Come to the realization that you alone can’t force your debt to disappear? There’s no shame in accepting that you need help. After all, the average American household carries nearly $16,000 in credit-card debt — and many will carry that debt with them through life and to the grave.
But that doesn’t have to be you! You can make amends with your less-than-stellar financial history, even if you can’t do it alone. If you’re looking for a solid debt relief provider to lift your financial burden once and for all, here are five debt relief companies you need to know.
Golden Financial Services
The biggest fear that people have regarding joining a debt relief program is that they’re afraid to ruin their credit. At Golden Financial Services, credit restoration is included in the debt relief program, and for no additional cost. Also included is a money-back-guarantee. This is the only company on this list that currently offers multiple debt relief programs, including debt settlement, debt consolidation, debt validation and consumer credit counseling. The company is A+BBB Rated, IAPDA Certified, and Top Rated by Trusted Company Reviews (https://trustedcompanyreviews.com/top-ten-national-debt-relief-companies/) and in business since 2004. Golden Financial Services is a California based debt relief, settlement and consolidation company.
Freedom Debt Relief
True to their company name, Freedom Debt Relief has been helping debtors start fresh since 2002, resolving over $8 billion in debt to-date. FDR has enrolled over 500,000 clients and a quick search for Freedom Debt Relief reviews proves it, with thousands of legitimate and positive reviews all over the web. They’re also a founding member of the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC), a top accreditation for debt relief companies to possess. FDR works with a minimum of $10,000 in debt and advertises a 24- to 48-month resolution timeline.
Consolidated Credit Counseling Services
If you’re looking for debt management or debt consolidation plans, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better company than Consolidated Credit Counseling Services. The company works with a minimum of $500 in debt and has a 5-star rating on TrustPilot. The company has helped over 5 million people better manage their debt since opening in 1994. Consolidated Credit offers free consultations with credit counselors, so debtors can make the best decision for them without feeling pressured to opt for a specific plan.
Accredited Debt Relief
Accredited Debt Relief works with multiple debt relief companies to give their customers a wide array of means to get control of their debt. Because of their collaborative company model, the company is able to easily offer debt management, debt consolidation, debt settlement and bankruptcy options to their customers. Accredited works with minimum debts of $7,500. The company has been operating since 2008 and boasts hundreds of four-star-or-higher reviews on ConsumerAffairs.
New Era Debt Solutions
New Era Debt Solutions provides debt settlement plans and currently has no minimum amount of debt they accept. New Era also provides some of the best rates on the market, with fees ranging from 14–20 percent and an average debt reduction of 37 percent. New Era states a 36 to 48-month timeline for resolving debts. The company’s recently been gaining traction because of their transparency and customer service. The company’s main downside is not being accredited by the AFCC.
CuraDebt
CuraDebt offers options for debt consolidation, debt settlement and tax debt for both consumers and small businesses. Since the company’s launch in 2000, they’ve helped over 180,000 people and small businesses resolve their debt. While Cura isn’t as large as the other providers on this list, they currently have over 800 positive reviews on CustomerLobby. CuraDebt works with minimum debts as low as $5,000 and charges a fixed 20-percent fee based on a debtor’s initial balance, which is lower than most companies’ 15-25 percent sliding scale.
Many debt relief companies exist, but when you filter for legitimacy, track record and great customer service, your choices dwindle considerably. Start with these five companies and let your research take you from there. And remember: no legitimate debt relief company will try to charge you fees before you agree to any debt reductions and they won’t try to pressure you to commit to a particular strategy. If something feels like a scam, it probably is.
