Types of Debt Covered By Guardian Debt Relief
Guardian Debt Relief offers debt negotiation services for unsecured debt. This includes:
- Personal loan debt
- Credit card debt
- Unpaid medical bills
- Unpaid utility bills
- Private student loan debt
The company doesn’t cover any types of secured debt, such as auto loans or mortgages.
Guardian Debt Relief Service Features
Guardian Debt Relief offers helpful resources and debt relief tools, but their primary service is debt negotiation. With debt negotiation, the goal is to lower your debt as much as possible, and Guardian Debt Relief has a proven track record of success in doing so. Many times, Guardian’s clients end up paying only a fraction of their original debt. This could be as little as $0.40-$0.60 on the dollar owed. After the flat service fee, it leaves a reduction of 20-40% of the original debt amount.
After the debt settlement details have been worked out, you would agree to monthly payments based on the reduced amount you owe and your financial capabilities. Most clients will leave the Guardian debt program completely debt-free in as little as 24 to 48 months.
The minimum debt required to become Guardian’s client is $7,500. Keep in mind that the program was designed for clients with sizable debts; if you only owe a few hundred dollars, you would need to find another debt relief option.
Moreover, Guardian Debt Relief only works with clients in the following 14 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
Breadth of services offering | Debt negotiation & settlement Financial education |
Extent of Geographic Presence | 14 states |
Minimum Debt Required | $7,500 |
Average Time for Relief | 24 to 48 months |
Average Relief Amount | Reduction of 20-40% of original debt, after fees |
Guardian Debt Relief Costs and Fees
One great feature worth highlighting in this Guardian Debt Relief review is that it charges absolutely nothing upfront. Once the debt is settled, you would pay a flat fee of 20% of your original debt.
Since Guardian doesn’t charge any fees unless it manages to reduce your debt, it does not offer any money-back guarantees. The company also states that they do not guarantee a successful outcome or a specific timeframe for clients to become debt-free.
Upfront Fees | $0 |
Settlement/Performance Fees | 20% of original debt |
Other Fees | None |
Cancellation Policy | Not disclosed |
Money-Back Guarantee Policy | None |
Guardian Debt Relief Application Process
Applying for debt relief through Guardian Debt Relief is a simple process that takes just five steps.
- Get a FREE financial analysis. Call or fill out the form online to get a free financial analysis from a certified debt specialist. If you are approved for the program and sign the agreement, you will move on to step 2.
- Start making monthly payments. You’ll create an account with Global Client Solutions and deposit your monthly payments in that account. Global Client Solutions is the “middle man” between you, your creditors, and Guardian Debt Relief.
- Guardian Debt Relief will contact your creditors on your behalf. This both shows your creditors that you are taking steps to pay them back and it stops debt collectors from calling you.
- Guardian Debt Relief will negotiate a settlement with your creditors. This will happen once you have deposited enough funds into your Global Client Solutions account.
- Guardian Debt Relief will use the funds in your account to pay off your debts once an agreement has been reached. This typically happens within 24-48 months of beginning the program.
Guardian Debt Relief Customer Experience
Similar to other comparable debt relief programs, Guardian offers applicants an option to contact a company representative over the phone or enroll online. The company provides all the needed information on their website, and phone customer service representatives are friendly and helpful.
- Website Extensiveness & Usability. Guardian’s website is informative and easy-to-use. It covers the program in detail, outlines required qualifications and the procedure, and provides numerous useful resources.
- Expanded Call Center Support. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Guardian representatives via phone, email, or by filling out a contact form on their website. The company offers separate phone lines and email addresses to current and potential customers.
- Multi-Channel Support. In addition to phone and email, you can connect with Guardian Debt Relief through Facebook or Twitter.
- Supplemental Support (Information & Tools). Guardian has a convenient online client portal, where you can track your payments in real-time. The website also features a useful FAQ section, a quick budget calculator, and an informative news section.
- Mobile Technology. You can sign in to the client portal from your phone or tablet at any time.
Guardian Debt Relief Trustworthiness and Stability
Guardian Debt Relief is a trustworthy, award-winning company that offers legal debt settlement solutions. With 10 years of industry experience, it has earned an A+ rating from Better Business Bureau and was ranked among top 10 debt consolidation companies in 2019.
The company is certified by both the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators and the American Fair Credit Council. These are the highest accreditations in the debt relief area, which means that you are in good hands with Guardian.
Years in Business | 10 |
Customers Serviced / Debt Managed | Not disclosed |
Certifications and Memberships | International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators American Fair Credit Council |
Guardian Debt Relief User Reviews
While Guardian Debt Relief has earned an A+ rating on BBB, its reviews are rather mediocre on both BBB and Trustpilot. Averaging at 3.0/5 onTrustpilot and 2.71/5 on BBB, Guardian Debt Relief reviews are split between excellent and terrible.
Happy clients highlight simple processes, impressive results, and impeccable communication. Guardian customers also seem to love the online client portal and the professional assistance in establishing affordable monthly payments. Negative reviews, on the other hand, mainly focus on high service fees and debts not being paid.
Guardian Debt Relief Compared to Other Companies
When comparing Guardian Debt Relief to competitor companies, the fees and minimum debt requirements are rather similar. As such, Guardian Debt Relief, National Debt Relief, and Freedom Debt Relief require a minimum debt of $7,500 to join their programs and charge a settlement fee averaging at about 20% of the enrolled debt amount. The average relief amounts are similar, as well: both Guardian and National Debt Relief promise to reduce the original amount owed by about 30% after all fees.
It is worth pointing out that Guardian does not offer a money-back guarantee. So, if they settle your debt for more than 80% of your enrolled amount, you will end up in the minus. Freedom Debt Relief, on the other hand, offers to refund its fees if the total settlement costs exceed the original debt.
| Guardian Debt Relief | National Debt Relief | Freedom Debt Relief |
Minimum debt required | $7,500 | $7,500 | $7,500 |
Fees | Upfront fee: None Settlement fee: 20% of original debt | Upfront fee: None Settlement fee: 15%-25% of original debt | Upfront fee: None Settlement fee: 18%-25% of original debt |
Cancellation Policy | Not disclosed | Can cancel anytime without penalty | Can cancel within 3 days without penalty |
Money-Back Guarantee Policy | None | Not disclosed | Service fee refund if the total cost to settle the debt (with fees) is more than original debt |
Average Relief Amount | Reduction of 20%-40% in original debt, after fees | Reduction of 30% in original debt, after fees | Not disclosed |
Final Thoughts
Guardian Debt Relief is a legitimate debt settlement company offering reliable debt negotiation services and financial education to ensure that you are set for a safe financial future. If you qualify to become a Guardian client (namely, you live in one of the 14 serviced states and owe at least $7,500 in unsecured debt), you can benefit by reducing the total amount you owe and setting monthly payments that you can actually afford.
As mentioned in this Guardian Debt Relief review, expect the settlement fees to be about 20% of your total debt amount. However, this is true with any debt relief service provider.
