National Debt Relief helps people who are struggling to get a handle on unsecured debts. Once you’re enrolled, the company’s debt experts negotiate with your creditors to help you pay off your debts for less than what’s owed.
Hundreds of thousands have used National Debt Relief to manage overwhelming debt, but is it right for you?
Our review of National Debt Relief covers the most important things to know about how this program works.
National Debt Relief At-a-Glance
Here’s a brief look at what National Debt Relief has to offer.
- Relief is available for a variety of unsecured debts, including credit cards, personal loans and medical bills
- Pay off debts for less than what’s owed
- Clients typically pay off their debts within 24 to 48 months
- No upfront fees
- Satisfaction guarantee
- Cancel any time without penalties or fees
- Highly rated at Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau
What Kind of Debts Qualify?
National Debt Relief helps people with unsecured debts, meaning debts not backed by any type of collateral. The company’s team of experts is equipped to negotiate with banks and credit card issuers on behalf of their clients.
The types of debts you can enroll in include:
- Credit cards
- Personal loans
- Lines of credit
- Medical bills
- Collections
- Repossessions
- Business debts
- Certain student debts
The company’s services span a variety of situations. National Debt Relief helps people who have experienced hardships related to health issues, divorce, or job loss and those who are having trouble paying their debts for different reasons.
How Does It Work?
National Debt Relief’s primary business is debt settlement. The company negotiates with creditors to reach agreements allowing debtors to pay back less than they owe.
Here’s more on how it works:
- You apply for debt relief and enroll your eligible debts.
- Rather than paying your creditors, you deposit monthly payments to a dedicated savings account in your name that you control.
- As you continue making monthly payments to your savings account, National Debt Relief negotiates with your creditors to get your balances reduced.
- National Debt Relief uses the funds in your savings account to pay an agreed-upon reduced amount to your creditors.
- The process continues until all enrolled debts are settled, with the remaining balance forgive
You can potentially get out of debt for less than what you owe, but you’ll pay a fee to National Debt Relief. The fee is 15-25% of your enrolled debt, depending on which state you live in. The fees are built into the plan, and you pay nothing upfront.
Who Is It Best For?
National Debt Relief is best for people who are having trouble making payments to unsecured debts. You might consider this type of debt solution if you:
- Owe money to credit cards, personal loans, or medical bills
- Have fallen behind on debt payments already or are in danger of doing so
- Can afford to make a monthly deposit to a dedicated savings account
- Are comfortable taking two to four years to pay off debt
- Would like to avoid bankruptcy
Remember, however, that debt settlement isn’t your only option. National Debt Relief’s experts will look at your entire financial situation to help you decide whether you should consider alternatives like debt consolidation, debt management, or bankruptcy.
Top Features of National Debt Relief
What makes National Debt Relief a standout? Here are some of the most notable features to know.
Services a Wide Variety of Debts
Some debt relief companies focus exclusively on credit cards. National Debt Relief allows you to enroll other types of unsecured debts in addition to credit cards.
You might appreciate that if you’re dealing with unpaid medical bills, a car repossession, or other debts on top of your credit card balances.Predictable Payoff Time
National Debt Relief aims to help people to get out of debt within 24 to 48 months. While waiting two to four years to become debt-free might seem like an eternity, that could be a much shorter time frame than if you were trying to solve your debt problems on your own.
No Upfront Fees
While National Debt Relief’s services are not free, you’re not required to pay anything upfront. Instead, your service fees are built into the plan payments. There are no penalties or fees if you decide to cancel or withdraw from the plan.
Save Money on Debt
The core of what National Debt Relief does is helping people save money by paying off debts for less than what’s owed. According to the company, a typical client saves 50% before National Debt Relief’s fees are added. With the fees, the typical savings is still around 30%.
Excellent Reputation
National Debt Relief is a top-rated company with an A+ BBB rating and a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot. The company also has a 4.6-star rating on Google reviews and a 4.8-star rating on ConsumerAffairs. That’s encouraging if you’re interested in debt relief and want to work with a reputable company.
How to Get Started
You can find out if you qualify for debt relief in just a few minutes. To do that, you’ll just need to tell National Debt Relief how much debt you have and provide some personal information, including your:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Email address
- Phone number
A debt expert will reach out to you by phone to discuss your financial situation in more detail. If you’re a candidate for debt relief, they’ll walk you through the next steps to set up your plan and start making monthly payments.
Rating the Features
When considering debt relief, it’s essential to compare the options. One company may be better suited to your needs than another.
Here’s more on what you can expect from National Debt Relief should you use the company’s services.
User Experience
National Debt Relief offers a positive user experience regarding the signup process and enrollment. You can talk to a debt expert for free to decide if it’s right for you without commitment to try the plan. Should you choose to enroll, your expert will take you through the process step by step.
Fees
As mentioned, National Debt Relief’s services are not free. Depending on where you live, you’ll pay a fee of 15-25%. But there are no origination or penalty fees to worry about.
Variety
National Debt Relief works with people navigating different financial hardships and situations that make paying debt difficult. If you’re unsure whether the company can help you, getting a debt consultation and seeing your options won’t cost you anything.
Customer Support
Customer support is available seven days a week by phone, which is helpful if you have questions or need help with your account. You can log in to your online account at any time, though there doesn’t appear to be any live chat option available.
Access
National Debt Relief is not available in all states. You’ll need to start the initial online application or call customer support to find out if your state is eligible.
Pros and Cons of National Debt Relief
Before proceeding with debt relief, weighing the advantages and disadvantages is vital.
Pros
- Save money on debt repayment. National Debt Relief’s typical customer reduces the total amount of debt they have to pay by 30% once the company’s fees are deducted. Actual savings will vary based on how much debt you enroll and how committed you are to sticking with the plan.
- No upfront fees. There’s no fee to enroll with National Debt Relief and no fees you pay directly either. Instead, the fees are built into your plan payments. You’ll pay no additional fees if you decide to cancel your enrollment.
- Good reputation. Consumer reviews of National Debt Relief are largely positive, and the company has earned recognition for being a top debt settlement company. The reviews suggest that most people who use National Debt Relief are satisfied with their experience.
Cons
- Only available in some states. State laws regulate debt relief companies and where they can offer their services. You need to live in a state that National Debt Relief operates in to enroll in a plan with the company.
- Fees are not insignificant. Paying as much as a 25% fee to use debt relief services can be expensive if you’re enrolling in a large amount of debt. For example, if you’re enrolling $20,000 in credit card balances, you might pay $5,000 to National Debt Relief in fees.
- It only works for some. The biggest con associated with National Debt Relief or any debt relief company is that it only works if you stick to the plan. If you’re inconsistent with making plan payments or continue adding to your debt total while you’re enrolled, this type of program will likely not yield much in the way of benefits.
Before proceeding with debt relief, weighing the advantages and disadvantages is vital.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Debt relief can negatively impact your credit since it requires you to stop paying your debts. The impact likely won’t be as significant if you’re already behind. However, if you’ve been current on debt payments up until now and stop paying, that could cause a more significant drop in your score.
If you settle debts with National Debt Relief or any other debt settlement company, our creditors will send you a Form 1099-C for any forgiven debt over $600. Whether it counts as taxable income or not depends on whether you’re considered insolvent.
National Debt Relief helps negotiate a wide range of debts but isn’t all-inclusive. Certain types of debts, including secured debts, may not be eligible for settlement.
Bottom Line
Getting relief from debt can help you get a fresh start financially. National Debt Relief’s services are one option for dealing with credit cards, personal loans, or other debts that may be causing you stress. If you want to learn more about what National Debt Relief offers, you can start the application process and schedule a free call with a debt expert.
