National Debt Relief Review – Help for Becoming Debt-Free

National Debt Relief Review – Help for Becoming Debt-Free

Fast Facts

Service:

Debt relief

Mininum debt amount:

$10,000

Cost:

15% -25% of the debt enrolled

Upfront fees:

Nil

USP:

Customised debt relief plans

Type of debt:

Unsecured

Being in debt is not uncommon, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to deal with. Student debt is a real concern for many Americans, as is credit card debt and other debts. It seems like it’s far too easy to find ourselves in a sticky situation. Fortunately, companies out there can help relieve the debt burden. National Debt Relief is one of them. Here’s what you should know if you need help with your debt.

What is National Debt Relief?

National Debt Relief is a debt relief company that has helped more than 400,000 people get out of debt since its founding in 2009. The company was born out of the personal experience of its founders and the desire to radically change the pressure tactics and misleading marketing that was so prevalent in the debt relief industry. National Debt Relief has an experienced team of debt arbitrators, negotiators, customer service, and operations team members to help customers through the journey to becoming debt-free.

How Does National Debt Relief Work?

National Debt Relief has a straightforward process designed to make you feel comfortable every step of the way. It works in three steps:
  1. Get a free, obligation-free consultation
  2. Receive and approve the customized plan that was created for you
  3. Follow the plan to get out of debt
Here’s what the process looks like:
When you visit the National Debt Relief website, you’ll see a button that says “Let’s Start Now.”
National Debt Relief Review – Help for Becoming Debt-Free
Then, you need to enter the estimated debt amount you owe. You don’t need to know the exact amount right now — you just need to select the range you think is the most appropriate for your financial situation.
National Debt Relief Review – Help for Becoming Debt-Free
Next, you’ll need to enter your name and contact information. National Debt Relief uses this information so someone can contact you via phone for your free consultation. After you submit this information, you can expect a call from a debt relief specialist. You can also call National Debt Relief yourself if you don’t want to sit by your phone waiting for a call.
National Debt Relief Review – Help for Becoming Debt-Free

How Much Does National Debt Relief Cost?

National Debt Relief does not charge any fees for the free consultation. There are no fees to sign-up and no obligation to approve and follow a program from the company. There are also no cancellation fees if you decide the program isn’t right for you.
The company also doesn’t charge any fees until it can settle your debts. So if you approve a resolution agreement, but National Debt Relief can’t settle your accounts, you don’t pay anything for the attempt. If the company successfully settles your debts, you can expect to pay a fee between 15% to 25% of your enrolled debt. This fee will be added to your monthly payment as you pay off your debts. 

National Debt Relief Features 

Free consultation

One of the best features that National Debt Relief offers is a free consultation for all its clients. Signing up for a free consultation is easy, and there is no obligation to work with National Debt Relief if you’re not satisfied with your consultation.

Customized debt relief plans

National Debt Relief provides customized debt relief plans based on each client’s unique financial needs. The programs help you get out of debt quickly and effectively. You can also expect the plans to include information about how much you can expect to save by using the plan.
When you receive a customized plan, you are not obligated to move forward if you don’t want to. You need to accept the plan created for you before National Debt Relief can take action on your behalf.

No upfront fees

National Debt Relief does not charge any fees for its services unless it can successfully settle your debts to your satisfaction. That means there are no enrollment fees and no fees to cancel if you decide not to proceed with your plan. 

Variety of debts accepted

National Debt Relief can help its customers with a wide variety of unsecured types of debt. Unsecured debts that the company accepts include major credit card debt, retail debt, bank, and other unsecured loans, and business debts. You may even be able to enroll some repossession deficiency balances, some student loans, and old judgments into your plan. The minimum debt required to enroll in a National Debt Relief program is only $10,000, making it accessible for many Americans.

Reputation and accreditation

National Debt Relief is a legitimate company that can help you get out of debt. It’s also accredited by the American Fair Credit Council and the Better Business Bureau (BBB.) National Debt Relief is also certified by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators.

Who is National Debt Relief Best for? 

People who are experiencing a financial hardship

Everyone would love to get out of debt, but the National Debt Relief programs are specifically designed for people facing financial hardship. When creditors believe you are facing financial hardship, they are more willing to negotiate a settlement. Otherwise, if a creditor thinks you’re financially capable of paying your debt in full, they will want you to see that through. 
To qualify for National Debt Relief’s help, you have to be facing a situation that has you in a financial crisis. Some examples of this could be if you recently lost your job or suddenly have unexpected medical bills to pay. You may also be considered someone facing a financial crisis if your income has been reduced due to you going through a separation or divorce or if your spouse recently passed away. 

People who have fallen behind on payments

Things can get stressful when life happens, and you start falling behind on debt repayments. Late fees’ll likely be added to your account when you're behind on payments. You can also expect to face interest rate fees on the due balance. 

People who don’t want to go through debt alone

The truth is that it is certainly possible to handle debt relief on your own. However, it can be quite stressful and risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you don’t want to deal with the headache and the worry that your negotiating skills won’t get you what you want, working with National Debt Relief is a good option. National Debt Relief has established relationships with over 10,000 creditors and has plenty of experience helping people get out of debt. This means that the company's employees know what your creditors are looking for and the best way to support you throughout this process. 

Who Shouldn’t Use National Debt Relief?

People with a minimal amount of debt

National Debt Relief can only help with debts that meet its minimum requirements. This program will not work if you have less than the amount of accepted unsecured debts to enroll in. To qualify for a debt relief program, you must have a minimum debt amount of $10,000.

People with secured and other types of debts

Secured debts can also be painful, especially when facing financial hardship. However, National Debt Relief cannot handle secured debts, so it will not be an option if those are the only debts you need help with. Some examples of secured debts include mortgages and auto loans. The company (and other debt settlement companies) cannot help with unique debts such as child support payments, gambling debts, or back taxes.

People who are only facing a momentary setback

To qualify for National Debt Relief, you must face a financial hardship that you cannot be expected to get out of soon. This is because the company will have difficulty negotiating with creditors if they think you can make your payments in full soon. To qualify for the program, you must be several months behind on payments and not have enough stable income to pay off your debts on time.

People with no income

Creditors won’t be as likely to accept a settlement if you have a high enough stable income. However, the National Debt Relief program won’t work for you without income. To qualify for a plan from the company, you must be able to make monthly payments to National Debt Relief. The monthly payments will be less than you would have had to pay to your creditors. However, you will still be expected to make those payments. Most plans have programs that last between a 24- and 48-month period. The amount of income you’ll need to qualify will depend on the amount of debt you need help paying off.

Pros and cons

Pros
  • National Debt Relief does not charge any upfront fees, nor does it charge a cancellation fee. 
  • You only pay National Debt Relief if the company can successfully settle your debts for you.
  • Using National Debt Relief can help you save money on your debts in the long run. According to the company, you can expect to save 25% even after paying National Debt Relief’s fees if the company can settle all your enrolled debts.
Cons
  • You must have a minimum $10,000 qualifying debt to enroll in a plan from National Debt Relief.
  • National Debt Relief cannot help with all of your debts. If you’re having financial trouble due to your mortgage, auto loan, or child support payments, this program cannot help you.
  • Your financial situation needs to be just right to qualify. You need to be facing financial hardship and be months behind on payments. However, you still need to make enough to be able to make monthly payments to National Debt Relief.

National Debt Relief vs. Competitors

Company
Upfront fees
Minimum debt amount
Free consultation offered
National Debt Relief
None
$10,000
Yes
Freedom Debt Relief
None
$7,500
Yes
American Debt Relief
None
Undisclosed
Yes

Freedom Debt Relief

Freedom Debt Relief is another of the top debt relief companies on the market today. Like National Debt Relief, this debt settlement program does not charge any upfront fees. It also offers a free consultation. The types of debts it can help with are relatively the same, and the minimum amount of qualifying debt to enroll is $7,500, lower than National Debt Relief.
Freedom Debt Relief is committing to helping people by providing resources, even if the company itself cannot help reduce or settle your debts. For example, on the website, you can find information about using a debt consolidation loan to help get you out of a tricky financial situation. This company can only handle some debts case-by-case, including private student loans and business debts.
This company’s payment structure is also similar to National Debt Relief’s. Like National Debt Relief, you don’t pay any fees until the company negotiates a debt on your behalf. Freedom Debt Relief will contact you when a settlement is reached for authorization. Then, if you approve the deal, you’ll see that Freedom Debt Relief’s fee is processed alongside that. 

American Debt Relief

Like its competitors, American Debt Relief does not charge any upfront fees. However, the company differentiates itself by charging a flat performance-based fee instead of a percentage each time a settlement is reached. If the company has no involvement in settling one of your debts, you won’t be charged anything.
American Debt Relief operates a savings-based program. When you use the program, you have a savings account to fund through monthly payments. The company will work to resolve your debts for the lowest amount possible, but you must fund your savings account reliably to pay off the settlements and fees.
The timeline of this program is similar to that of its competitors. American Debt Relief understands that every person’s situation is unique, so the length of time can vary. However, the average client who can stick with the program can expect to complete the program within 25 to 48 months. 

FAQs

How do debt relief programs impact my credit score?
Your credit score can be impacted in a few ways during the debt settlement process. You might see that your credit score declines when you first start the process. However, your credit score should increase over time as you pay off your debts. Most clients of these programs are left with higher credit scores than when they started if the program is completed successfully. 
What are my other debt-relief options?
It can be difficult to properly evaluate debt management options to find the one that is right for you. If you’re at a point where your debt seems insurmountable on your own, then it’s time to look for some debt relief options. One of the popular alternatives to debt settlement programs is credit counseling. Credit counseling organizations are there to help advise you through free educational tools that can help you manage your money and a debt repayment strategy. These organizations can be a good first step. Still, if you’re truly suffering from a financial hardship that makes it seem impossible to become debt-free, that’s when a debt settlement company might be a better option. Another alternative to debt settlement is to take on a debt consolidation loan.  These personal loans can pay off your debts quickly, which might help provide immediate debt relief. However, personal loans are another form of debt that won’t suddenly go away. It’s important to consider the fees associated with these loans if you’re considering them as an option. Some people might also consider filing for bankruptcy. Filing for bankruptcy can have more long-term consequences on your credit report. It stays on your credit report for at least 7-10 years, which can impact your ability to get approved for new credit cards and loans.
Are debt settlement companies a scam?
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to fall prey to a scam, and debt settlement scams are no exception. When considering debt settlement companies, you should keep an eye out for companies that contact you via robocalls or those that promise a result that is too good to be true. National Debt Relief is not only accredited by the BBB, but it also has an A + rating from the organization. The company also has over 40,000 customer reviews on Trustpilot, with a 4.7 rating. This information can help you determine that National Debt Relief is not a scam, and you should also check for these ratings and accreditations from other debt settlement companies. 

The bottom line

Being in debt can be a serious struggle; unfortunately, it’s not all that uncommon. You can do a few things to help yourself get out of debt, starting with basic money management strategies. However, the outlook may seem bleak if you suffer from financial hardship.
Fortunately, there are some companies out there that can help you with this. If you’re only starting to feel the heat of debt, a credit counseling program may be able to help you. But if you’re facing debt that seems impossible, debt settlement programs may be the next step. 
National Debt Relief is a reputable debt settlement company helping Americans become debt-free for over a decade. The company strives to help its customers find debt relief plans that will help them save money, even when considering the costs of its services. With no upfront fees and a satisfaction guarantee, there’s no harm in getting a free consultation to see if these services can help you.

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