You could potentially get rid of up to 29% of your unsecured debts with this low-minimum debt settlement company.
We look at Debtmerica, just one debt settlement company offering low minimums and a promising — if not small — track record that could help ease your debt distress.
Debtmerica details
- Free consultation. Complete basic information about your debt, and Debtmerica gets in touch with you.
- Costs. 18%–25% of total enrolled debt
- Types of debt accepted. Nearly all unsecured debt
- Services offered. Debt settlement.
- Minimum debt considered. $7,500.
- Typical turnaround. 2–4 years.
- Accreditations. International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators, American Fair Credit Council, the Association of Settlement Companies
- Ratings. A+ BBB rating, 9.2 on Trustpilot
- Negotiations type. Direct negotiations
- Service limitations. Not licensed in Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia or Wyoming
- Free resources or tools. None
- Customer service. Phone
- Other details. Offers services in English, Spanish and Vietnamese
What are the benefits and drawbacks of Debtmerica debt relief?
Benefits
- Low minimum. Debtmerica’s minimum debt amount is half what’s required by competitors.
- No upfront or hidden fees. Debtmerica doesn’t take any fees until at least one of your debts is settled.
- Multiple language options. Debtmerica is accessible to English, Spanish and Vietnamese speakers.
- Excellent customer service. Its support line was one of the easiest to navigate in our experience, with reps who were more than willing to answer our questions.
Drawbacks
- Available in 30 states only. Nearly half of the country is unable to use Debtmerica’s services.
- Uninformative website. It’s difficult to find basic information online, like minimum debt amounts or the types of fees to expect.
- A little too eager to make promises. Debt settlement is risky business, so it raises some red flags when we hear what sound like promises on the fee percentages you’ll see (or anything really) without lots of qualification.
Compare more debt relief companies
What exactly is Debtmerica?
Debtmerica is a debt settlement company that negotiates with your creditors to reduce the debt you owe and pay it off all at once. It was founded in 2006 by two recent graduates of Wharton Business School who wanted a more effective solution for resolving debt than credit counseling or bankruptcy. It’s also accredited by the main industry associations.
Debtmerica could be more comfortable for people who don’t like spending too much time online but love talking with people on the phone. What it lacks on its site is more than made up for through its customer service.
How much does it cost?
In all states, Debtmerica settlements fees range from 18% to 25% of your enrolled debt. Your fee is included in your monthly payments to Debtmerica, though fees aren’t deposited in your escrow account. You’re entitled to have all payments returned to you at any time before your first debt is settled.
How does this work out? Say you currently carry $10,000 in credit card debt with an average APR of 18%. If you enroll in a 36-month debt relief program and decide to stop paying your minimum payments, by the time you’re ready to settle, your debt will have increased to around $17,091.40. In this scenario, you would pay between $3,076.45 and $4,272.85 to Debtmerica in fees.
How much could I save with Debtmerica?
Typical Debtmerica clients reduce their debts by 50% — standard for a debt settlement company — and save around 29% after fees. So someone in the above scenario could end up saving something like $4,956.50 on $17,091.40 of debt.
What does the Internet have to say about Debtmerica?
Not much. Though Debtmerica isn’t accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the BBB gives Debtmerica an meaningless A+ rating based on no customer reviews. The company does similarly well on Trustpilot, with around 60 reviewers giving it an average 9.2 out of 10 — 80% of which called it “Excellent.” Debtmerica responds to all Trustpilot reviews, demonstrating some effort to rectify customer complaints.
Reviewers praise its customer service for making such a complicated process easy to understand — though some wish consultants would check in more often.
Complaints are mild at best and mostly relate to problems you might run into with any debt settlement company. One was miffed that they weren’t told settled debt counts as taxable income (that’s one of the few things Debtmerica clarifies on its site now). Another customer was upset that Debtmerica can’t offer legal representation in the event that you’re sued (most debt settlement companies don’t). A third forgot to consider interest his debt would accrue while enrolled in the program, resulting in an unpleasant surprise.
The main takeaway: Know what you’re getting into before you sign up for debt settlement.
Is it safe to use Debtmerica?
Generally, yes. All sensitive information you enter on the site is encrypted, although Debtmerica doesn’t specify its safeguards. It also doesn’t sell or share your private information with third parties unless you authorize it to.
It’s a member of the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators and an accredited member of the American Fair Credit Council and the Association of Settlement Companies — three of the top trade associations that set and maintain industry standards. It’s not accredited with the BBB, however.
How do I get started?
Get a free quote at Debtmerica’s site by clicking Get Free Quote. Select the amount of unsecured debt — debt that doesn’t require collateral — you want to settle and your state, and then enter your contact information and click Get Free Estimate. After you submit the form, a senior debt consultant contacts you to help you sign up for the right payment plan.
I’ve signed up. What happens next?
- Make payments to Debtmerica. Part of these payments go toward your Debtmerica fees, while the rest is deposited in a trust account that Debtmerica eventually uses to pay for your debt settlement.
- Debtmerica negotiates with your creditors. Once you have enough in your trust account, Debtmerica reaches out to your creditors to start negotiations. This part can take a few months — it’s not usual for your creditors deny a settlement company offer the first few times.
- Debtmerica takes your fees. Debtmerica receives your fee once your first creditor settles a debt.
Making Debtmerica a smart choice
Debtmerica can set you on the path toward debt freedom if you’re wise about the choices you make after enrolling in its program. Follow these tips toward freedom from debt.
- Know what you’re getting into. Former customers say that Debtmerica doesn’t always do a great job explaining how debt relief works. Ask questions if something is unclear — like how the fees work. That way, you won’t be surprised if things don’t work out the way you expected.
- Don’t skip monthly deposits. Making as many monthly deposits into your settlement account is a priority: The longer it takes, the more interest accumulates, the more you end up paying.
- Make a budget and stick to it. Budgets can clean up your spending habits and help you avoid the temptation of taking on more debt while you’re in the program.
- Contact customer service. If you have any problems or questions, reach Debtmerica toll-free at 800-470-8155.
Bottom line
Debtmerica isn’t as fancy as some competitors, but it offers competitive rates and has widely satisfied customers.
But debt settlement is no joke. It can damage your credit, and you risk lawsuits or harassment by collection agencies if it doesn’t work out. Before signing a contract, learn about all of your options when it comes to reducing debt.
