Types of Debt Covered by National Debt Relief
National Debt Relief can help consumers negotiate most types of unsecured debts. An unsecured debt is a debt that you did not secure with an asset, such as a home (for a mortgage) or a vehicle (for an auto loan).
Below are some examples of the types of debts National Debt Relief might be able to help you settle:
Major credit cards Retail store cards Gas station cards Personal loans Payday loans Repossessions (deficiency balances) Unpaid medical bills Veterinarian bills ($500 or more) Lines of credit Collections | Bank overdraft fees Defaulted cell phone bills Business debts Some student debts Abandoned timeshares Judgments (six months or older) Back rent (after eviction) Other unsecured debts not tied to an asset |
However, there are several types of debt (both unsecured and secured) that National Debt Relief will not negotiate on your behalf, including:
Auto loans Mortgage loans Child support Tax bills Speeding tickets and fines Current cell phone bills Insufficient Funds (NSF) Fees | Gambling debts Rent-A-Center bills Insurance policies Bail bonds Check cashing establishment fees Auto repair bills |
National Debt Relief Service Features
Customers of National Debt Relief can enjoy a variety of debt relief and financial services. These services include professional debt settlement, financial counseling, and help creating a budgeting plan to address problem areas of overspending.
The process starts with discussing your debt situation with a representative of National Debt Relief Services. Then, after finding out the potential solutions the company has to offer, you’ll be in a better position to decide if hiring National Debt Relief is right for you.
It’s important to note that not everyone is eligible to work with National Debt Relief. Reports state that the company doesn’t work with consumers in any of the following states due to regulatory obstacles:
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- Vermont
- West Virginia
Furthermore, you must have at least $7,500 worth of eligible debt and be several months behind on payments to become a client of National Debt Relief.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The average time of debt relief varies from person to person, as is the case with most debt settlement companies. For example, the speed at which you can save money for settlement has a major impact on how long the process takes.
National Debt Relief says most people need 24 to 48 months to complete the program. As far as savings goes, the company claims that clients who stay with the program through completion may save around 50% off their debts before fees or 30% after fees.
Breadth of Services Offered | Free initial consultation, debt settlement plan, financial counseling, and budgeting plans |
Extent of Geographic Presence | Available in 41 out of 50 states |
Minimum Debt Required | At least $7,500 |
Average Time for Relief | 24-48 months |
Average Relief Amount | 30% savings after fees |
National Debt Relief Costs and Fees
Debt settlement companies are known for having high fees, and National Debt Relief is no exception. The company says that its clients typically pay 15%-25% of the total debt they enroll in the program as part of their monthly payment.
Let’s take a look at how the math breaks down. If you enroll $15,000 worth of eligible debt for National Debt Relief to negotiate on your behalf, you could pay as much as $3,750 in fees.
However, there would be some potential savings in this scenario, too. If you enrolled $15,000 worth of debt and National Debt Relief settled those financial obligations for 50% of what you owe, you’d save $7,500. When you factor in the $3,750 in potential fees (at 25%), your total savings would be $3,750, overall.
It’s also worth noting that National Debt Relief charges no upfront fees and no cancellation fees. In fact, you pay no fees whatsoever until you approve a settlement agreement and the company settles a debt on your behalf.
Upfront Fees | None |
Settlement/Performance Fees | 15%-25% of settled debt |
Other Fees | N/A |
Cancellation Policy | Cancel anytime |
Money-back Guarantee Policy | None |
National Debt Relief Application Process
Applying for debt relief from National Debt Relief is a fairly straightforward process. To do so, follow these three steps:
- Submit the total amount of debt that you’d like to settle. This ranges from $0-$4,999 up to $100,000 or more.
- Enter your first name, last name, phone number, and email address.
- Wait for a National Debt Relief representative to contact you.
Once someone on the team has reached out, you’ll discuss what specific debts you’re hoping to settle. National Debt Relief will then provide you with a personalized, affordable plan to tackle your debts. You’ll receive a detailed list of what debts will be included in the settlement, what fees will be charged, and what your new monthly payment will be. You can review this in full, ask any questions, and move forward if you choose to get the process started.
National Debt Relief Customer Experience
If you decide to hire National Debt Relief to work on your behalf, here are some of the features you may experience.
- Website Extensiveness & Usability: National Debt Relief’s website contains several sections of helpful educational information that could benefit people trying to get out of debt. The FAQ page is easy to navigate and contains useful information, as well.
- Call Center Support: Sales and customer service agents are available via phone seven days a week. Business hours are 8:00 am – 12:00 am EST Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm EST on Saturdays, and 10:00 am – 9:00 pm EST on Sundays.
- Multi-channel Support: In addition to telephone support, you can contact National Debt Relief customer service via email, social media, and old-fashioned snail mail.
- Supplemental Support (Information & Tools): Customers of National Debt Relief have access to an online client dashboard they can use to schedule deposits, request customer support, and track their debt settlement progress. The company also has several free financial calculators available on its website.
- Mobile Technology: National Debt Relief doesn’t offer a mobile app that its customers can use to manage their debt settlement experience. However, the company does have a “Debt Free App” available at no charge through the Google Play store that any Android user can access for DIY budgeting and debt management.
National Debt Relief Trustworthiness and Stability
National Debt Relief is a highly-rated debt relief organization that has been in business since 2009. The company is an accredited member of the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC) and an International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA) accredited service center.
Years in Business | 13 |
Customers Serviced / Debt Managed | 400,000 Customers |
Certifications and Memberships | 2 (AFCC and IAPDA) |
National Debt Relief User Reviews
Before you work with any company, debt settlement or otherwise, it’s wise to consider what previous customers have to say about their experience. No company is likely to have a perfect track record of consumer reviews, but an overwhelming number of negative reviews could be a warning sign.
Overall, National Debt Relief has more positive reviews than negative. The debt settlement company has a TrustScore of 4.7 out of 5 with Trustpilot based on more than 35,000 reviews. The majority of reviews (85%) rank the company as excellent and just 2% rank it as bad. Those who are pleased with the service praise the professionalism and success of the company’s staff. Complaints center around the process taking longer than expected and disappointment with the debt settlement offers the company negotiated being too high.
The company has an A+ rating and is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau. Positive reviews mention the excellent customer service and the ease of applying, along with the fees being upfront. Yet despite the high rating, National Debt Relief does have more than 200 complaints with the BBB from past customers.
ConsumerAffairs also gives National Debt Relief a high rating—4.9 out of 5 stars based on more than 1,500 reviews. Numerous reviews praise the company for its speed and efficiency, along with transparency when it comes to their fees for services.
National Debt Relief Compared to Other Companies
Here’s a look at how National Debt Relief compares to other debt settlement companies.
| National Debt Relief | Freedom Debt Relief | Accredited Debt Relief
|
Minimum Debt Required | $7,500 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
Fees | 15%-25% | 15%-25% | 15%-25% |
Cancellation Policy | Cancel anytime | Cancel anytime | Cancel anytime |
Money-back Guarantee Policy | No fees due until you approve settlement offers | If fees exceed settlement costs for enrolled debts, excess will be refunded | Yes (specifics not available online) |
Average Relief Amount | 50% before fees | Not disclosed | 55% before fees |
Final Thoughts
Working with any debt settlement company comes with risks. Your credit score could undergo severe damage, and you may incur expensive fees that add up to thousands of dollars. In some cases, your creditors might even opt to sue you if you stop paying your bills to build a debt settlement war chest.
However, if you do decide that debt settlement is the right choice for you, National Debt Relief has a good reputation in the debt relief industry. And some financial experts do recommend considering debt settlement before extreme debt solutions, such as bankruptcy.
