New Era Debt Solutions Review August 2026

New Era Debt Solutions: Top features

New Era Debt Solutions has settled unsecured debt since 1999. It's stayed small and family-run instead of growing into one of the big national firms. Here's what stands out. For a broader look at how settlement stacks up against other options, see is debt relief a good idea for your situation.

Established company

New Era Group Inc. started as a financial consulting firm in 1999 and moved into debt settlement full-time in 2007. It's based in Camarillo, California, has settled more than $275 million in debt, and is AFCC accredited.

Program length

Clients who finish the program average 27.73 months. Debt settlement programs industry-wide generally run 23 to 48 months, depending on the client debt load and how much can be deposited each month.

Eligible debts

New Era settles several kinds of unsecured debt: credit cards, personal loans, department store cards, unsecured credit lines, some medical bills, and private student loans (not federal ones). Secured debts, federal student loans, and taxes aren't eligible. New Era doesn't post a firm minimum debt amount on its main enrollment pages, but says you're “best served” with at least $10,000 in credit card debt. If your situation doesn't fit debt settlement, New Era says its specialists may point you toward a different option, like a debt management plan.

Is New Era Debt Solutions legit?

New Era Debt Solutions is a legitimate, licensed debt settlement company. It's been in business since 1999 and is AFCC accredited. For general guidance on vetting any settlement company, see how to tell if a debt settlement company is legit.

New Era's "Truth & Transparency" page is more open than most competitors. It posts its dropout rate (18.28%), average completion time (27.73 months), and the share of accounts that see legal action (6%). Most competitors don't post numbers like these at all.

That openness doesn't extend to a basic enrollment question. New Era doesn't state a minimum-debt requirement on its FAQ or "Do You Qualify?" pages, the places you'd expect to find it. The closest figure available is "best served with at least $10,000" language on an unrelated credit-card page.

On the regulatory side, New Era has two state actions on record. Oregon fined New Era $50,000 in 2021 for excess fees and unregistered activity, and ordered more than $22,000 paid back to affected clients. New Era no longer operates in Oregon. Texas fined New Era $500 in 2022 for a late annual report, a paperwork issue, not a finding of harm. No CFPB or FTC action was found.

New Era's customer ratings are strong on both platforms Bills.com tracks:

New Era Debt Solutions pros and cons

Choose New Era if you have at least $10,000 in unsecured debt, live in one of the 47 states or D.C. it serves, and want a small, performance-based firm over one of the larger national providers. 

Look elsewhere if your debt is smaller or you're in Maine, Oregon, or Iowa. A debt management plan is worth a look too, if you'd rather repay 100% of what you owe and skip the credit hit that comes with settlement.

How much does New Era Debt Solutions cost?

New Era uses a performance-based fee model: no setup fee, no monthly maintenance fee. It charges nothing at all until it negotiates a settlement, you approve it, and a payment is made.

New Era doesn't publish its fee percentage on its main pages. Its "Extraordinary Value" page states it directly. Fees can run 14% to 23% of the original enrolled debt, charged only after a settlement is reached. At the high end, that's up to 23% of enrolled debt. Get your exact rate in writing before you enroll, since New Era notes it can vary by situation. For a closer look at how these fees are typically calculated, see understanding debt settlement fees.

Example: Say you enroll $10,000 in credit card debt. At New Era's published high end of 23% of enrolled debt, that's a $2,300 fee. If New Era settles the account for $4,000, you'd pay that $2,300 fee plus the $4,000 to the creditor. The $6,000 forgiven is generally taxable income. If you're insolvent at the time of settlement, the insolvency exclusion could reduce or eliminate the tax bill.

Estimated savings: New Era reports that, on average, it settles enrolled debt for 47.77% of the original balance, a savings of roughly 52.23% before its own fees. Your results can vary widely depending on your creditors and account mix.

New Era's disclaimer, in brief: New Era describes its savings estimates as based on past results, not a guarantee of a fixed outcome or timeframe. Some clients don't finish the program, often because they run short on funds. Successful clients may see real savings. Individual results vary, and finishing the program usually hurts your credit. Not all creditors agree to reduce a balance, and some still pursue collection or file suit.

Important considerations when choosing debt settlement

Credit score damage

Debt settlement is hard on your credit. In one tracked study, settlement customers saw a median score drop of about 161 points within six months of enrolling. A settled-for-less account can stay on your credit report for up to seven years from the date of the first missed payment. That's the limit under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Read more about how debt settlement affects your credit score.

Taxes on forgiven debt

Forgiven debt is generally taxable income, regardless of amount. If you're insolvent (you owe more than you own) at the time of settlement, you may be able to exclude some or all of that income. See our guide to taxes on forgiven debt for the insolvency worksheet.

Lawsuit risk

Debt settlement doesn't pause your creditors' legal rights the way bankruptcy's automatic stay does. Creditors can still sue over an unpaid account while you're enrolled. Learn more about what happens if you're sued by a creditor.

How debt settlement companies operate

• No company can charge you first. Federal law bans debt settlement fees until a company settles at least one account, you approve it, and a payment is made.
• A free first consultation is standard. Most companies offer one before you enroll.
• Programs usually run 24 to 48 months. Length depends on your debt and how much you deposit each month.
• Not every creditor agrees to negotiate. Some card issuers won't work directly with a settlement company.

Debt settlement is one of several paths. It's worth comparing against credit counseling, consolidation, and bankruptcy before you commit. See our full debt relief programs overview and debt settlement pros and cons for a side-by-side look.

New Era Debt Solutions customer service and satisfaction

New Era's customer reviews are strongly positive on both platforms Bills.com tracks. On BBB, it holds a 4.89/5 average across 18 reviews. On Trustpilot, it holds 4.9/5 from roughly 440 reviews (see the ratings table above).

Recent reviews on both platforms praise responsive, friendly reps and clear communication. Several reviewers say they felt well-informed at each step. Bills.com didn't find a clear pattern of negative feedback on BBB or Trustpilot during this research pass. As BBB itself notes, the nature of any complaints matters more than the count, so it's worth reading a few recent reviews yourself before enrolling.

Service channels

• New clients: 800-527-4421, Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST, after-hours by appointment
• Current clients: 800-988-4387, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST
• Email: Via a contact form on the company site (no static public email address found)
• Online portal: Yes, a client dashboard for tracking progress
• Mobile app: No
• Live chat: Not found on the company's site

Where is New Era Debt Solutions available?

New Era Debt Solutions operates in 47 states and Washington, D.C. It doesn't operate in Maine, Oregon, or Iowa.

How do I contact New Era Debt Solutions?

If you're considering New Era, call 800-527-4421 (Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST; after-hours by appointment) for a free consultation. Existing clients can reach customer service at 800-988-4387 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST).

New Era's corporate office is at 330 Wood Road, Suite B, Camarillo, CA 93010. Its mailing address is 2150 Pickwick Dr., #2863, Camarillo, CA 93011. General inquiries go through a contact form on its site rather than a published static email address. Clients can track their progress through an online dashboard. There's no mobile app, and no live chat feature was found on the site.