Is freedom or national debt relief better?
National Debt Relief is a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited business with an A+ rating. Its average customer satisfaction rating is 4.73 out of 5. Freedom Debt Relief is also a BBB-accredited business with an A+ rating.
FDR and NDR charge a similar range of fees, with an important difference—if you reach a settlement for a particular debt, Freedom Debt Relief charges its fee based on the initial amount of that debt, whereas National Debt Relief charges based on the amount of settled debt.
How Will Freedom Debt Relief Affect My Credit? Debt relief can negatively affect credit scores because creditors typically aren't willing to negotiate until you're behind on payments. Payment history carries the most weight for FICO score calculations, so if you're paying late or not at all, your score can take a hit.
| Debt Relief Companies | Best for |
|---|---|
| Featured partner National Debt Relief | Best for credit card debt |
| Money Management International | Best overall |
| Accredited Debt Relief | Best for customized options |
| Americor Debt Relief | Best for all unsecured debt types |
The drawback is that the fees for debt settlement can be relatively hefty. On average, fees are between 15% and 25% of the total debt enrolled. So, if your enrolled debt is $8,000, you may pay between $1,200 and $2,000 in fees.
Freedom Debt Relief has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Freedom Debt Relief is accredited by the American Fair Credit Council and the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau received 120 complaints in 2022 about Freedom Debt Relief.
Type of Debt Relief – Debt Settlement. Eligibility & Requirements – Minimum amount of $7,500 in unsecured debt. Fees – 18%-25% of enrolled debt, plus $9.95 monthly service fee. Credit score impact – Stains credit report for 7 years.
National Debt Relief is the best overall debt settlement company, according to our research. National Debt Relief's low-cost fee structure and referral service make it a top option for people struggling with debts. Our highest-rated debt settlement companies all charge similar fees, ranging from 15% to 25% of the debt.
Debt relief services may have a negative impact on your credit score, but that impact may not be as big as you think — and in some cases, it can help your credit. How these services impact your credit depends on the debt relief option you choose.
According to data from Freedom Debt Relief, your credit score is likely to drop substantially during the first few months of your debt relief program. But after that first six months, credit scores trend higher.
How to pay off $10,000 credit card debt?
- Opt for debt relief. One powerful approach to managing and reducing your credit card debt is with the help of debt relief companies. ...
- Use the snowball or avalanche method. ...
- Find ways to increase your income. ...
- Cut unnecessary expenses. ...
- Seek credit counseling. ...
- Use financial windfalls.
For example, you may need credit card debt relief if you're struggling to pay off credit card bills. Or you may be interested in debt consolidation if you have several types of debt to pay off. Credit counseling, debt management plans and debt settlement also fall under the debt relief umbrella.
National Debt Relief is a legitimate company providing debt relief services. The company was founded in 2009 and is a member of the American Association for Debt Resolution (AADR).
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a government-sponsored program for credit card debt relief. In fact, if you receive a solicitation that touts a government program to get you out of debt, you may want to think twice about working with that company.
Using debt settlement options to reduce debt comes with several risks, including late payments on your credit report, potential charge-offs, settlement company fees, tax implications on forgiven balances, possible scams and the overall risk of settlement offers not working.
Forbearance is a practice that allows you to skip your debt payments for a set period. It's not just for credit cards. Other loans might also have forbearance programs. Student loans, mortgages, personal loans, and auto loans can be deferred through forbearance programs.
Summary: Ultimately, it's better to pay off a debt in full than settle. This will look better on your credit report and help you avoid a lawsuit. If you can't afford to pay off your debt fully, debt settlement is still a good option.
The worst thing they can do
If you fail to pay it off, the collection agency could file a suit. If you were to fail to show up for your court date, the debt collector could get a summary judgment. If you make an appearance, the collector might still get a judgment.
So, each debt you settle will damage your credit score. But if your accounts are already in collections, they already count negative remarks on your credit report. If you already have multiple collection accounts listed in your report, the damage has already been done to your score.
Accredited Debt Relief has a higher debt minimum than National Debt Relief, $10,000 compared to $7,500, so it's only a contender if you have at least that much debt. It's not available in every state. And it tends to charge a higher fee than NDR, usually 25% of the settled debt.
Can I buy a house after debt settlement?
Yes, you can buy a home after debt settlement. You'll just have to meet the lender's requirements to qualify for a mortgage. Unfortunately, that could be harder after you settle debt.
Yes, auto loan lenders don't exclude those who have gone through bankruptcy. However, you'll pay higher interest rates if you finance the vehicle after receiving a bankruptcy discharge.
You can still get a credit card after debt settlement
While it may be difficult to open a new line of credit with a lower credit score, debt settlement does not prevent you from getting a new credit card in the future.
It will take 47 months to pay off $50,000 with payments of $1,500 per month, assuming the average credit card APR of around 18%. The time it takes to repay a balance depends on how often you make payments, how big your payments are and what the interest rate charged by the lender is.
- Make a list of all your credit card debts.
- Make a budget.
- Create a strategy to pay down debt.
- Pay more than your minimum payment whenever possible.
- Set goals and timeline for repayment.
- Consolidate your debt.
- Implement a debt management plan.
