Alleviate Financial Solutions Review: Debt Relief, But Costly
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- Minimum debt
- $10,000 with at least $500 per creditor
- Typical turnaround
- 24 to 48 months
- Fees
- Approximately 15% to 25% of settled debt.
Our verdict
Helps reduce unsecured debt through settlement, but fees and credit impact can be steep.
Alleviate Financial Solutions is a debt settlement company that’s accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating. You can sign up if you have at least $10,000 in unsecured debt with $500 minimum owed per creditor. Its 15% to 25% fees can reduce overall savings, but since you only pay once a settlement is reached, many customers still end up saving roughly 20% to 40% off what they originally owed.
Best for: People struggling with high unsecured debt who want help negotiating lower balances.
Pros
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Free initial consultation
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Excellent reviews on BBB, Trustpilot and Google
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Fees only charged when debt is settled
Cons
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Your credit score drops while in the program
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The process can take 2 to 4 years
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Not available in all 50 states
Is Alleviate Financial Solutions legit?
Yes, Alleviate Financial Solutions is a legitimate debt settlement company. Founded in 2018, it has resolved more than $800 million in debt for over 100,000 customers. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating and receives high marks from past customers on Trustpilot and Google. According to its privacy policy, the company follows industry standard protocols to keep customer data safe.
What makes Alleviate Financial Solutions shine?
- Free, no-pressure consultation. You can see if debt settlement fits your situation without paying anything up front.
- No fees until results. Alleviate only earns its fee after a settlement is reached and approved, so you don’t pay unless progress is made.
- Strong reputation. The company is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and high customer reviews — 4.6 stars on Trustpilot and 4.7 on Google.
- Personalized support. Each client gets a dedicated account manager who stays in touch and guides them through every step.
- Proven track record. Since 2018, Alleviate has helped over 100,000 people resolve more than $800 million in debt.
Where Alleviate Financial Solutions falls short
- High service fees. Alleviate charges between 15% to 25% of enrolled debt, which can reduce your total savings from settlement. If you’d rather avoid paying service fees, you can try negotiating directly with credit card companies or other creditors to settle debts on your own.
- Long program timeline. The process typically takes two to four years to complete, so it’s not a quick fix.
- Negative credit impact. Since you’ll stop paying creditors directly, your credit score will likely drop during the program.
- Possible tax implications. Forgiven debt may count as taxable income, meaning you could owe more at tax time. If you want to pay down debt while keeping your credit score up and avoiding additional taxes, consider nonprofit credit counseling or a debt consolidation loan.
- Mixed customer experiences. Some reviewers report slow settlements, inconsistent updates or difficulty canceling their program.
- No guaranteed results. Success depends on creditor cooperation, so outcomes can vary.
- Limited availability. Alleviate’s program isn’t offered in every state, so you may need to search for another debt relief program depending on where you live.
How much can I save?
Most customers end up paying about 60% to 80% of what they originally owed, including fees. Your total savings depend on:
- Debt amount. How much you enroll in the program.
- Creditor flexibility. Some lenders settle for less; others demand more.
- Payment consistency. Regular monthly deposits help move settlements along.
Creditors sometimes agree to settle for less, especially if your accounts have been delinquent for a while, but others may hold out for a higher payoff. While it’s possible to save thousands through debt settlement, results aren’t guaranteed, and some people save less than expected since fees and interest continue to grow before settlements are reached.
How does Alleviate Financial Solutions work?
After a free consultation, you’ll make monthly deposits into a savings account instead of paying your creditors directly. Once there’s enough money in the account, Alleviate negotiates settlements with your creditors. The entire process from start to finish usually takes two to four years.
How much does it cost?
Here’s how costs work when using Alleviate Financial Solutions:
- No upfront costs. You won’t pay anything to start the program.
- Service fee. Typically 15% to 25% of the debt you enroll depending on your state and total balance.
- How payments work. You’ll make monthly deposits into a dedicated savings account. Once a settlement is reached, Alleviate deducts its fee from that account.
Example:
If you enroll $20,000 in debt at a 20% fee, you’d pay $4,000 in program costs. You’ll likely need to save around 40% to 50% of your total debt before settlements begin, which would equal $8,000 to $10,000 for $20,000 worth of debt.
Will Alleviate Financial Solutions hurt my credit?
Yes, participating in Alleviate Financial Solutions’ debt settlement program can hurt your credit, at least in the short term. Because you’ll stop making payments to your creditors while saving for settlements, your accounts will likely become delinquent and show up as missed payments on your credit report. That can drop your credit score and stay on your report for several years.
Once your debts are settled, your credit report shows those accounts as “settled” rather than “paid in full,” which is still seen as negative by lenders. But over time, many people see their credit begin to recover as they settle debts and keep up with other accounts.
Alleviate Financial Solutions details
| Free quote or consultation | Yes |
| Services | Debt settlement |
| Minimum Debt | $10,000 with at least $500 per creditor |
| Average turnaround | 24 to 48 months |
| Fees | Approximately 15% to 25% of settled debt. |
| Types of debt | Unsecured debts like credit cards, medical bills and personal loans |
| Direct or third-party negotiations | Direct |
| State availability | Available in 31 states |
Before you sign up with a debt relief company
Debt relief companies typically charge a percentage of a customer’s debt or a monthly program fee for their services. And not all companies are transparent about these costs or drawbacks that can negatively affect your credit score. Depending on the company you work with, you might pay other fees for third-party settlement services or setting up new accounts, which can leave you in a worse situation than when you signed up.
Consider alternatives before signing up with a debt relief company:
- Payment extensions. Companies you owe may be willing to extend your payment due date or put you on a longer payment plan if you ask.
- Nonprofit credit counseling. Look for free debt-management help from nonprofit organizations like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
- Debt settlement. If you can manage to pay a portion of the bill, offer the collection agency a one-time payment as a settlement. Collection agencies are often willing to accept a lower payment on your debt to close the account.
Alleviate Financial Solutions contact info
| Phone number | 800-308-2935 |
| Customer service hours | New enrollments: Weekdays: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Current clients: |
| support@alleviate.com | |
| X, formerly Twitter | @AlleviateFin |
| @alleviatefinancial |
How to qualify for Alleviate Financial Solutions
It doesn’t take much to get started with Alleviate Financial Solutions. Its program has just a few requirements:
- Have at least $10,000 in unsecured debt ($500 minimum per creditor)
- Have no active lawsuits or wage garnishments
- Have a steady income or funds for monthly deposits
- Live in a state where Alleviate is authorized to operate
How the debt settlement process works
Getting started with Alleviate Financial Solutions is pretty simple. Here’s what the process usually looks like:
- Start with a free consultation. You’ll talk with a debt consultant about what you owe, how much you can afford to save per month and whether settlement is a good fit.
- Set up a dedicated savings account. Instead of paying your creditors, you’ll make monthly deposits into a special account that Alleviate manages.
- Let Alleviate negotiate. Once there’s enough saved, Alleviate reaches out to your creditors to try to settle your debts for less than the full balance.
- Approve and pay the settlements. If you agree to a deal, the settlement amount comes from your account, and Alleviate moves on to your next debt until all are resolved.
The whole process can take anywhere from two to four years, depending on how much you owe and how consistently you make your monthly deposits.
How Alleviate Financial Solutions compares to other lenders
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Alleviate Financial Solutions reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 4.65 out of 5 stars, based on 1043 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot Score | 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on 2,410 customer reviews. |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 20 October 2025 |
Alleviate Financial Solutions receives high marks from customers on both the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot websites. Most of the praise is reserved for the company’s customer service team. Reviewers repeatedly mention how helpful, professional, patient and knowledgeable agents are. They appreciate how representatives take time to walk through the process with them, giving them clear, detailed explanations about how the program works and what to expect.
Other positives mentioned by reviewers include how easy it is to sign up, quick response times and feeling more in control of their finances. Though low ratings are rare, they do exist. Customers who complain mention a lack of communication and the negative impact on their credit score. Difficulty registering, logging in, canceling accounts and contacting customer service were also mentioned.
What do people on Reddit say?
Others state that the company only settled one or two of their debts, they didn’t get their entire savings back when they canceled and you can directly negotiate with your creditors without paying any additional fees.
Risks to debt settlement
Debt settlement can reduce what you owe, but it’s not without downsides. Before signing up, here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- Your credit score will likely take a hit. Skipping payments while you negotiate will lower your credit score and remain on your credit report for years.
- Interest and fees may keep adding up. Creditors can continue charging you late fees and interest until a deal is reached.
- There’s a chance you could be sued. Some creditors may still take legal action while your debt is unsettled.
- Results aren’t guaranteed. Not every creditor agrees to settle, and the total amount saved varies from person to person.
- You might owe taxes on forgiven debt. The IRS sometimes treats the amount of debt wiped off as taxable income.
- It can take time. Most programs last two to four years, and missing a monthly deposit can slow your progress even more.
Frequently asked questions
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Christi Finder
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