Best Debt Settlement Programs
National Debt Relief
Curadebt
CareOne
Amer Debt Enders
Ready For Zero
Debt Settlement is more important now than ever before. Across the country, millions of people are finding it more and more difficult to meet their financial obligations. As mortgage interest rates rise, Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) payments skyrocket. Credit card late fees continue to climb higher. Lenders keep offering credit to people who are in desperate need of help, but this only prolongs the problem, and often ends up simply increasing the total debt owed by a person.
Thankfully, there are a number of opportunities available if you find yourself in this situation. Debt Settlement, Debt Negotiation, Repayment plans, and Debt Consolidation are just some of the options you can pursue. However, not all debt settlement companies and plans are the same. You need to find the right debt settlement solution, and just as importantly, the right debt settlement company, to work with in order to address your financial needs.
With all the debt-related offerings available, it can sometimes be confusing when examining the different debt settlement programs and companies. When comparing your debt settlement options, there are a number of important features you should consider. Some of these include:
Solutions. Does the company only offer one debt relief solution? Or are they well-versed in a number of options? Having a variety of choices means they can find the right debt relief program that fits your specific needs.
Cost. How does the debt relief company get paid? The best ones will earn their money from a percentage of what they save you; that way, they only get paid if you save money.
Dependability. There are many fly-by-night debt relief organizations out there. How long has the company been in business? Are they affiliated with the BBB (Better Business Bureau)? Is this a company you can trust?
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best debt settlement programs available today. We hope these reviews help you in your quest to become debt-free!
Disclosure: We pay our reviewers and we are compensated for our reviews. Click here for details.
2014 Debt Settlement Reviews
NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF
Cost: National Debt Relief offers a free consultation to examine your financial situation. Based on this analysis, they can offer you a custom debt solution with no upfront fees.
New Customers: 1-888-407-3586
National Debt Relief specializes in creating custom financial solutions for customers with $7,500 or more in unsecured debt. They take a proven, thoughtful approach in developing their personalized debt relief plans, and have helped over 100,000 customers get out of debt since 2007.
The National Debt Relief website is clean and customer-friendly. To start, you simply fill out their online form or call their dedicated debt help line at 1-888-407-3586. You’ll discuss your financial situation with one of their certified debt counselors, who will walk you through a free debt analysis. Their staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and together you will create a plan to pay off your debts for less than you owe. Best of all, you can get started on your plan with no upfront fees.
The professionals at National Debt Relief are experts at debt settlement and debt negotiation. They have many debt settlement letters proving how they’ve saved their customers thousands of dollars. Of course, the amount of savings can vary from customer to customer based on a variety of factors. Once you create your custom debt relief plan with them, they’ll be able to tell you how much you can expect to save in your situation.
One of the things we liked about National Debt Relief is that they’ve earned an “A” rating as an accredited business with the BBB. Part of this rating is due to their 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not happy with their service, you can cancel at any time without penalties or fees. This is another strong feature that separates National Debt Relief from most other debt relief companies.
For people suffering under a large amount of debt, National Debt Relief is a fantastic option. Their knowledgeable, friendly approach has a proven track record of success, while their strong BBB rating and satisfaction guarantee confirms their focus on the customer. If you want to get out from under the debt load you’re facing, National Debt Relief (1-888-407-3586) is a great place to start. They earn our highest rating.
CURADEBT
Cost: CuraDebt counselors provide a free consultation to analyze your debt situation. Based on these results, they can refer you to either commission-based or fixed-fee programs.
Specializing in providing financial solutions for total unsecured (or tax debts) of $10,000 or greater, the founders of CuraDebt have been in business since 1996 providing financial advice along with creditor negotiations, settlement, and arbitration services to both individuals and small businesses. CuraDebt expanded nationally in 2000 through their web presence and has successfully helped thousands of people escape their debt issues.
On your initial free, confidential consultation, CuraDebt takes the time to understand your current financial situation, as well as your short-term and long-term goals. CuraDebt has access to the top A+ rated professionals and companies in the industry. Based on a thorough understanding of what you want to accomplish, CuraDebt will connect you with the right staff that can best help you reach your goals.
In addition to debt negotiation and debt settlement, CuraDebt counselors can help advise regarding debt consolidation plans, debt management plans, consumer credit counseling, tax debt relief, and more. Their skilled professionals are knowledgeable about each of these services, and can review the best options with you.
If you sign up with CuraDebt’s online form, make sure you provide a valid phone number and email address. With your initial call, you’ll be assigned a friendly, experienced financial counselor to help guide you through your financial options. This person develops a knowledge of your personal financial situation and works with you to create a comprehensive solution to meet your needs. They also stay in contact with you while you progress through your debt resolution plan, until you’ve reached your financial goals. This is a great benefit, since your goals may change and it’s good to have a familiar, knowledgeable expert readily available to answer any questions you may have.
If you have unsecured or tax debts totaling $10,000 or more, CuraDebt is a terrific choice. They are experts in a wide variety of debt relief options and can provide you with a comprehensive solution that meets your needs. With knowledgeable counselors, extensive resources, and proven results, this dependable company shares our highest rating.
Note: CuraDebt services are not available to residents in the following states: CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, KS, ND, NH, SC, VT, WA, WI, WV.
CAREONE DEBT RELIEF SERVICESSM
Cost: A setup fee to cover the expense of the account activation and a monthly service fee. These fees are dependent on the state in which you live, but do not exceed $50 per month.
CareOne Debt Relief ServicesSM is actually a single face for a group of debt relief providers. They work to match you up with the best debt relief option that fits your particular needs. Working with debt loads as low as $2,500, CareOneSM providers offer an array of debt-fighting solutions.
To become a CareOneSM provider, companies must meet rigorous professional standards, such as provide access to account information 24 x 7; provide monthly statements to customers where appropriate, and meet high customer service expectations.
Filling out the online application at the CareOneSM website is a simple exercise. You enter some personal information about yourself (name, address, phone), and then some information about your current outstanding debt. There is no commitment on your part for filling out the form; it simply gives CareOneSM providers the information they need to find an appropriate debt program to assist you. After reviewing your free debt analysis, you may elect to enroll in a debt relief plan online or call to speak with an associate.
Enrolling online at the CareOneSM website gives you access to the following:
Free Debt Relief Analysis. Review your debt and understand your options for debt relief.
Online community featuring debt experts.
Free educational resources.
The CareOneSM website is TrustE certified. This helps ensure safe online business practices and privacy considerations. The website is also very professional and easy to navigate. If you have a total debt load between $2,500 and $10,000, CareOneSMproviders are an excellent choice.
AMERICAN DEBT ENDERS
Cost: Fees vary based on the amount of debt and type of program selected. All fees are explained at the time of consultation.
American Debt Enders is a New York based company that started in 2007. They offer free, no obligation, credit counseling to identify the best way to improve your financial situation. Some of their specific services include debt settlement, debt consolidation, and credit repair. The American Debt Enders website offers easy-to-read information that educates you about your options, including the pros and cons of each program they offer.
If it’s identified during the free credit counseling session that debt settlement is the best route for you, they require at least $10,000 in unsecured debt. The American Debt Enders debt settlement program is FTC compliant. You will enjoy full attorney representation should you get sued by any creditors prior to settlement – at no additional cost. A quick settlement process usually occurs because creditors want to reach an agreement for cash.
For those with debts totaling $5,000 or more, the debt consolidation program at American Debt Enders may be an option. Debt consolidation services negotiate lower interest rates and payments for each unsecured loan to have your credit cards paid off in approximately 5 years.
American Debt Enders is a no-nonsense company that does a good job of both educating the consumer and identifying viable solutions to assist those that have accumulated too much debt. We appreciated the informative website and the helpful nature of the credit counselors we spoke with. If you’re struggling with unmanageable debt, American Debt Enders offers programs that are worth considering.
READY FOR ZERO
Cost: $4.99 per month
Ready for Zero is a financial tool that was created in 2011 and has helped customers pay down over $30 million dollars of debt. With the use of a helpful website, Ready for Zero assists individuals with determining how to best pay off loans and debt in the most fast and efficient order possible – saving customers expensive interest charges each month.
Ready for Zero is for those that are currently able to still financially afford the minimum payments they have plus pay a little extra. Using the simple logic that the highest interest rate loans should be paid off first, Ready for Zero quickly calculates which credit cards to pay off first until all debt is gone. You may also link your bank account details to the Ready for Zero website to conveniently pay online and watch your debt shrink. Ready for Zero uses only bank level security and doesn’t sell your information to any marketers.
Helpful tools at Ready for Zero include mobile access, one convenient location with all of your outstanding debt information, options to set up reoccurring payments, and reporting options. You’ll find Ready for Zero, Ready for Zero Plus and Ready for Zero Plus Biweekly options. Each membership varies in services available. The Ready for Zero is a free service whereas, the other two charge a monthly $4.99 subscription fee. The biweekly option also charges a one time set- up fee but allows customers to align biweekly payments with paychecks. The theory behind the biweekly payment options is that by payment 26 payments per year instead of 12 you pay down principal balance faster and reduce interest charges. Ready for Zero works with unsecured, secured debt, students loans, and more.
The benefits of the Ready of Zero approach over other more traditional debt settlement is that you don’t hurt your credit during the process and the fee is nominal in comparison to the typical 20 to 25% of enrollment charges found at most debt relief companies. Also, Ready for Zero doesn’t have a minimum requirement of debt.
If you are able to currently make your minimum payments and have a little extra left to direct towards paying off your debts, Ready for Zero is a helpful and affordable tool. We liked the website and felt it was easy to navigate and very informational. If you’re looking for a helpful tool to assist with improving your financial picture, Ready for Zero is a great option.