- Best for people in extreme financial hardship.
- Pick something else if you aren't at least 60 days late on most of your credit card bills.
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CountryWide Debt Relief review
- Minimum debt
- $5,000
- Typical turnaround
- 12 to 48 months
- Fees
- Not stated
Our verdict
Enroll as little as $5,000 of unsecured debts in this straight-forward program.
CountryWide Debt Relief could be a good resource if you're facing an extreme financial hardship you weren’t prepared for. It offers relatively competitive rates and more comprehensive services than most other debt relief companies. But specific information about its services — including the amount you might pay — aren't available online.
Before you sign up, see what other debt relief providers have to offer.
Pros
-
Flat fee based on debt at time of enrollment
-
May be able to negotiate your debt down
-
Can talk to a counselor in person
Details
Product details
| Services | Debt settlement, debt management, debt consolidation |
| Minimum debt | $5,000 |
| Typical turnaround | 12 to 48 months |
| Fees | Not stated |
| Types of debt | Unsecured debts |
| Accreditations | American Fair Credit Council (AFCC) |
| Ratings | A+ BBB rating |
| Free resources or tools | None |
| Customer service | Phone |
How does CountryWide Debt Relief work?
CountryWide Debt Relief is primarily a debt settlement company that negotiates with creditors to reduce your debts in exchange for a one-time payment. Depending on which state you live in, it can also connect you with debt consolidation lenders.
CountryWide Debt Relief — like any debt relief company — is not for people who simply want to reduce the amount they owe. You must be able to prove you’re facing serious financial hardship in order to qualify. Qualifying hardships might include losing your job, divorce, death of a spouse or family member or a medical emergency.
How much does it cost?
CountryWide no longer provides information on how much its debt relief program costs. Previously, our team was able to confirm an 18% enrollment fee, but that information is no longer verifiable.
How much could I save with CountryWide Debt Relief?
How much you save depends on how much CountryWide is able to negotiate your debt down, how much debt you originally enroll and how much your debt accumulates during your enrollment. On its results page, CountryWide provides examples of customers who saves tens of thousands of dollars off their debts — but your results will vary, especially if you don’t enroll with a large amount of debt.
Is CountryWide Debt Relief legit?
Yes, CountryWide is a legit debt settlement company. Its website is secure, which means any information you enter on the site is private. Its privacy policy covers how it collects and shares your personal information. CountryWide states that it won’t sell your personal information without prior consent — and you can opt out of receiving marketing materials.
While it isn’t a member of the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA), it is accredited by the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC). Both trade organizations were created to help enforce standards and protect consumers from scams — which are less of a problem than they were a decade ago, but still exist.
Pros
- Accredited by the AFCC
- Guaranteed approval in certain cases
- Debt consolidation services offered
Cons
- Not accredited with the IAPDA
- Limited information available online
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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.
CountryWide Debt Relief reviews and complaints
Customer reviews for CountryWide Debt Relief are mostly positive. However, there aren’t that many — only 30 customer reviews on BBB with a 4.4-star rating, as of early 2023. Its Trustpilot page is rather barren as well, only displaying one review from 2021.
All BBB reviews from 2021 and beyond are positive, with the majority expressing gratitude, reporting good customer service and overall satisfaction with their experience.
CountryWide has been accredited with the BBB since 2020 and has been in business for the last 14 years. Additionally, there has only been one BBB complaint in the last three years.
What is CountryWide Debt Relief?
CountryWide debt relief has a team of debt consultants and negotiators to help you pay off your creditors at a reasonable rate. It has been in business for 12 years, according to its BBB page, and states that its experts have over 30 years of combined experience.
How do I get started?
You can sign up for CountryWide Debt Relief’s program online by following these steps:
- Go to the CountryWide Debt Relief website and click See if you qualify for debt relief.
- Select the amount of debt you want to enroll, how far behind you are on your payments and your credit rating.
- Enter your contact information and select your state.
- Click See your results.
If you’re preapproved, you should get a message telling you to contact CountryWide Debt Relief for a free consultation. After discussing your situation, you should receive an email with the application and a list of documents you need to provide if you’re eligible for the program. Otherwise, CountryWide might put you in touch with one of its partners.
I’ve signed up. What happens next?
CountryWide doesn’t list the exact process on its website. It will likely depend on which program you enter with the company.
Debt consolidation requires combining your debts under one account. You’ll then make payments to this account at least once a month.
You may also be advised to have a portion of your debts settled. In this case, CountryWide would work to negotiate down some or all of your debts.
If you’re looking for more information upfront, you might want to consider other debt relief options before contacting CountryWide.
CountryWide Debt Relief is not currently available on Finder
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