National Debt Relief Review March 2024

National Debt Relief: Top Features

National Debt Relief offers a debt settlement program. You stop paying your creditors and deposit money into a special account. As soon as you deposit sufficient money into your account, they negotiate a debt reduction settlement with your creditors.

Established company: National Debt Relief was founded in 2009. They operate in 42 states and offer services through phone consultations.

A wide variety of unsecured debt: National Debt Relief has a minimum enrollment of $7,500. Here are some of the types of debts they allow you to enter in their program: major credit cards, retail cards, gas cards, bank and unsecured loans, repossession deficiency balances, business debts, cell phones, and some older judgments. Like other debt settlement companies, they do not negotiate secured debt such as mortgages, auto loans. Nor does National Debt Relief handle child support, back taxes, or gambling debts.

Top accreditation: The industry group, The American Fair Credit Council (AFCC), accredits National Debt Relief. They are also certified by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators.

Free consultation: They offer a free debt consultation program to review your financial situation and see if you are a good match for their program.

No upfront fees: As other reputable debt settlement companies, National Debt Relief does not take any upfront fees.

Competitive fees and results: National Debt Relief has competitive fees of about 15-25% of your enrolled debt. Estimated savings vary, and they evaluate them to be about 30% of your original debt.

Important Considerations: While not unique to National Debt Relief, these are essential things to keep in mind when looking for a debt settlement company. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions people ask National Debt Relief:

Does the program lower my credit score?: The National Debt Relief debt settlement program is not based on your credit score. However, it will negatively affect your credit score. The program is only appropriate if you are already behind on your bills and your credit score dropped or is on the way to take a severe hit.  Many customers report that they can rebuild their scores in a few years.

Do I need to pay taxes on unforgiven debt?:  You need to report any forgiven debt over $600. In the case of insolvency, the IRS has special rules that may exempt you from paying taxes. Always speak to a certified tax preparer or a CPA about taxes.

Will creditors harass me?: National Debt Relief claims that "There is a slight possibility that any creditor can sue you. They attempt to settle debts as quickly as possible to avoid lawsuits. However, it is recommended to go over this point with the debt consultants carefully.

Can I keep my credit card?: You need to discontinue using credit cards that are enrolled in the program. In any case, since you stop making payments, creditors will usually close your accounts. Speak to your debt consultant about keeping open at least one credit card for emergency use.

National Debt Relief: Qualifying for a debt relief program

National Debt Relief offers a debt settlement program to help consumers who are struggling with their bills. Similar to other debt relief companies, here are their major requirements:

Financial hardship: If the creditor believes that you have the means to pay them back then they will have less incentive to negotiate a settlement. National Debt Relief looks if you are going through a financial crisis with no quick end in sight. Some of the common reasons are a recent job loss or reduction in hours, a separation or divorce which caused a reduction in income,  unexpected medical or hospital bills, or death of a spouse. 

Behind in payments: To qualify for a debt settlement program you need to be at least several months behind in your payments. 

Ability to make a monthly payment: You need to be able to make a monthly payment to the program. In general, the monthly payment will be less than your current minimum payments. National Debt Relief builds its program around a 24-48 month period. If for example, you owe $10,000 in credit card debt, expect to pay about $156 per month for a four year program versus minimum payments of about $250.

Sufficient debt to warrant the program: Due to large overhead expenses, National Debt Relief requires you to enroll at least $7,500 in debt. 

National Debt Relief- Customer service and customer satisfaction

National Debt relief offers a free consultation via the phone. They also provide phone service to existing customers. Their hours are Monday - Friday from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm EST. 

You can track your account and progress through the National Debt Relief online portal. However, they do not offer a mobile app nor a chat service.

National Debt Relief is BBB accredited with an A+ rating.  They also have high ratings (4.7/5.0) with TrustPilot and (4/9/5.0) with Consumer Affairs, two popular review sites.