National Debt Relief is one of the top debt settlement companies in the country, serving hundreds of thousands of people. National Debt Relief has been in the business since 2009, creating affordable debt management plans to help consumers pay off their debts faster and in a way that’s more manageable for them financially. National Debt Relief can help most clients pay off their debt in 48 months or less.
Top Debt Relief Options
Company Overview
National Debt Relief provides free consultations and ongoing help to their clients to help them with debt repayment in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming. The company also partners with charities like St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Project to match any donations given by its employees.
Pros
- Accredited with the American Association for Debt Resolution
- Customer support is available each day of the week
- A+ accredited BBB rating
- Relatively transparent fees
- Some profits go to charity each month
Cons
- Fees to work with National Debt Relief can be as high as 25% of debt
- Must have at least $7,500 in debt and be behind on payments
- Some debts are ineligible for settlement
Year Founded: 2009
BBB Rating: A+
Areas Served: All states except Connecticut, Oregon, Vermont, and West Virginia
Fees: Typically 18%-25% of enrolled debt
Customer Service Hours: 8 a.m. to Midnight EST on weekdays; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST on weekends
How National Debt Relief Works
The main goal of National Debt Relief’s debt consolidation service is to enroll clients in a debt settlement plan that allows them to pay off their debt faster. Once a client enrolls, National Debt Relief collects their monthly payments and puts their money toward their debts. While doing that, the company also negotiates the amount of debt the client has with each creditor to reduce the amount they have to pay in total.
Each plan usually takes 24-48 months to complete, after which the client will have all their enrolled debt paid off. During the process, your debt specialist will keep you updated on your progress and answer any questions you have along the way. National Debt Relief states that most clients see savings of 50% on the total amount of their enrolled debt by the time they finish the program.
Types of Debt
Like other top debt relief companies, like Freedom Debt Relief and Accredited Debt Relief, National Debt Relief only takes on debts that fall under the umbrella of unsecured debt. Unsecured debt is any debt that doesn’t have something attached to it, like a car loan for your vehicle or a mortgage for your home.
Although not an exhaustive list, National Debt Relief allows you to enroll the following unsecured debts.
Lines of Credit
A line of credit is an open-ended loan that you can use to borrow the amount you need up to your credit limit. They can be more affordable than a personal loan if used properly because you only pay back what you’ve borrowed plus interest versus paying off an entire loan, even if it was for more than you actually needed. However, it’s easy to rack up money on a line of credit, quickly getting you into debt without a way to dig yourself out.
Credit Card Debt
Credit card debt is among the most common types of debt enrolled in a debt management plan. Since credit cards often come with high interest rates, minimum payments can shoot up quickly as you spend money on your cards. Plus, making only minimum payments can keep you in debt for years.
Private Student Loan Debt
National Debt Relief does not allow federal student loan debt to be enrolled in its programs. For help paying those, you can look into federal forgiveness and repayment programs. However, you can include private student loan debt in your total enrolled debt as long as it’s via an unsecured loan.
Medical Bills
Medical bills may include any bills you’ve gotten from a doctor, specialist, or hospital that you can’t reasonably afford to pay and have fallen behind on. Medical bills are some of the most negotiable, so you may be able to cut a significant portion of what you owe by working with National Debt Relief.
Business Debts
If you own a business and have incurred debt while buying supplies or hitting a roadblock in revenue, you could potentially enroll it in your National Debt Relief settlement plan, provided that it isn’t a government loan or secure debt.
Personal Loans
People often take out personal loans for big purchases or emergencies, like making repairs on a car or home or covering a trip to the vet or emergency room. However, like credit cards, personal loans sometimes come with massive interest rates, especially for borrowers with average or low credit, making them challenging to pay off.
Services Provided by National Debt Relief
National Debt Relief offers a few financial and informational services to use as you pay off your debt and work through your debt settlement program. Your debt specialist can help you determine the best debt relief option and services to assist you with your financial hardship.
Debt Consolidation
As a debt relief company, National Debt Relief offers a form of debt consolidation known as a debt management plan. Debt consolidation moves current debt, like a personal loan or credit card debt, into a new form of debt, like a new loan, usually with a lower interest rate or better terms to help you pay less in principal and fees over time and make one monthly payment for all debt.
A debt management plan from National Debt Relief works similarly. When you enroll your qualifying debt amount, National Debt Relief creates a plan for you to pay just one monthly payment into a dedicated account. The company then uses that money to pay off your negotiated debts, leaving you with just one payment to focus on.
The downside is that your other debts still exist when you use a debt management plan unless National Debt Relief can negotiate them to $0 after a couple of more payments. So, you still may end up with a temporary ding to your credit score while National Debt Relief works on your behalf to reduce and wipe out your debt.
Credit Counseling
Avoiding bankruptcy is one of the top reasons consumers enroll in debt management programs like National Debt Relief. Getting close to bankruptcy could signal that some financial changes are necessary to put you on a better path toward future financial health.
National Debt Relief provides credit counseling to help you reach your financial goals while enrolled in a debt settlement program. Debt specialists are there to answer your questions and guide you toward the best solutions for your financial situation, allowing you to feel more confident about improving bad credit and finding debt relief.
Marital Debt Relief
National Debt Relief doesn’t just help individuals; it also assists married couples with their marital debt. Marital debt is any debt that has been incurred since a couple becomes married or has carried into the marriage from each individual’s personal debts. If you and your spouse have unsecured debt that is eligible for a National Debt Relief plan, you can enroll it together and work together toward debt relief.
National Debt Relief can also help divorcing or divorced individuals regain control of their finances after divorce by enrolling marital debts like debt from a wedding, vacations, student loans, or credit cards used during the marriage. The company’s debt specialists are well-versed in relevant state financial laws regarding divorce to give you as much help as possible with your debt relief while enrolled in a program.
Free Consultation
Perhaps one of the most helpful services for anyone who’s in debt and considering using a debt settlement company like National Debt Relief is the company’s free consultation. You can start yours online or by calling National Debt Relief to speak with a debt counselor about the debt you’d like to enroll and your current financial situation.
This is an ideal way to compare debt relief companies, their offerings, and their upfront fee, if applicable, to decide which service is best for you. National Debt Relief’s debt specialists will walk you through how the process works and what you can expect from your program and will give you a customized quote based on your debt amount and how quickly you want to pay off your debt.
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How Much Does National Debt Relief Cost?
National Debt Relief charges a percentage of your enrolled debt for its service, which is commonplace for a debt settlement company. Typically, you should expect to be charged between 18% and 25% of your enrolled debt with National Debt Relief, but this fee is split into your monthly payments, so you don’t have to worry about paying it all at one time when you enroll.
As an example, an enrolled total debt of $15,000 may be charged a 20% fee, or $3,000, paid over the life of the program. So, if your debt solution plan is for 48 months, you’d pay $18,000 over those 48 months or $375 per month.
How To Get Started with National Debt Relief
If you want to sign up with National Debt Relief, first call the company to speak with a debt specialist about your debt. This conversation can help you determine if National Debt Relief can work with the types of debt you have and create a plan that you find doable for your budget. If so, your unsecured debt will be enrolled in the company’s debt relief service so you can get started right away.
How To Cancel Your Debt Settlement Services
You are allowed to cancel your debt management plan with National Debt Relief at any time if you feel it’s not right for you or can’t keep up with your monthly payments.
To cancel, ask your debt specialist for a cancellation form, which you’ll need to fill out and submit to cancel your plan. You won’t be charged any cancellation fees, and National Debt Relief will send back any money still in your account minus any service fees you may owe.
Customer Service
National Debt Relief is available throughout the week and weekend to contact, whether you’re a prospective customer or a current customer. Call (800) 300-9550 if you want to set up a plan or speak with a debt specialist about your current plan.
The Client Success Team is available Monday-Friday from 10 am to 8 pm ET. You can call toll-free: 888-660-7427.
FAQs
Is National Debt Relief legit?
Yes, National Debt Relief is a legitimate and reputable debt settlement company. Established in 2009, it has gained recognition as one of the leading companies in the debt settlement industry, and currently has an A+ BBB rating.
Does working with National Debt Relief hurt my credit score?
It can until your debts begin getting paid off. When you enroll in National Debt Relief, you’ll stop making payments on your own to your enrolled accounts, which could ding your credit score as the company negotiates and pays down your debts.
How much can I save with National Debt Relief?
Some people enrolled in National Debt Relief save as much as 50% of the debt they enrolled, allowing them to pay less and pay their debt off quicker than they might without a debt management program.
Can I keep using my credit cards after enrolling in a debt relief program?
No, you should stop using any account that you have enrolled in your debt relief program. It’s also a good idea to stop using other forms of credit that aren’t enrolled, if possible, to avoid climbing into more debt.
Can I negotiate with my creditors without signing up for a National Debt Relief program?
Yes, some creditors are open to negotiations by customers if the customers make a good-faith effort to pay their debts.
Do I pay taxes on any debt that National Debt Relief helps me settle?
Some customers may need to pay taxes on their settled debts if their creditor settled at least $600 worth of debt.
Can National Debt Relief prevent me from being sued by creditors?
No, there’s still a possibility that you get sued by a creditor. However, National Debt Relief tries to work as quickly as possible to settle your debts to try to avoid any legal situation.
Is National Debt Relief Right for Me?
If learning how to get out of debt has led you to National Debt Relief, you may have tried other ways to pay off your debt that haven’t worked. National Debt Relief is one of the best debt forgiveness companies due to its high success rate and free consultation. But it’s still important to compare companies to find one that fits your financial situation and goals.
Speak with a National Debt Relief debt specialist to get a quote and ask detailed questions about the process so you can better understand your requirements and what to expect from the company. Remember that, like other debt settlement companies, you’ll need to pay for the service, which becomes part of your monthly payment. Ask your specialist how much your exact fee will be and how this affects your overall costs to enroll before finalizing your plan.
