Accredited Debt Relief Review [2024]: Pros and Cons

DEBT & CREDIT HELP - PAYING OFF DEBT
Accredited Debt Relief may be able to provide the financial resolution you've been looking for.
Updated April 11, 2024
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If you're drowning in debt, it can seem like you have nowhere to turn. Fortunately, many companies can help you get a better handle on your finances and get out of debt. 

Regaining that control can give you peace of mind and ease your burden. If you are currently weighing your options for paying off debt, Accredited Debt Relief may be a partner worth considering. 

Quick Summary

Reduce your monthly payments

  • Be debt free in 24 to 48 months
  • Potentially save hundreds of dollars a month
  • Stop letting debt suffocate you
In this Accredited Debt Relief review

Accredited Debt Relief Basics

Accredited Debt Relief
Minimum debt $10,000
Types of debt
  • Unsecured debt
  • Credit card debt
  • Personal loans
  • Payday loans
  • Store cards
  • Payday loans
  • Medical bills
  • Private student loans
Program length 24-48 months
Fees 15%-25% of the amount of your total enrolled debt
Availability 32 states
Accreditation AFCC, BBB
Best for... Customers with more than $10,000 in unsecured debt
Visit Accredited Debt Relief

What is Accredited Debt Relief?

Accredited Debt Relief is a debt management company based in San Diego that offers counseling and personalized debt relief services. They help clients eliminate debt and lower interest rates by partnering with some of the nation's premier debt relief companies to settle thousands of accounts each year. They offer debt settlement, debt consolidation services, and credit counseling for clients.

Accredited Debt Relief has been in business since 2011, with over 3,700 excellent customer reviews on Trustpilot. They're also accredited by the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC), IAPDA, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). They have an A+ BBB rating, and users praise their debt relief programs, customer service, and efficient resolutions.

How Accredited Debt Relief works

Accredited Debt Relief partners with debt relief companies across the U.S. to help clients struggling with heavy debt. These partners work with creditors on your behalf to negotiate and reduce the amount of unsecured debt owed. 

Unsecured debt may include credit card debt, medical bills, student loans, personal loans, and more. Unlike other providers with limited reach, clients often qualify for debt management services regardless of location within the country due to the company's expansive reach of partnerships.

What we like about Accredited Debt Relief

  • No upfront fees: You will pay nothing until after your enrolled debt is settled.
  • Personalized service: You will work with one certified debt specialist who knows your situation.
  • Trustworthy service: Accredited Debt Relief is accredited by the AFCC and rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
  • Successfully reduced debt: Accredited has successfully negotiated and reduced client debt with several credit card companies (see below).
  • Reasonable fees: Accredited Debt Relief's prices align with many other competitors.
  • Positive reviews: Clients have left reviews wishing they had started the process sooner and commended the company's knowledgeable staff.
  • Money-back guarantee: Accredited does not take payment until your enrolled debt is settled.

What Accredited Debt Relief could improve

  • Not available in every state: As of November 2022, Accredited Debt Relief is only available in 32 states.
  • Only unsecured debt is eligible: Unsecured debt is different from secured debt. Secured debts, or those with collateral attached, like mortgages and car loans, are not eligible for their debt resolution program. Accredited Debt Relief is also unable to assist with federal student loans.

What Accredited Debt Relief customers are saying

Accredited Debt Relief has a score of 4.9 on Trustpilot, with over 3,700 excellent customer reviews. Users often speak of the company's professionalism, thoroughness, and responsiveness to customers. They also have an A+ BBB rating, with many customer reviews praising their customer service and efficient resolutions.

How to get started with Accredited Debt Relief

To get started, visit the Accredited Debt Relief website. First, you'll have the option to answer two short questions. Next, you'll receive personalized results to help determine which path to debt relief could be right for you. 

The first question is "How much do you owe?" — you'll simply slide the bar to adjust the amount of debt to select your answer. You'll then be asked to provide basic information about yourself, including your name, phone number, and email.

Once you get started, Accredited Debt Relief's program follows these five steps:

  1. Complete a free consultation. You'll talk with a debt specialist on the phone about your financial situation and work together to develop a budget and debt settlement payment plan.
  2. Make your monthly deposits. You'll make monthly deposits into a designated savings account. Accredited Debt Relief then distributes that money as monthly payments to your creditors.
  3. Stop using your lines of credit. If you entered a credit card or loan into the debt settlement program, you'd have to stop using it so Accredited Debt Relief can negotiate with your lenders.
  4. Begin the negotiation process. Debt negotiators work with your creditors to come up with a settlement plan to reduce your total balance and come up with a manageable payment.
  5. Settle your debt. If the creditor agrees to a settlement, you have to approve it. Once you've paid off the agreed-upon amount, the debt is considered settled, and you'll no longer owe money to that creditor.

Warning
Since you stop making payments when you work with a debt relief program, you will likely see a temporary drop in your credit score.

FAQs about Accredited Debt Relief

How much does Accredited Debt Relief cost?

There are no upfront fees with Accredited Debt Relief. Instead, it charges a fee of 15-25% of the total debt enrolled.

For example, let’s say you enrolled $20,000 into a program with Accredited Debt Relief. If it manages to negotiate the debt balance down to $10,000, you could still owe 15-25% of the original $20,000. That means you’d have to pay a fee of $3,000 to $5,000 spread out over the length of the settlement program.

Is debt settlement worth it?

In some cases, debt settlement can be worth the cost. A company can negotiate a significantly lower settlement, which allows you to make a lump sum payment for less than you owe.

However, it can also damage your credit report. And debt settlement companies charge fees that can be quite expensive. Make sure you know how much the program costs and whether it still makes sense to proceed.

How long does a debt settlement stay on your credit report?

Because a settled account shows that you didn’t repay your full balance, debt settlement can have a negative impact on your credit score. According to Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, a settled account will stay on your credit report for seven years after the settlement date.

Is Accredited Debt Relief BBB accredited?

Yes, Accredited Debt Relief meets the accreditation standards of the Better Business Bureau. Accredited since 2014, the company has an A+ rating.

Which credit card companies has Accredited Debt Relief successfully negotiated with?

While there is no guarantee of settlement for every client, Accredited Debt Relief has successfully helped clients settle credit card debt with the following companies:

  • American Express
  • Bank of America
  • Barclays
  • Capital One
  • Chase
  • Citibank
  • GE Capital
  • HSBC
  • OneMain Financial
  • Sears
  • The Home Depot
  • USAA
  • US Bank
  • Wells Fargo

Bottom line

If you're currently weighing your debt relief options, you may consider contacting Accredited Debt Relief to see if they can help you get out of debt. They receive high marks for their trustworthiness and efficiency from both customers and consumer advocacy groups. And they offer straightforward debt relief programs helping to alleviate even the most difficult financial hardships — and giving you some much-needed peace of mind.

Disclaimer: This content and the opinions expressed here are the author's alone and have not been provided, commissioned, or endorsed by any financial institution. All information was accurate at the time of publication, but terms and conditions may change at any time.

Accredited Debt Relief Benefits

  • Be debt free in as little as 24 to 48 months
  • Reduce your total debt by up to 40% or more
  • Potentially save hundreds of dollars a month
  • Stop letting debt suffocate you

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