Types of Debt Covered By Freedom Debt Relief
Freedom Debt Relief only works with unsecured debt. Unsecured debt consists of loans and accounts that you didn’t have to use collateral to obtain. You must also have at least $7,500 of unsecured debt to use Freedom Debt Relief. Here’s a summary of what they can help you with:
- Credit cards: Credit card debt typically comes with some of the highest interest rates, making it hard to manage. If you have maxed out credit cards or are juggling multiple bills, Freedom Debt Relief may be able to help you settle this debt.
- Medical bills: If you are unable to pay your medical bills, they can quickly go to collections and hurt your credit. If you’re getting calls every day from debt collectors, debt settlement can help you negotiate these bills and get them paid off.
- Department store cards: Freedom Debt Relief can help negotiate with retailers where you have a department store credit card.
- Personal loans: If you’re struggling to pay off unsecured personal loans, your creditor may be willing to negotiate for debt settlement.
- Private student loans: Private student loan debt is another area that Freedom Debt Relief can help with if the burden to repay your student loans becomes too great.
- Business debt: In some cases, Freedom Debt Relief can assist with business debt settlement. This is done on a case-by-case basis, so you’ll need to inquire about your specific situation.
Freedom Debt Relief Service Features
If you’re considering working with Freedom Debt Relief, it’s important to know how the service works and what you can expect. Here’s a summary of the service offerings, requirements, and other terms for this debt settlement company.
- Breadth of services offering: Freedom Debt Relief offers a free, no-risk debt relief consultation so you can discuss your situation and options with an expert. From there, you can choose to enroll in a debt relief program where debt experts will negotiate with your creditors to get them to agree to settle your debt for less than the full amount you owe. Freedom Debt Relief will ask you to make a deposit into an FDIC-insured account that you control. As the account grows, your certified debt experts will create a customized plan to get you out of debt.
- Extent of geographic presence: Freedom Debt Relief has offices in San Mateo, CA and Phoenix, AZ, but they service customers in most U.S. states.
- Minimum debt: You need a minimum of $7,500 in unsecured debt to qualify for a debt settlement program.
- Average time for relief: The first settlement usually happens between 4 to 6 months. However, the company says it can help you become debt free within 24 to 48 months.
- Average relief amount: While Freedom Debt Relief has been able to resolve billions of dollars of debt, everyone’s situation is different, so they don’t share an average relief amount.
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Breadth of services offering
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Debt negotiation and settlement
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Extent of Geographic Presence
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Roughly 75% of U.S. states
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Minimum Debt Required
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$7,500
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Average Time for Relief
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4-6 months
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Average Relief Amount
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Not disclosed
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Freedom Debt Relief Costs and Fees
Debt relief programs typically come with fees attached even if they aren’t upfront. In this Freedom Debt Relief review, we want to be transparent about what you can expect to pay if you start a program.
- Fees: Freedom Debt Relief has no upfront fees, but if you accept a debt settlement agreement, you could be expected to pay anywhere from 15% to 25% of your total debts in fees. You do have to pay one monthly program deposit, which will go to an FDIC-insured savings account to be used to help pay your settlement.
- Cancellation Policy: If you cancel your agreement with Freedom Debt Relief, you will receive the remaining funds in your dedicated account minus any fees that were collected.
- Money-back Guarantee Policy: If your total program costs more than the total debt you have when you enroll in the program, they will refund you the difference up to 100% of the collected fees.
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Upfront Fees
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None
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Settlement/Performance Fees
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15% to 25% of total debts
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Other Fees
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Monthly deposit payment
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Cancellation Policy
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Cancel any time
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Money-back Guarantee Policy
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Up to 100%
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Freedom Debt Relief Application Process
Applying with Freedom Debt Relief can be done in just a few simple steps.
- First, choose your debt amount. This can be as little as $7,500 up to more than $100,000.
- Next, select the state that you live in.
- Finally, enter in your name, phone number, and email address to get connected with a customer service representative.
Once the customer service representative, or Certified Debt Consultant, knows all of your creditors and amounts you owe to each, they’ll reach out to every single one in order to negotiate a lower payment. Once completed, they’ll present you with a customized debt relief program that you can review and see if it’s something you want to do.
Most customers save 15-35% of their total debts, and are debt-free within 24-48 months. Keep in mind, though, that using debt settlement companies such as Freedom Debt Relief means your credit score will be negatively impacted.
Freedom Debt Relief Customer Experience
If you decide to use Freedom Debt Relief to settle your debts, you can expect the following features:
- Website Extensiveness & Usability: The website is very easy to navigate and includes a customer service phone number for clients and non-clients.
- Expanded Call Center Support: Customer service agents are available by phone during flexible hours from 8 am to 9 pm ET from Monday to Friday and 10 am to 8 pm ET on Saturday and Sunday.
- Supplemental Support (Information & Tools): There is a client dashboard so you can track your progress and see how negotiations are going 24/7.
- Mobile Technology: Freedom Debt Relief does not have a mobile app, so you’ll need to access your account from the mobile browser if you wish to use your phone.
Freedom Debt Relief Trustworthiness and Stability
When working with a debt settlement company, you want to make sure the company is legit and serious about getting you positive results. Freedom Debt Relief has earned a reputation as being one of the most credible and successful debt settlement companies around.
These facts give greater detail on how we’d rank the company in terms of trustworthiness and stability.
- Years in Business: Freedom Debt Relief has been in business since 2002 and was founded by Stanford Business School graduates Andrew Housser and Brad Stroh. After noticing there weren’t any consumer-friendly options to help people who were struggling with debt, they decided to take action and build Freedom Debt Relief.
- Customers Serviced / Debt Managed: Since 2002, Freedom Debt Relief has served more than 650,000 people and helped them resolve over $10 billion in debt.
- American Fair Credit Council (AFCC) Membership: Freedom Debt Relief is a founding member of the AFCC, which helps encourage legislation to make credit industry regulations more fair and transparent for consumers.
- International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA) Membership: The IAPDA is a leading organization in the consumer debt industry that promotes industry training, certification, and professional development opportunities for members.
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Years in Business
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20 years
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Customers Serviced / Debt Managed
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650,000+ / $10 billion+
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Certifications and Memberships
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AFCC and IAPDA
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Freedom Debt Relief User Reviews
Freedom Debt Relief reviews are important to consider as you narrow down your debt settlement options. With a 4.4/5 rating on Consumer Affairs and a 4.5/5 rating on Trustpilot, most people who’ve used this debt settlement service have been pleased with it. Not only do people like the program and the level of service, but some also say the company has helped them change how they look at spending and managing their finances.
“If you are considering FDR, consider how much it will impact your whole life and the life of those you love when you trade desperation, harassment, and grief of credit for the kindness, help, and hope of credit resolution.” - Customer
“A friend referred me to FDR and I called them. They asked if I was okay with 348 per month and I agreed. Within a few months, they had the first credit card settled for 53% less than what I owed.” - Customer
In terms of Freedom Debt Relief complaints, there were a few things customers didn’t like about the experience, such as the amount of time it took to settle their debt. Others commented about not liking the fees they had to pay to settle their debt.
As with any debt settlement arrangement, it’s important to make sure the numbers make sense for your situation and that you’ll actually save money.
Freedom Debt Relief Compared to Other Companies
This Debt Freedom Relief review would not be complete without comparing the company’s features to other competitors. It’s important to understand where each debt settlement option shines, as well as its drawbacks, so you can make an informed decision should you decide to have your debt negotiated for a lower payment.
| Freedom Debt Relief | National Debt Relief | Accredited Debt Relief
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Minimum debt required | $7,500 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
Fees | 15% - 25% of settled amount | 15% - 25% of settled amount | 15% - 25% of settled amount |
Cancellation Policy | Yes | Not disclosed | Yes |
Money-back Guarantee Policy | Yes | Yes | Not disclosed |
Average Relief Amount | Varies | Varies | 55% of enrolled balance |
Final Thoughts
Freedom Debt Relief has helped hundreds of thousands of people significantly reduce their debt amounts in anywhere from a few months to a few years. While debt settlement does come with some risks, it’s important to evaluate where you’re at financially to see if this service would help make your payments more manageable and set you on a path to paying off your debt.
If you are leaning toward debt settlement, Freedom Debt Relief is a solid place to start. They don’t charge any upfront fees and offer a money-back guarantee if they can’t save you money, making them a top choice when considering debt settlement companies.
