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National Debt Relief Review
National Debt Relief can help you settle your obligations for less than what you have to
By Holly Johnson
Updated January 13, 2023
Review by Margaret James
Facts checked by Katrina Munichiello
We suggest the top products through an independent review process The advertisers don’t influence our choices. We could receive compensation when you visit the our partners that we recommend. Read our advertiser disclosure for more info.
National Debt Relief logo
Rating for Investopedia: 4.6
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Our Take
National Debt Relief is a highly rated company for debt relief which offers a no-cost consultation with debt counselors who can help. Founded in 2009, this company helps people settle their debts for less than they are owed. Our independent evaluation of debt relief companies, National Debt Relief earned the top spot in the category of «best in all.»
Pros & Cons
The most important takeaways
Overview of the Company
Pros
No upfront fees for settlement
Free consultation can aid you in comparing options
Client portal allows you to track your progress live
Cons
Fees can run as high as 25% of your settled credit
There is no mobile app that works with the program
National Debt Relief logo
overall rating 4.6
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Table of Contents
Pros Explained
Cons Explained
Debt types addressed
Client Onboarding
Customer Service
Company Reputation
Average Relief Amount
Average Time for Relief
Cost
The Concurrence
Final Verdict
Methodology
National Debt Relief is a company that offers relief through the process of debt settlement. Its goal is to assist consumers in getting out of debt. In this method, you’ll set the amount in a savings account every month until you’re ready to «settle» to settle your financial obligations for less than you are owed.
You’ll be paying National Debt Relief a percentage of the debts they pay and only after you have achieved results. This company claims that, regardless of accounting for their costs, clients save anywhere from 30% to 50% of their original debt when the process is completed.
A no-cost consultation will help you decide whether debt settlement is the best option for you.
Debt settlement could cause harm to your credit score because you’ll stop paying the debts you owe during your program. Make sure you understand the benefits and drawbacks of debt settlement before you proceed, and shop around with several debt relief firms before making a final decision.
Pros Explained
No upfront settlement fees No upfront settlement fees: With National Debt Relief, you only pay for results. The fees are calculated as an amount of the debt that is paid off, and only after the negotiation is completed.
Free consultation can help you evaluate your options: You can call National Debt Relief to speak to a debt advisor for no cost. This session gives you the chance to discuss your questions and discover whether debt settlement is the right choice for you.
Client portal allows you to track your progress in real-time Contrary to other debt relief firms, National Debt Relief has an online client portal that lets you monitor your program and follow the process of settling your debt regardless of day or at night.
Pros and Cons Explained
Fees can run up to 25% of your settled debt. A few of the companies that we independently studied offer fees at a lesser percent that National Debt Relief.
There is no mobile application available for the program: While National Debt Relief does have an online client portal, this debt relief firm doesn’t have an app for mobile devices which lets you monitor your debt settlement program while on the move.
Types of Debt Addressed
National Debt Relief aims to help consumers pay off unsecured debt, which includes all debt that is not covered by collateral. It is good to know that the company has a page on debt qualification on their website , where they outline which debts qualify and do not meet the criteria for. The principal kinds of debts they deal with are listed below.
Credit card credit card debt
If you are in credit card due on a standard credit card or a merchant credit card National Debt Relief can help you pay less than you are owed. This is applicable to the most popular credit cards such as American Express, Visa, or Discover and also co-branded cards from stores like Kohl’s as well as Sears.
Personal loans and payday loans
You may also negotiate and settle any personal debt you may have, such as personal loans from a bank or online lender or even payday loans. Installment loans may also be eligible.
Business debts
Business debts may also be settled through negotiation and settlement at a lower rate than what the amount you are currently owing. National Debt Relief says these loans are not unsecured, and they prefer to help to negotiate debts for companies that are already closed.
Unpaid medical bills
National Debt Relief can also help you pay less than you owe toward your medical charges. Negotiations are able to be concluded by working with hospitals, doctor’s offices and other medical professionals.
Back rent
If you’re behind on the rent you pay, then you may be able to negotiate the amount due in arrears. However, you are able to negotiate this debt if you have ceased to be an resident.
Private student loans
You may also be able to settle debt tied with private school loans with a lesser amount than your balance. Note you that federal student loans are not eligible to be a debt settlement.
It is possible to bundle multiple types of debt into a settlement plan. If you are in the middle of credit card debt, medical bills, or business debts, for instance, National Debt Relief can help you pay the entire amount in your plan.
Client Onboarding
To begin the process of National Debt Relief requires you to make an appointment for a free consultation. In this meeting with a debt advisor, you can talk over your financial situation and circumstances and then learn the length of time the process of settling your debts could take and the amount you could save.
National Debt Relief states that you must be in debt of at least $7,500 in order to be eligible for their assistance. You also need to be «several months behind on your payments» because creditors don’t have a reason to negotiate if you’re current on your payments.
If you aren’t able to pay off enough debt to qualify for a debt settlement program, you can look into other options like credit counseling or program for managing debt (DMPs), or debt consolidation loans.
Customer Service
One benefit of working with a debt relief firm is that they know the debt collection regulations and rules in and out. For example, National Debt Relief states their expert debt counselors and experts are able to assist you with how to navigate the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act when you are settling your debt.
The company provides email and phone customer service. If you need a free debt consultation, you can contact an advisor on Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to midnight EST and also on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Existing customers can reach out for assistance via the phone on Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
National Debt Relief doesn’t offer mobile apps or a chat feature online which means there are less ways to contact them for assistance than some of the providers provide. However, their many excellent user reviews praise rapid response times and the willingness to help.
Company Reputation
The field of debt relief is not without many scams This is why it’s important to research companies before you sign up to use their services. One method to conduct this research is to use the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) database that allows you to look up complaints from users of companies offering debt settlement.
The company has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars across nearly 35,000 user reviews on Trustpilot.
Based on their stellar reviews and third-party rankings, National Debt Relief received one of the top scores for company reputation in our study.
If you have a complaint regarding the services provided by an organization for debt relief You can file a complaint with the FTC or call 877-FTC-HELP.
Average Relief Amount
National Debt Relief states that the amount of money you save is contingent on a wide range of factors. But, the majority of people save 30 to 50% off of their original debt amounts and these savings can be realized after accounting for the fees you pay for your debt settlement program.
Average Time to Relief
Settlement of debt via National Debt Relief should take between 24 to 48 months in total this is the average for other companies. The time it will take to complete your plan can differ based on the amount you owe, the amount you are able to save each month, as well as other aspects like how willing creditors are to negotiate.
Cost
National Debt Relief says their average client pays a cost of between 15% and 25 percent of the total amount of debt enrolled within their programs. However, this fee is only charged after the results have been achieved and debt has been settled at a lower rate than the original amount.
In general, their fee percentage is generally on par with the industry average.
The Competition
National Debt Relief Accredited Debt Relief
Year of the Year 2009Year of Inception: 2009
Accreditation – Accredited with the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC)
Accredited by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA) — Accredited with the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC)
– Not accredited with IAPDA. International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA)
Services AvailableDebt settlement Settlement of debt
Touchpoints for Customer ServiceFree consultation; phone and email customer service; Client portal online for free consultation. Customer service via email and phone
Fee : No upfront charges pay 15% to 25% of your debtNo upfront fees; pay 15 percent to 25% of your debt
Average Program Time24-48 monthsBetween 24 and 48 months
We decided to contrast the top-rated National Debt Relief to Accredited Debt Relief Accredited Debt Relief, the company offering debt relief that earned the second highest ranking in our study. Both firms received top ratings from Investopedia based on their customer service, their company reputation, fees, and services they offer. Additionally, both companies offer the same program length from 24 to 48 months, and both provide a no-cost consultation as well as costs that range from 15% and 25% of the amount you have paid off in debts.
With that being said, National Debt Relief stands out due to the fact that it has IAPDA accreditation. National Debt Relief also offers an efficient online portal for customers to monitor their program and keep track of their progress any time of the day or night.
Final Verdict
The bottom line is that there is no debt relief firm we can recommend more than National Debt Relief due to its professionalism, efficiency of the company, costs and fees, as well as its excellent customer service. The company earned an average rating from 4.63 out of 5 potential stars on our research analysis, while the typical company only scored 3.56.
If you have at least $7,500 in unsecured debt you’d like to settle and you’re in need of help, call National Debt Relief for a free consultation. There are no upfront costs required, and you can find out whether debt settlement is a good idea with no obligation.
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How We Review Debt Relief Companies
Investopedia has conducted an independent study that evaluated fifteen debt relief firms based on its customer support, ratings and company’s reputation as well as their product offerings, pricing, and transparency. We sought out debt relief companies that have good reviews and customer testimonials, customer access to service, and crucial information regarding their plans that are readily available on the internet, in addition to firms with excellent rankings from third parties.
Overall, National Debt Relief scored the highest score of 4.63 out of 5 stars in our rankings and earned them the top spot in our ranking as «best all-around.»
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