ClearOne Advantage review
No bells and whistles — but customers say it gets results.
- Best for people looking for a highly-rated, accredited service.
- Pick something else if you want fees based on money saved.
$10,000
Minimum debt
24 to 60 months
Typical turnaround
Fee is a percentage, usually 25%, of the total enrolled debt
Fees
ClearOne Advantage Debt Relief details
| Free quote or consultation | Yes, consultation typically takes 20 minutes |
|---|---|
| Services | Debt settlement |
| Minimum debt | $10,000 |
| Typical turnaround | 24 to 60 months |
| Direct or third-party negotiations | Direct |
| Fees | Fee is a percentage, usually 25%, of the total enrolled debt |
| Types of debt | Unsecured debt, works with most creditors |
| Accreditations | AFCC member, IAPDA member, BBB accredited |
| Ratings | A+ BBB rating |
| Free resources or tools | Financial tips blog |
| Customer service | Phone: 888-340-4697 Email: support@ClearOneAdvantage.com Mail: 1501 South Clinton Street, Suite 320, Baltimore, MD 21224 Hours: Weekdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, Weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET |
Review by
Kellye Guinan
kellye.guinan@findercrew.comKellye Guinan is a seasoned financial writer with over 500 articles under her belt spanning all things loans from auto to personal to business and everything in between. With four years in the field and five years of research experience, she's able to make complex personal finance decisions easier for everyday people to tackle. When she's not up to her knees learning about the latest trends in lending, she spends her time improving her own financial literacy and expertise.
Expert review
ClearOne Advantage, formerly Quality One, is accredited by multiple industry organizations and earns high ratings from its customers. While its debt relief process can take up to 60 months, ClearOne Advantage has established relationships with creditors across the US. This helps it negotiate your debt — and means you’re unlikely to have debt enrolled if ClearOne Advantage knows it won’t be able to help you.
But its fees are based on the amount of debt you have, not the amount it saves you in negotiations. This means you may may a large fee for a small settlement. It also isn’t clear about which creditors it does or doesn’t accept, so you’ll need to sign up for a consultation before you know if ClearOne Advantage can work with your debt.
Before you get started, request quotes from other debt settlement companies to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
How does ClearOne Advantage work?
ClearOne Advantage negotiates with your creditors on your behalf. It accepts a minimum debt of $10,000, and settlements typically take anywhere from 24 to 60 months.
How much does it cost?
Although the exact cost varies by state, ClearOne Advantage charges a percentage of the debt enrolled — usually 25%. For example, if you have $10,000 of debt, you will pay around $2,500 in fees. This is different from some other debt settlement companies which charge a percentage of the amount settled for each account.
However, you won't pay anything until after you accept the terms of your settlement.
How much could I save with ClearOne Advantage?
ClearOne Advantage states in its website's frequently asked questions that its customers save an average of 50% on their debts before fees — or 25% after fees. Your savings depends on the amount of debt you have and your creditors' willingness to negotiate.
Is ClearOne Advantage legit?
Yes, ClearOne Advantage is a legit debt settlement company. It is accredited by both the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC) and the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). Its privacy policy outlines the information it collects and shares with affiliates, and its website is encrypted to keep your information secure.
What are the pros and cons of ClearOne Advantage?
ClearOne Advantage offers a standard range of debt settlement options, which means it has many of the same pros and cons as other debt settlement companies.
- Average savings of 25% after fees
- Highly rated by customers
- Accredited by the AFCC and the IAPDA
- Potentially long turnaround of 60 months
- Fee based on enrolled debt, not savings
- Some creditors not accepted
Compare more debt relief options
ClearOne Advantage reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 370 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 5,352 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 21 October 2020 |
ClearOne Advantage has a high volume of positive reviews on both its Trustpilot and BBB pages. Many customers state they're pleased with the customer service they received, and some state they were happy with the speed of their first settlements. However, negative reviews comment on the cost of the debt settlement process and note that many of the settled debts were only slightly lower than the original amount owed.
What is ClearOne Advantage?
Based in Maryland, ClearOne Advantage has been in business since 2007 and has been accredited by the BBB since 2014. It offers personalized debt settlement — but other resources and debt relief options aren't available.
How do I get started?
You can view an estimated debt plan by following these steps:
- Visit ClearOne Advantage's website and choose Get started now.
- Select the amount of unsecured debt you have.
- Enter your ZIP code and email.
- Enter your full name and phone number. Then select See my savings.
- Enter your street address and date of birth. Then select View estimate.
Once you submit your information, ClearOne Advantage does a soft pull of your credit to review your current debts and bills. It also provides an estimated term and monthly payment based on your credit file. After, a customer service representative reaches out to you by phone to discuss your debt and give you a quote for a debt settlement plan. ClearOne Advantage states that the process typically takes less than 20 minutes.
I’ve signed up. What happens next?
ClearOne Advantage walks you through the process of opening an account and starting debt settlement, but it typically looks like this:
- Stop using your credit cards. ClearOne Advantage recommends that you stop using your credit cards and avoid opening new accounts.
- Understand the consequences of nonpayment. If you don't pay your creditors as part of your plan, you may be subject to collection calls and a potential lawsuit. Your credit score will also take a hit.
- Deposit funds into your account. You will be required to make regular payments into a bank account. If you miss a payment, contact ClearOne Advantage as soon as possible. It could potentially delay a settlement.
- Wait for your settlements. ClearOne Advantage states that the first settlement happens after three or four months — although it could take longer. Once a settlement is reached, ClearOne Advantage uses the funds in your account to pay your creditor and the fee for using its service.
Before you sign up for ClearOne Advantage or any debt settlement program, consider other debt relief options that may be less expensive.