Types of Debt Covered by CuraDebt
CuraDebt doesn’t work with federal student loans, government loans, or some credit union accounts. Asset-backed loans are also not eligible for relief. But the company can help with both tax debt and unsecured debt, such as the following:
- Credit card debt
- Personal loans
- Payday loans
- Private student loans
- Medical bills
- Utility bills
CuraDebt Service Features
CuraDebt starts with a free consultation to ensure you are eligible. You can then enroll in the company’s debt settlement program, which includes debt negotiation with your creditors. CuraDebt also offers a debt relief program for tax debt. You can qualify with as little as $5,000 in unsecured debt or tax debt. The company doesn’t operate in all states, so residents of CT, HI, ID, KS, LA, ME, MT, NH, NV, OR, SC, TN, UT, VT, and WV won’t be eligible.
CuraDebt claims that customers who stay with the program can realize a 50% reduction in their debt before fees or a 30% reduction after fees, but it depends on the individual. The process typically takes between 24 and 48 months.
Breadth of Services Offering | Debt settlement and tax relief |
Extent of Geographic Presence | Available in 35 states |
Minimum Debt Required | $5,000 |
Average Time for Relief | 24-48 months |
Average Relief Amount | 30% after fees |
CuraDebt Costs and Fees
CuraDebt doesn’t charge any upfront fees, and you should beware of companies that do since the practice is illegal. As each settlement is reached, you’ll pay a fee when you accept it. The total performance fees are typically around 20% of the total enrolled debt amount. While some debt relief companies offer a money-back guarantee if they are unable to settle any of your debts, CuraDebt doesn’t disclose a formal policy. The company also doesn’t disclose its cancellation policy online, but debt settlement companies are legally required to inform you that you can withdraw from the program at any time without penalty.
Upfront Fees | None |
Settlement/Performance Fees | 20% of enrolled debt amount |
Other Fees | None |
Cancellation Policy | Withdraw at any time |
Money Back Guarantee Policy | Not Disclosed |
CuraDebt Application Process
The CuraDebt application process involves three steps:
- Attend a free counseling session: Meet with a credit counselor virtually or in person in the Hollywood, Florida area. Discuss your debt situation and learn whether you qualify for CuraDebt’s program. Your counselor will explain the fee structure and risks of participating. The initial consultation is free and confidential.
- Sign the agreement with CuraDebt: If you qualify and decide to accept the terms of the program, you’ll sign an agreement stating the terms and timeline.
- Open a special-purpose account: CuraDebt will fund the account with your monthly payments or lump sum to begin paying off negotiated debts.
Once you have started the program, CuraDebt will reduce your debts in two ways:
- Find collection or credit reporting law violations: Creditors may reduce or dismiss debts based on these violations. They may even issue cash awards in some cases.
- Negotiate debt resolutions: CuraDebt’s negotiation team finalizes offers with creditors, settling your debts.
CuraDebt Customer Experience
- Website Extensiveness and Usability: CuraDebt discloses its fees online and maintains a professional website with useful information for customers, but certain details and disclosures are left out, such as the company’s cancellation policy.
- Call Center Support: CuraDebt offers extended customer service hours on weekdays between 9 am and 8 pm EST and Saturdays between 10 am and 2 pm EST. If you live in the Hollywood, Florida area, you can even schedule an in-person consultation.
- Multi-Channel Support: You can email counselors@curadebt.com at any time, but the company doesn’t have a social media presence, a mobile app, or live chat support, so options are relatively limited.
- Supplemental Support: There’s a client dashboard you can use to view your account details, and an FAQ section answers the most pressing questions, but there are relatively few educational articles, calculators, and other tools available to help potential customers understand the outcomes of debt relief.
- Mobile Technology: CuraDebt doesn’t offer a mobile app, but the website is optimized for mobile devices.
CuraDebt Trustworthiness and Stability
CuraDebt was established in the year 2000 and is headquartered in Hollywood, Florida. The company is a member in good standing of the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC) and an Accredited Service Center by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). Additionally, the company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and is a member in good standing with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. CuraDebt is also a member of HONESTe Online, the Online Business Bureau, and the Netcheck Commerce Bureau.
The CuraDebt tax team has over 60 years of combined experience, while debt relief counselors come from diverse backgrounds, including some CPAs. The company reaches thousands of settlements each year and provides several examples online. CuraDebt has helped more than 300,000 people find relief from debt.
Years in Business | 22 |
Customers Serviced | 300,000 |
Certifications and Memberships | AFCC IAPDA BBB U.S. Chamber of Commerce Online Business Bureau Netcheck Commerce Bureau HONESTe Online
|
CuraDebt Consumer Reviews
CuraDebt has excellent reviews from customers, with a 5 out of 5-star rating from the Better Business Bureau and ConsumerLobby, a 4.9 out of 5-star rating from ShopperApproved, and a handful of mostly positive reviews on Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs. People say that the debt counselors are friendly, professional, and responsive to work with. Many customers also note that their debt was resolved and that the savings covers the fees. Even reviewers who didn’t have success with other companies saw savings with CuraDebt. We couldn’t find any CuraDebt negative reviews.
CuraDebt Compared to Other Companies
When comparing CuraDebt vs National Debt Relief, Accredited Debt Relief, and Freedom Debt Relief, there are a couple of differences worth noting. CuraDebt has the lowest minimum debt requirement, which makes it ideal for borrowers who don’t have enough debt to qualify for other programs.
However, the other three companies have explicit money-back guarantee policies. For example, with Freedom Debt Relief, if the total cost to settle your debt with the company’s fee is more than what you owe, you’ll be eligible for a refund up to the total cost of the fee. With all debt relief companies, however, you have the legal right to withdraw your money without penalty at any point during the process.
| CuraDebt | Accredited Debt Relief
| Freedom Debt Relief | National Debt Relief |
Minimum debt required | $5,000 | $10,000 | $7,500 | $7,500 |
Fees | 20% of enrolled debt | 15% to 25% of enrolled debt | 15% to 25% of enrolled debt | 15% to 25% of enrolled debt |
Money Back Guarantee Policy | Not Disclosed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Average Relief Amount (Before Fees) | Up to 50% | Up to 50% | Varies | Varies |
Final Thoughts
Consumer protection agencies generally recommend staying away from debt settlement companies and pursuing credit counseling instead. But ultimately, the choice is yours. You may feel the risks and damage to your credit are worth the additional savings. If that’s the case, CuraDebt is one of the reputable companies you can choose from. The company offers a low minimum enrollment amount, has decades of experience in the industry, and employs expert debt counselors with a variety of financial backgrounds. And the company has a dedicated tax team for customers dealing with those specific concerns. What’s more, customers rave about the service they receive from CuraDebt.
