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National Debt Relief Review

National Debt Relief can help you settle your obligations for less than what you have to
By Holly Johnson
Updated January 13 2023
Reviewed by Margaret James
Facts verified by Katrina Munichiello

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The Rating of Investopedia is 4.6
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Our Take

National Debt Relief is a highly rated company for debt relief which offers a no-cost consultation with debt counselors who can help. Founded in 2009, this company helps people settle their debts for less than they are owed. When we conducted an independent review of debt relief firms, National Debt Relief earned the top spot as "best overall."

Pros & Cons
The most important takeaways
Company Overview

Pros

No upfront settlement costs

A free consultation will help you compare your choices

Client portal lets you track your progress in real time

Cons

Fees can run as high as 25% of the amount you settle debt

Mobile apps are not available in the program.

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overall rating 4.6
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Table of Contents

Pros Explained
Pros and Cons Explained
Types of Debt Addressed
Client Onboarding
Customer Service
Company Reputation
Average Relief Amount
Average Time for Relief
Cost
The Competition
Final Verdict
Methodology

National Debt Relief is a firm that provides relief via an approach known as debt settlement. The goal of this process is to assist customers in getting out of debt. In the process of debt settlement, it's possible to put aside an amount of money in a savings bank account each month until you're ready to "settle" your debts to pay less than what you owe.

You'll be paying National Debt Relief a percentage of the debts they settle, but only after you have achieved results. The company claims that regardless of accounting for their fees customers save between 30% and 50% of the original debt at the time that the process is completed.

A no-cost consultation can help you decide whether debt settlement is the right choice for you.

The process of settling debts can do damage to your credit score as you stop paying your debts as part of your plan. Be sure to understand the advantages and disadvantages of debt settlement before you start, and compare with several debt relief companies before making a decision.
Pros Explained

There are no upfront settlement costs: With National Debt Relief, you only pay for results. The fees are calculated as an amount of the debt settled and only after the negotiation is completed.
A free consultation is a great way to determine your options: You are able to call National Debt Relief to speak with a debt counsellor for free. This session gives you the chance to discuss your questions and determine whether debt settlement is the right choice for you.
Client portal lets you monitor your progress live: Unlike some other debt relief firms, National Debt Relief has an online client portal which lets you monitor your program and follow your debt settlement process regardless of day or at night.

Pros and Cons explained

Fees can reach as high as 25% of the total amount of your debt. Some companies that we independently studied offer fees at a lower proportion that National Debt Relief.
No mobile app available with the program: Although National Debt Relief does have an online client portal, this debt relief company doesn't offer an app for mobile devices that allows you to track your debt settlement program while on the move.

Types of Debt Addressed

National Debt Relief aims to aid consumers to pay off unsecure debt, which is any kind of debt that isn't covered by collateral. Fortunately, this company has a page on debt qualification on their website , where they outline which debts qualify and do not meet the criteria for. The main types of debt they address are highlighted below.
Credit card credit card debt

If you are in credit card debt from a conventional credit card or a merchant credit card National Debt Relief can help you settle for less than you are owed. This is applicable to major credit cards such as American Express, Visa, or Discover as well as co-branded cards offered by retailers such as Kohl's as well as Sears.
Personal loans as well as payday loans

You can also negotiate with and pay off any personal debts you may have, such as personal loans from banks or online lenders or even payday loans. Installment loans can also qualify.
Business debts

Business debts may also be settled through negotiation and settlement with less debt than you are owed now. National Debt Relief says these loans must be unsecured and that they would prefer to help resolve debts of businesses that are already closed.
Medical bills not paid

National Debt Relief can also help you pay less than you owe toward your medical expenses. Negotiations can be completed successfully through doctor's offices, hospitals and other medical professionals.
Back rent

If you're behind on paying your rental, you may be in a position to negotiate the amount you owe in arrears. However, you are able to bargain this debt if have ceased to be an resident.
Private student loans

You may also be able to settle debt tied to private student loans at a lower rate than your total balance. Take note that federal student loans do not qualify for debt settlement.

You can combine more than one type of debt in a settlement plan. If you're in debt from credit card debt, medical bills, and business debts, for instance, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling the entire amount in your plan.
Client Onboarding

To begin the process of National Debt Relief requires you to make an appointment for a complimentary consultation. In this meeting with a debt counselor and debt counselor, you will discuss your financial situation and situation, then find out the length of time the process of settling your debts could be and how much you can save.

National Debt Relief states that you need to have a minimum balance of $7,500 in order in order to be eligible for their assistance. You also need to be "several months behind on your payments" since creditors won't have a reason to negotiate with you if you're current with your bills.

If you don't have enough debt to be eligible for the debt settlement program then you may want to look into other options like credit counseling or debt management programs (DMPs), or debt consolidation loans.
Customer Service

The benefit when working with a company that deals in debt relief is that they know the debt collection laws and regulations inside and out. For example, National Debt Relief states their debt counselors and experts can guide you through the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act while you pay off your debt.

This firm offers customers with customer service via email and telephone. If you need a free debt consultation, you'll be able to call in to speak with a counselor on Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. until midnight EST and also on Saturdays between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Existing customers can contact us for assistance via the phone Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

National Debt Relief doesn't offer a mobile app or a chat feature online which means there are less options to get help than some providers offer. However, their numerous positive user reviews boast about a quick response time and their willingness to assist.
Company Reputation

The debt relief industry has its share of scams, which is the reason it's crucial to research companies before you sign to their services. One method to do this is through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) database that allows you to find complaints of users from companies offering debt settlement.

This company scores an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars in more than 35,000 reviews from users on Trustpilot.

Because of their excellent reviews and third-party ratings, National Debt Relief received one of the top scores on reputation and reputation among our study.

If you're having a problem regarding the services provided by the company that offers debt relief you may submit a complaint to the FTC or call 877 FTC-HELP.
Average Relief Amount

National Debt Relief states that the amount of money you save is contingent on a wide range of variables. However, the majority of people save 30 to 50% off of their original debt amounts, and those savings can be realized after taking into account the costs you pay for your debt settlement program.
Average Time for Relief

Settlement of debts via National Debt Relief should take between 24 and 48 months this is the average for other companies. The amount of time needed to complete your plan can vary based on how much you owe, the amount you are able to save every month, and other variables like how willing creditors are to bargain.
Cost

National Debt Relief says their clients pay an average of between 15% and 25% of the amount of debt they enroll within their programs. But, this fee is only charged after the results have been achieved and debt is settled with less than the outstanding amount.

Generally speaking, their fee ratio is at the same level as industry averages.
The Concurrence
National Debt Relief Accredited Debt Relief
Year Founded 20092011
Accreditation - Accredited with the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC)
Accredited by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA) - Accredited by the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC)
Non-accredited with the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA)
Services Provided Debt Settlement Settlement of debt
Touchpoints for Customer ServiceFree consultation; Phone and email customer support; Online client portal Free consultation. Phone and email customer service
Fees No upfront costs; Pay 15% to 25% of your debtNo upfront fees; pay 15 percent to 25 percent of your debt
Average Program Time24 to 48 months24-48 months

We decided to compare the top-rated National Debt Relief to Accredited Debt Relief Accredited Debt Relief, a company offering debt relief that earned the second-highest rating in our research study. Both received high ratings from Investopedia according to its customer support, business reputation, fees, and services offered. Further, they both offer the same program length from 24 to 48 months. Both provide a no-cost consultation as well as fees that fall between 15% and 25% of the amount you have paid off in debts.

That being said, National Debt Relief stands apart due to its IAPDA accreditation. National Debt Relief also offers an efficient online portal for customers to monitor their program and keep track of their progress at any time of the night or day.
Final Verdict

At the end of the day, there's no debt relief company that we'd recommend higher then National Debt Relief due to its professionalism, efficiency of the company, costs and fees, as well as its customer service prowess. This company scored an average rating of 4.63 out of five possible stars in our research study, whereas the average company only scored 3.56.

If you've got at least $7,500 in unsecured debt you'd like to settle then you must call National Debt Relief for a free consultation. There are no upfront costs required, and you can determine whether debt settlement is the right choice with no commitment.
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How We Review Debt Relief Companies

Investopedia has conducted an independent study that compared more than 15 debt relief companies based on its customer support, ratings and company's reputation, the range of products they offer, their pricing, and transparency. We looked for debt relief companies that have good reviews and testimonials from customers, customer service accessibility, as well as the essential information regarding their plans that are readily available online, as well as firms with excellent rankings from third-party sources.

Ultimately, National Debt Relief scored the highest score of 4.63 out five stars in our rankings, which gave them the top spot being "best all-around."
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