Best Debt Management and Settlement Services April 2023
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Best Debt Management and Settlement Services of April 2023
Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here's how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Properly managed debt can help you build wealth and reach your financial goals. However, too much debt or the wrong kinds of debt can damage your credit, hampering your ability to borrow in the future. Digging yourself out of excessive or delinquent debt is challenging, but if you're struggling to pay what you owe, you have options.
Debt relief programs can be as simple as taking out a consolidation loan or opening a balance transfer credit card. However, more serious debt requires outside help in the form of a debt management or settlement service. Read on to learn more about how these services operate and see which ones we recommend.
The Best Debt Settlement and Debt Management Services of April 2023
- National Debt Relief: Most types of debts settled
- CreditAssociates: Money-back guarantee
- Accredited Debt Relief: Best for customer service
- American Consumer Credit Counseling: Best for credit counseling
Our Top Debt Settlement and Debt Management Services
Methodology: How We Chose the Best Debt Settlement and Management Services
To evaluate debt settlement and debt management services, there are several essential factors to consider. First, FTC regulations prohibit debt relief companies from collecting fees from a client until they have settled, reduced, or altered the terms of at least one of that client's debts. Companies that charge an up-front fee should be disregarded, and were left out of our analysis.
The debt relief industry has several trade associations and organizations that offer accreditation for debt and credit-related services. Examples include the American Fair Credit Council, the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators, the Consumer Debt Relief Initiative, and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Reputable debt relief and debt management services don't need accreditation from all of these groups, but should be accredited by at least one. Services that did not meet that requirement were left out of this analysis.
With those two parameters established, we rated services according to their fee structures (including the range of potential fees and how clearly they are disclosed in advance), the number of years in operation, money-back guarantees in cancellation policies, and customer satisfaction based on personal reviews.
Debt Settlement and Debt Management Frequently Asked Questions
Debt settlement plans usually require that you stop making payments to your lenders to make negotiations easier. This will significantly lower your credit score, damaging your payment history. On the other hand, debt management plans will raise your credit score as you continue to make payments to your creditors.
While severe delinquency, over 90 days, can qualify you for debt settlement, most debt settlement companies will only take you on as a client if you have at least $10,000 in debt.
You should stay away from debt settlement companies that reach out via robocall or guarantee results. It's also illegal for a debt settlement company from charging up-front fees.
Most Types of Debt Settled
National Debt Relief
Cost: 15-25% of total enrolled debt
Operating since 2009, National Debt Relief claims to have helped more than 400,000 people get out of debt. National works with most kinds of unsecured debt, including credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, and private student loan debt. There is no advertised minimum debt required to apply for National's debt relief programs, though most clients have debt in excess of $10,000.
National offers free consultation with no upfront fees, as no payment is collected until you approve a settlement and make at least one payment on a debt. There's also no fee for backing out so long as you do so before your debt is settled. Once National negotiates a settlement, the fee averages 15-25% of the total enrolled debt (not the settled amount). Completing the settlement program takes 24-48 months on average.
National Debt Relief is accredited by the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC) and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. National also has a Trustpilot rating of 4.7 stars out of five, with 95% of over 35,000 reviewers giving the company four or five stars. Common complaints among negative reviews include a lengthy settlement process, unexpectedly high fees, and a lack of clarity about the legal and tax implications of debt settlement.
One apparent negative of National Debt Relief is that customer support is only available by phone, with no email or chat option. While business hours for new customers include weekends and extend to midnight on weekdays, support for current clients is only available Monday to Friday from 10 am to 8 pm EST.
Money-Back Guarantee
CreditAssociates Debt Relief
Cost: Estimated 25% of debt (fees not publicly available)
CreditAssociates has been in operation since 2015. The company helps clients settle a variety of unsecured debts, but emphasizes solutions for those dealing with credit card debt, medical bills, and business debt. There is no advertised minimum debt required to enroll in CreditAssociates' debt relief programs.
CreditAssociates offers a free consultation with their team of debt settlement experts, and charges a fee only when the company is involved in a settlement. CreditAssociates also markets a "money-back guarantee," but does not offer further details about that guarantee prior to enrollment. The company cites an average timeline of 36 months to complete a debt settlement program.
CreditAssociates has accreditation from both the AFCC and the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). The company also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, though it has a high incidence of complaints relative to the number of reviews. Trustpilot reflects a more positive view of CreditAssociates, with a rating of 4.9 stars out of five and 98% of over 12,000 reviewers giving the company four or five stars. Common complaints among negative reviews include poor communication and the use of high-pressure sales tactics.
One standout feature of the CreditAssociates website is its debt relief blog, which offers a treasure trove of articles on topics like credit, bankruptcy, budgeting, and more. These articles are available whether or not you enlist their services.
On the downside, while anecdotal evidence places the cost of using CreditAssociates in line with other debt settlement services, the company's website conspicuously fails to disclose the range of potential fees. It's website mentions that the average customer saves 55% on their debt without fees and 30% with its fees included. CreditAssociates is not available in Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Maryland, Vermont, and Wyoming.
Best for Customer Service
Accredited Debt Relief
Cost: 15-25% of total enrolled debt
Accredited Debt Relief is a DBA of debt consolidator Beyond Finance. The company has been in operation since 2011, claiming to have served more than 200,000 clients and paid off more than $1 billion of client debt. Accredited Debt Relief works exclusively with unsecured debt such as credit cards, medical bills and payday loans, offering both debt settlement services and debt consolidation through its affiliates. There is no published minimum debt required to enroll, but client reviews indicate the company only handles debts totaling over $10,000.
Accredited Debt Relief offers free consultations and savings estimates with no upfront fees and no obligation to enroll. The company boasts that clients who make all monthly deposits reduce their enrolled debt by approximately 45%, with fees averaging 15-25% of the total amount. Some clients are able to pay off debts in as little as 12 months, but the typical timeline ranges up to 48 months.
Accredited Debt Relief is accredited by both the AFCC and the Consumer Debt Relief Initiative (CDRI). The company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau with a very low incidence of complaints relative to the number of reviews. Trustpilot rates Accredited Debt Relief at 4.9 stars out of five, with 98% of over 4,500 reviewers giving the company four or five stars. Common complaints among negative reviews include dissatisfaction with the enrollment process and misrepresentation of how fees are assessed.
Accredited Debt Relief has an online knowledge hub with extensive information about topics related to debt, as well as a blog that covers personal finance more broadly. Customer service offers is accessible by phone for no less than 14 hours daily, seven days a week, as well as by email. One negative about Accredited Debt Relief is that it only operates in 30 states plus Washington, D.C. Clients outside of the covered states are ineligible to enroll.
Best for Credit Counseling
American Consumer Credit Counseling
Cost: $39 one-time fee and $7 monthly maintenance fee per account
American Consumer Credit Counseling is a non-profit agency offering debt relief, credit counseling, and financial education services. Operating since 1991, the agency specializes in debt management programs to help clients with unsecured debts such as credit cards and store cards, medical bills, signature loans and collection accounts. There is no published minimum debt required to enroll.
American Consumer Credit Counseling provides a preliminary counseling session at no charge, during which a professional certified counselor helps review your finances, discuss options for debt relief and develop a budget and action plan. Those who enroll in a debt management program pay a one-time fee of $39 and monthly maintenance fee of $7 per account, which is capped at $70. Both enrollment and maintenance fees may be waived based on state regulations or for those in financial hardship.
The agency's debt management program works with creditors to lower interest rates, eliminate late and over-limit fees, and re-age delinquent accounts to make them current. The program is designed to take approximately four to five years to complete, but the timeline depends on the amount of debt, the creditors, and the client's ability to pay.
American Consumer Credit Counseling is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation. The agency has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau with a nearly negligible incidence of complaints relative to the number of reviews. There are no reviews on Trustpilot, but its brick and mortar locations have over 10,000 combined Google reviews, of which only 37 gave less than four stars.
Unlike the debt settlement programs listed above, American Consumer Credit Counseling offers services in all 50 states. The agency also has 21 offices in 13 states and Washington, D.C. In addition to providing a toll-free number and general email address, the agency's contact page commendably lists phone extensions, email addresses and hours of operation for each of its departments.
How Do Debt Management and Settlement Services Work?
Debt management and debt settlement services have similar aims, but distinct approaches to achieving them. Debt management services negotiate with creditors to reduce monthly payments by waiving fees, lowering interest rates, and extending repayment periods. These measures do not reduce the amount of your debt, but make it easier to pay down. Debt management services tend to be inexpensive or free, and impact your credit minimally so long as you make payments according to plan.
Debt settlement services also seek to reduce monthly payments, but they do so by negotiating with creditors to reduce the amount owed rather than alter the terms of repayment. Debt settlement services generally charge a percentage of the total debt, and because debt settlement requires you to stop making payments during negotiation, the process damages your credit significantly. As a result, debt settlement is a better fit for those under severe financial duress who are seeking an alternative to bankruptcy. Note that debt forgiven in a settlement may be considered taxable income unless you get an exemption for economic hardship.
Some companies offer both debt settlement and management, but both services differ from debt consolidation, which simplifies repayment and by combining multiple debts into one at a lower interest rate.
Should You Pay for Assistance With Debt Settlement and Management?
Debt settlement and management services can help those struggling with debt, but they aren't the only options. Before enrolling in one of these services, there are several alternatives to consider.
First, check your area for credit counseling agencies or other non-profit resources that offer debt consultations with no fee. They can advise you about debt relief solutions and help you figure out which ones best suit your needs. Talking with them first won't take any other options off the table.
Second, you may be able to negotiate with your creditors directly to reduce or otherwise change the terms of your debt. Cutting out the middle man can save whatever fees you would have paid, but without the expertise of a settlement or management service to guide you, the responsibility will be on your shoulders. That decision may be worthwhile, but it shouldn't be made lightly.
Finally, debt consolidation may be preferable to debt settlement or management depending on the nature and amount of what you owe. If you're still current on your debts and able to continue making payments, consolidating loans can help you simplify payments and lower interest rates without adding fees.
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