How debt relief companies work

Debt relief could help you wipe the slate clean — as long as you avoid upfront fees and guarantees.

When your debts build to the point where it feels like you’ll never be free, you might think that bankruptcy is your only option.

Debt relief companies are designed to act as a buffer between balance transfer credit cards and filing for Chapter 7. They might sound too good to be true and that’s because sometimes they are. It’s possible to find a standup company, however, if you know what to look for.

Freedom Debt Relief

Potentially resolve your debts in as little as two years with monthly payments you can afford.

• Free consultation
• No upfront fees
• Helpful customer service
• Accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A- rating

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Name	Product	Product Description	Costs	Requirements
Freedom Debt Relief		Freedom Debt Relief is a debt settlement company that works to help people with unmanageable, unsecured debt get back on their feet.	Monthly payment based on enrolled debt, no upfront fees	Must have at least $15,000 in unsecured debt and live in a serviced state.	Go to site More	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
National Debt Relief		Get back on your feet with a top-rated debt relief company that works with multiple types of debt.	18–25% of total enrolled debt	Must have a legitimate financial hardship which is preventing the ability to pay creditors and a minimum of $7,500 in debt.	Go to site More	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Accredited Debt Relief		This A+ BBB-rated service offers free consultations to lower your monthly payments help you get out of debt faster.	Charges and fees vary by the company you're ultimately connected with	Must be at least 18 years old and a legal US resident; additional terms may apply based on services and products used.	More	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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What services do debt relief companies offer?

Most debt relief companies offer a combination of services designed to set you on a debt-free path — and keep you there.

Debt management

With a debt management plan, a credit counseling agency negotiates with your creditors to lower your interest rates or monthly payments. You agree to begin paying off your debts through the agency in one more affordable monthly payment — usually over three to five years — while the agency continues to pay your creditors on your behalf.

Intended for credit card debt, it’s a decent option if you don’t qualify for a debt consolidation loan or balance transfer credit card.

Debt settlement or negotiation

Considered a more serious option, debt settlement or negotiation companies connect you with a specialist who negotiate with your creditors to reduce the amount you owe in exchange for a one-time payment. The agency pays off this negotiated amount, and then you repay the agency through monthly payments over three to five years.

Legitimate debt settlement companies charge a percentage of your enrolled debt as a fee, typically 20% of the amount. You’re often limited to enrolling unsecured debt only — so no mortgages or auto loans.

Debt consolidation

Don’t confuse debt consolidation services with a debt consolidation loan. When it comes to debt relief, debt consolidation is sometimes used to refer to debt management, though it can sometimes also refer to debt settlement.

Credit counseling

Debt relief nonprofits offer credit counseling and services to help you straighten your finances, like advice on managing your spending, helpful workshops and counselors that can guide you toward creating a budget or getting your credit score. They also offer debt management programs.

Bankruptcy services

No legitimate debt relief company would attempt to steer you toward the bankruptcy process before exploring other options. But they can help you find a bankruptcy lawyer in your area if it’s a viable last resort.

Top five debt relief companies

Is debt relief legal in my state?

You might have noticed that many debt relief companies don’t offer their services in all states — especially debt settlement. That’s because most states have some sort of regulation on the books that limit how debt relief companies operate.

States with regulations typically require debt relief companies to get a license, file a bond with the state or both. They also often have rules restricting what types of services debt relief companies offer and capping fees. Rules change frequently, so it’s a good idea to reach out to debt relief companies to make sure they’re currently operating in your state before signing up.

After the FTC regulations in 2010, some debt relief companies restructured themselves as law firms, which don’t have to comply with state or federal rules. There are some legit law firms out there, but it’s a good idea to check for red flags like charging fees before settling debt before working with one.

Current debt relief regulations

Debt relief regulations state map

Is it a good idea to use a debt relief company?

Unless you’re just looking to sign up for a few budgeting workshops with a credit counseling organization, the services offered by debt relief companies can be risky.

It’s not guaranteed that your creditors will agree to lower rates or payments. And If you stop making payments to your creditors — as many debt settlement companies recommend — you could get sued for payment during lengthy negotiations.

But there are a few situations in which you might want to consider debt relief.

How to find a legit debt relief service

Debt relief has earned itself a somewhat shady reputation, thanks to the rise of scam companies in the early 2000s. Although a 2010 federal crackdown cleaned up the industry in part, scammers are always creating new ways to take your money.

It’s possible to avoid a scam by doing some poking around. When researching a debt relief company, ask yourself:

• Is it accredited? Many legit debt relief company are accredited with the American Fair Credit Council or the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators, which set and maintain industry standards.
• How long has it been around? While not always the case, older more established businesses feel less pressure to engage in unsavory business practices to stay afloat.
• What’s the website like? Can you find answers to most of your questions with a few clicks? Is it clear what services it provides, and is that information consistent? If you find yourself frustrated online, you might find more frustration with the company itself.
• How will you pay fees? It’s illegal for debt relief services to charge you a fee before they’ve provided results. Most legit companies also won’t ask for fees all at once, preferring steady payments toward settlement accounts and services.
  How much control will you have over your money? Debt settlement companies in particular work by having you pay into an account from which the company then pays your debt settlement fee. By law, you control these funds and can even withdraw from them without a penalty.
• Is there a minimum debt? Debt management companies shouldn’t enforce a minimum enrolled debt amount. Better debt settlement companies are willing to work with debt on the lower end — from $7,500 to $10,000.
• What types of debts does it settle? Established debt relief companies can settle student loans and even some unsecured debt, but most only handle such basics as medical bills, personal loans and credit cards.
• What timeline does it advertise? Typically, debt settlement programs take two to four years. Try to avoid longer terms — it increases your risk of facing a lawsuit.
• How did you hear about them? If the company solicited you for its services, make sure advertised promises are true. Otherwise, it’s not following government regulations.

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Four red flags to watch out for

It should set off alarm bells if you a see a company committing any of these offenses that are illegal for any debt relief company:

1. It charges upfront fees for its services.
2. It guarantees a specific amount of debt savings.
3. It promises it can settle lawsuits and stop calls from collection agencies.
4. It advertises itself as a new government program that can erase your debt.

I signed up. Now what?

Change your financial behavior and change your life — for good. True debt management is about one thing: you controlling your money.

— Dave Ramsey, Motivational Speaker on Debt

Debt relief companies can only do so much — you have to make their programs work for you.

Five ways you can make debt relief worth it

• Avoid taking on more debt. It might be difficult to avoid spending if you’re enrolled in a debt relief program, but many companies require you to close your accounts.
• Watch your credit score and report. Know what to expect, and monitor your credit for any irregularities. In general, debt settlement programs can cause your credit to take a dive. Debt management shouldn’t affect your score, but you might see a line on your report indicating you’re paying off a debt through credit counseling. Other types of debt relief shouldn’t affect your credit score or report at all.
• Continue paying your creditors. If you have the means, continuing to make at least your minimum payments to keep interest and late fees from piling up — not to mention to keep harassing calls from collection agencies or potential lawsuits at bay.
• Make sure everything adds up correctly. Do your fees match up with your original agreement? If you see anything out of the ordinary, call your debt relief company.
• Take advantage of free resources. Credit counseling agencies and other debt relief companies often provide tools to help you stick to a budget or rebuild your credit score. Use them to more quickly get back on track.

Two things you might be (unpleasantly) surprised to know about debt settlement

• Fees aren’t based only on your initial debt. If settling $10,000 in debt requires a fee of 25%, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll pay $2,500. Tricky to calculate, fees depend on how quickly your debts are settled, how your interest accumulates, whether you continue paying your minimums, late fees your creditor charges and more. Expect that by the time it’s settled, your debt will be well over the amount you began with.
• Debt settlement counts as income. That’s right: Any settled debt of more than $600 is considered taxable income. After taxes, you could end up saving only 10% — or less. There is a loophole, however: You might be exempt if your tax liabilities are greater than your assets at the time of the settlement. Talk with a tax specialist before enrolling in a debt settlement program to learn how this exemption might affect you.

Doing it yourself

Not ready for debt relief but can’t qualify for a debt consolidation loan? You have a few strategies to reduce your debt more quickly.

• The avalanche method. Pay off your debts by tackling the ones with highest interest first. If you don’t know what your highest-interest debt is, it’s usually the one whose full balance is due soonest.You could end up saving a lot of money — especially on shorter-term loans that build up fast if you don’t stop them short.
• The snowball method. Get quick wins by clearing your smallest debts first. The advantage is that smaller loans won’t get a chance to grow into bigger, unmanageable loans, simplifying your debt. But it could cost more in the long term over the avalanche method.
• Negotiate with your creditors. Your debt company might tell you it’s best to leave negotiations to the professionals. But it is possible for you to call up your creditors, yourself. If your candid about your situation, they might be willing to reduce your interest rate, your principal or even settle. Be firm about what you can afford, and escalate the call until you reach somebody who can help.

Good debt management is 80% behavior and 20% head knowledge. It isn’t rocket science, as some debt management companies try to make you believe.

— Dave Ramsey, Motivational Speaker on Debt

Bottom line

Debt relief encompasses a wide scope of services, from debt negotiations with your creditors to debt management tools. When looking at your options, keep in mind that most companies with relief in their names deal mainly with debt settlement. Credit counseling agencies, on the other hand, tend to specifically advertise their counseling services.

Avoid signing up with a company that doesn’t meet federal requirements — or otherwise rubs you the wrong way. And make sure you’ve exhausted other options like debt consolidation loans before taking any risky steps.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I use my credit cards after I’ve sought debt relief?

  It depends on the type of debt relief you’re participating in. Talking with a credit counseling agency shouldn’t affect your ability to use existing credit cards. But a debt settlement and management program might require you to cancel your credit cards — or could result in your credit card companies canceling your cards.

  You might be able to apply for additional cards after you’ve finished your debt relief program, but you won’t be able to use your old ones. Look into secured credit cards designed to help you rebuild your credit score.

• Does the government offer debt relief programs?

  No, but you’ll find government-approved credit counseling agencies.

  Avoid any debt relief companies advertising a “new” government debt relief program. It’s a common scam tactic designed to part you from your money.

• Can I get a debt relief grant?

  No, foundations and government programs don’t offer grants to individuals.

• What is debt forgiveness?

  Debt forgiveness is one result of negotiation with your creditor — like a credit card company or loan provider. With debt forgiveness, your creditor agrees that you don’t have to pay back a portion or all of your debt.

  Debt forgiveness is not without consequence, however. It can come with expensive fees, raise your tax bracket, damage your credit and more.