedom. You’ll get the help you need without paying any fees for our services until your debts are reduced and you save money.
See if you qualify for credit card relief.
Millions struggle with debt. We help them move on with their lives.
- End your debt stress with a proven, affordable debt relief program. Our consultants will guide you through every step.
- Everyone’s financial situation is different. That’s why we start by giving you a free debt analysis and create a custom solution based on your unique needs and goals.
- Let us help you solve your debt problems and move forward with improving your overall financial health.
Not available in CO, HI, ND, OR, RI, VT, WA, WV, WY, MN, DE, IA.
Debt is a useful financial tool. But debt may also be a risky option and sometimes leaves you in a tough financial situation.
Having too much debt can feel like you are being overwhelmed by aggressive creditors trying to take your money. This is when debt settlement companies may become useful. But if you’re considering using a debt settlement company, do a lot of research and think carefully about your plan. A debt settlement program is a last resort. You need to be very deliberate and attentive when choosing the right option to avoid scams and make sure you are in a solid debt relief program.
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Overview of the best debt settlement companies
Debt Settlement Company | Best For |
Long track record, interactive progress tracking | |
National Debt Relief | Student or business debt |
CuraDebt | Flexible program length, assistance with back taxes |
Accredited Debt Relief | High-interest debt, unsecured debt |
Citizens Debt Relief | Customized debt reduction |
New Era Debt Solutions | Following specific protocols, attorney access |
Century Support Services | One-on-one customer services |
Pacific Debt, Inc. | Unsecured debt |
Debtmerica | Attorney access, fast settlements |
CreditAssociates | Large purchases |
Affirm | Proven results, specific time frame |
Relieve $25k+ in Credit Card Debt or Personal Loan Debt With TurboDebt
- Relieve $25k+ in credit card debt or personal loan debt with this special relief program.
- TurboDebt has a Trustpilot rating of 5/5 based on 1288 reviews
- Subject to qualification and approval. $1,500 monthly income required.
- Apply in 5 minutes. If you qualify, chat online with a friendly online debt representative.
Best Debt Settlement Companies
Freedom Debt Relief
Debt relief services should be your final option, but there are solid ways to create a debt management plan, and Freedom Debt Relief is one of them. This company, which is a founding member of the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC), has a long track record of settling many types of debts. They have over $10 billion in settled debt since 2002, resolving an average of 39,000 accounts per month. Because of their long history of dealing with debt collectors, they are well known and taken seriously.
They give control back to you by allowing you to decide the amount and frequency of your monthly payment. They also assign you a team of highly trained debt counselors to walk you through the process of eliminating your debt.
- Costs/fees:
- No upfront fees.
- One low monthly program deposit: you choose the amount and frequency.
- No fees are charged until results are seen.
- Fees are typically 15%-25% of the amount of debt.
- Where to enroll: Freedom Debt Relief
National Debt Relief
National Debt Relief is a member of the AFCC and one of the largest debt settlement businesses in the nation. Since 2009, they have helped over 400,000 people get out of debt. They settle many types of debts, including personal loans, credit card debt, lines of credit, medical bills, collections, repossessions, business debts, and certain student debts. (They do not handle some debts such as mortgages.)
They offer a free consultation, create an affordable debt management program that works for you, then get to work helping you with your debt settlement plan.
- Costs/fees:
- Fees are typically 15%-25% of total debt.
- No fees are charged until the settlement process is complete, and nothing is charged if debts cannot be settled.
- Where to enroll: National Debt Relief
![Debt Relief & Consolidation]()
Our Certified Debt Counselors Help You Achieve Financial Freedom Faster.- Apply for a Quote.
- BBB A+ Accredited.
- No Fees To Start.
- One Monthly Payment.
- Free DebtConsolidation Quote.
- Satisfaction Guaranteed.
- Avoid Bankruptcy.
- Free Debt Analysis.
Not available in CT, OR, VT, WV.
CuraDebt
Although CuraDebt does not offer as many debt relief options as some of the other businesses in this article (not to mention their website is outdated), they DO offer the unique ability to address issues with back taxes, which can be an extremely difficult debt relief problem. If you face an IRS issue, it may be worth getting a free consultation with a CuraDebt credit counselor. Any loan tied to a physical item, though (e.g. house, car, etc.), cannot be included.
They also offer the ability to work with a credit restoration business upon completion of your debt settlement program to clean up your credit report and rebuild your credit score.
- Costs/fees:
- Fees are typically about 20%.
- No upfront fees.
- Where to enroll: CuraDebt
- Where accessible: Face-to-face consultations are only offered in Hollywood, Florida.
Accredited Debt Relief
Accredited Debt Relief has a good track record of following through on its promises. Clients of Accredited Debt Relief have an average repayment of about 55% of their enrolled debt upon completion, and the programs are about 12 to 48 months. They do this through a debt consolidation loan.
They offer a free consultation and savings estimate, promise to get you out of debt without bankruptcy, and charge no upfront fees.
- Costs/fees:
- Fees are typically 15%-25%
- No upfront fees
- Where to enroll: Accredited Debt Relief
Accredited Debt Relief Helps You Save and Simplify
- Check Your Eligibility Online.
- See If You Qualify Today.
- Bad Credit OK.
- BBB A+ Accredited and Thousands of 5-Star Reviews
Citizens Debt Relief
Citizens Debt Relief focuses on caring for its customers. They handle all communication with creditors and promise as smooth a process as possible when traveling through a debt relief program. They offer free customized solutions to your debt, no fees are charged until a debt settlement offer has been agreed upon, and their program typically reduces debts by 40 to 60%.
- Costs/fees:
- Fees are typically about 20%
- No upfront fees
- Where to enroll: Citizens Debt Relief
- Where accessible: Not available in all states
Make a commitment to get out of debt with a dedicated team that will support you every step of the way, providing you with the necessary resources and assistance to achieve financial freedom. You’ll get the help you need without paying any fees for our services until your debts are reduced and you save money.
See if you qualify for credit card relief.
New Era Debt Solutions
NewEra Debt Solutions has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, 20 years of experience, and a client dashboard that allows easy monitoring of your progress. It also offers an excellent customer experience, although the pricing of this program may vary more than others. The cost varies depending on a number of factors, including credit balances, your ability to contribute to the escrow balance, the amount that can be negotiated from your balance, and fees charged to negotiate the settlement.
Spanish speakers will also benefit from the ability to work with a Spanish-speaking debt specialist and access the client dashboard entirely in Spanish.
- Costs/fees:
- Does not disclose typical fee range
- No upfront fees
- Where to enroll: New Era Debt Solutions
- Where accessible: Not available in Oregon, Maine or Delaware
Century Support Services
Century Support Services’ purpose is to help you take control of your debt so you can live your best life. They do this by customizing a debt settlement program specifically for your situation. Their debt settlement can reduce your debts significantly and help you get on a path to eliminating your debt. They will negotiate for you to lower the amount you owe, and you are assigned one representative to work with you throughout the entire process.
- Costs/fees:
- Fees are typically about 18%-25%
- No upfront fees
- Where to enroll: Century Support Services
Pacific Debt, Inc.
Pacific Debt, Inc. will help you get out of debt through debt consolidation and a customized debt settlement program. Their services are available in a little over half of the United States and can help with various unsecured debts. However, they do not assist with secured debts like car or home loans.
- Costs/fees:
- Fees are typically about 15%-25%.
- No upfront fees.
- Where to enroll: Pacific Debt Inc.
- Where accessible: Not available in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, North Dakota, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Islands, Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine.
Debtmerica
Debtmerica can lower your unsecured debt, provide one low monthly payment, and provide you with sound advice through their attorney-based settlement program. Your first settlement should be completed within 4 to 6 months, as long as you make your payments on time and follow their program.
- Costs/fees:
- Fees are typically about 20%-24%.
- May be charged fees before a settlement is complete.
- Where to enroll: Debtmerica
- Where accessible: Not available in all states.
![Debt Management Simplified]()
Millions struggle with debt. We help them move on with their lives.- End your debt stress with a proven, affordable debt relief program. Our consultants will guide you through every step.
- Everyone’s financial situation is different. That’s why we start by giving you a free debt analysis and create a custom solution based on your unique needs and goals.
- Let us help you solve your debt problems and move forward with improving your overall financial health.
Not available in CO, HI, ND, OR, RI, VT, WA, WV, WY, MN, DE, IA.
Credit Associates
Credit Associates is part of the AFCC and is a respectable debt settlement company. They work with unsecured debt, including credit card debt, medical debt, business debt, and back taxes, and they offer a free phone consultation. The length of their program is about 36 months.
- Costs/fees:
- Performance-based fee each time a settlement is reached
- No upfront fees
- Where to enroll: Credit Associates
- Where accessible: Not available in all states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Maryland, Vermont, and Wyoming
Best debt settlement companies summary
Debt Settlement Company | Fees | Minimum amount | Most common types of debt settled |
15%-25% | $7,500 | Credit cards, personal loans, private student loans, P2P loans | |
15%-25% | $7,500 | Credit cards, personal loans, business loans, credit unions | |
CuraDebt | 20% | $5,000 | Credit card, medical, personal loans, back taxes |
15%-25% | $10,000 | Credit cards, medical, personal loans | |
Citizens Debt Relief | 20% | Undisclosed | Credit cards, personal loans, private student loans |
New Era Debt Solutions | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Credit cards, personal loans, private student loans |
Century Support Services | 18%-25% | $10,000 | Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans |
Pacific Debt Inc. | 15%-25% | $10,000 | Credit cards, medical bills, private student loans, back taxes |
Debtmerica | 20%-24% | $10,000 | Credit cards, personal loans, business loans |
Credit Associates | Undisclosed | $10,000 | Credit cards, medical bills, business loans |
Relieve $25k+ in Credit Card Debt or Personal Loan Debt With TurboDebt
- Relieve $25k+ in credit card debt or personal loan debt with this special relief program.
- TurboDebt has a Trustpilot rating of 5/5 based on 1288 reviews
- Subject to qualification and approval. $1,500 monthly income required.
- Apply in 5 minutes. If you qualify, chat online with a friendly online debt representative.
Millions struggle with debt. We help them move on with their lives.
- End your debt stress with a proven, affordable debt relief program. Our consultants will guide you through every step.
- Everyone’s financial situation is different. That’s why we start by giving you a free debt analysis and create a custom solution based on your unique needs and goals.
- Let us help you solve your debt problems and move forward with improving your overall financial health.
Not available in CO, HI, ND, OR, RI, VT, WA, WV, WY, MN, DE, IA.
Make a commitment to get out of debt with a dedicated team that will support you every step of the way, providing you with the necessary resources and assistance to achieve financial freedom. You’ll get the help you need without paying any fees for our services until your debts are reduced and you save money.
See if you qualify for credit card relief.
FAQs
What is the difference between debt settlement and credit counseling?
These are two different methods of eliminating debt. A credit counseling agency walks you through the process of repaying your debt, but it will typically take longer and you will most likely repay the full balance. Debt settlement is a more aggressive approach that takes a shorter amount of time, and you typically do not repay the full balance owed.
What is nonprofit debt consolidation?
Nonprofit debt consolidation is a method of reducing credit card debt and making payments on time without taking out a loan by creating a debt management program. This option is offered by nonprofit credit counseling agencies at no cost.
What are balance transfer credit cards?
Using credit card balance transfers involves moving the amount owed on one credit card to another credit card, usually one with a lower interest rate, to reduce the interest accrued on the balance. This can be one way to handle debt that has spiraled out of control.
Why you shouldn’t use debt relief programs
Debt relief programs have a number of downsides. These include the fact that you will continue to be charged interest and late fees throughout the process, possibly resulting in a higher total amount of debt. They also often have minimum debt amounts to enroll, although some do not clearly state this. The minimum amounts are often about $7,500 to $10,000. Also, consolidating all your debt into one lump sum payment may change your interest rates. Some of your loans may have lower interest rates, but when consolidated these will change.
The bottom line
I need to restate that a debt relief program is a final resort. Exhaust all other options before you turn to one of these businesses to solve your debt crisis.
But if you find yourself at your final resort, be sure to research very carefully and choose an option that is trustworthy and has your best interest in mind. Each of these businesses offers unique pros and cons, so make sure you find the one that fits your debt relief needs.
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Writer
A veteran wordsmith and research nerd, Brittany Wren spent a decade working in higher education where she helped people overcome challenges to chart a path forward. These days, she writes about personal finance, careers, parenting and education. Her content has been published by a wide variety of brands including T-Mobile, Intuit, LifeLock, Reliant Fund Administration and CURO Financial Technologies Corp.
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