Freedom Debt Relief Review [2024]: Is it Legit and Can it Help You?

DEBT HELP - DEBT RELIEF
Find out how the nation’s largest debt relief company is providing a smarter approach to debt relief.
Updated Jan. 24, 2024
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If you feel like you’re drowning in debt, you’re not alone. Americans carried a collective $4.51 trillion in non-housing debt as of the third quarter of 2022. Although there are strategies you can use to get out of debt on your own, there’s no shame in asking for help if you’re in over your head and missing monthly payments.

Before you resort to bankruptcy, consider getting help from Freedom Debt Relief so that you can finally achieve financial freedom. To find out what you should expect from the nation’s largest debt relief services, continue reading our Freedom Debt Relief review.

Quick Summary

Freedom Debt Relief has helped save their clients over $17 billion collectively since 2002.

  • Resolve your debt in as little as 24-48 months
  • Recommended for unsecured debts $27,000 and higher
  • Over 1,000,000 customers and counting
In this Freedom Debt Relief review

Freedom Debt Relief basics

Freedom Debt Relief
Minimum debt $7,500 (typical debt is $25,000)
Types of debt
  • Credit card debt
  • Medical bills
  • Personal loan debt
  • Department store credit debt
  • Certain types of private student loan debt
Program length 24-48 months
Fees 15%-25% of your enrolled debt amount
Availability Approximately 38 states
Accreditation AFCC, IAPDA
Excellent for... Clients with hefty debt balances looking for affordable debt relief
Visit Freedom Debt Relief

What is Freedom Debt Relief?

Freedom Debt Relief (FDR) was founded by Stanford Business School graduates Brad Stroh and Andrew Housser in 2002. The company is now based in Arizona and aims to provide a consumer-friendly approach to debt relief. Since its inception, it has become a leader in the debt relief industry, helping more than 1,000,000 people resolve their debts. Freedom Debt Relief is also committed to giving back to local community organizations through employee volunteering and donations.

Most debt relief companies charge upfront fees that can be costly for consumers, and for that reason, the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) caution consumers against using these services. But Freedom Debt Relief is not a scam and it doesn't charge upfront fees.

You don't have to pay a cent to Freedom Debt Relief until the company has negotiated a debt settlement for you. In fact, Freedom Debt Relief had a hand in developing FTC rules that prohibit abusive debt settlement practices. The company is also a founding member of the American Fair Credit Council and has a score of 4.34 out of 5 stars, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

How does Freedom Debt Relief work?

The Freedom Debt Relief program starts with a free debt evaluation. During this free consultation, you’ll answer some questions by phone and work with a debt consultant to determine whether you qualify before setting up a customized plan. The following types of debt qualify for debt settlement through Freedom Debt Relief:

  • Credit card debt
  • Medical debt
  • Personal loan debt
  • Department store credit debt
  • Certain types of private student loan debt

While Freedom Debt Relief offers assistance with several types of unsecured debts, it can’t help you with secured loans, such as your mortgage or auto loan, or federal student loan debt.

Once you’ve enrolled in the program, you stop paying your bills and instead make monthly deposits into an FDIC-insured savings account. When you’ve been in default long enough to save sufficient funds in that dedicated account, Freedom Debt Relief will negotiate your first settlement with your creditors. Once they’ve agreed to consider your debt paid for less than you owe, Freedom Debt Relief will use the money in your account to pay your creditors and settle your debts.

Keep in mind
This process will negatively impact your credit, and you may receive calls from debt collectors. That’s because you’ll essentially be delinquent on your minimum payments for a time frame of four to six months. But this is often what it takes for creditors to be willing to settle your debt.

You should also know that Freedom Debt Relief charges 15% to 25% of your enrolled debt amount as a fee, depending on the state in which you live. This could still be less expensive than bankruptcy, which can cost $2,000 or more. And bankruptcy will also tank your credit, so it's typically viewed as a last resort.

Get rid of $25,000 in credit card debt

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What we like about Freedom Debt Relief

  • No upfront costs: Although many other debt settlement companies charge you a fee right off the bat, you won’t pay a cent until Freedom Debt Relief finishes negotiating your debt settlement.
  • Track your progress with the Client Dashboard: As a Freedom Debt Relief customer, you can easily view the progress of your debt settlement in your online account. You’ll also be able to access educational content to help you stay out of debt and improve your financial future.
  • Excellent customer service: You can reach a certified debt consultant or customer service representative any day of the week by phone or email. Furthermore, Freedom Debt Relief has excellent customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau.

What Freedom Debt Relief could improve

  • No guarantees: Freedom Debt Relief doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, nor does it promise to forgive a certain percentage of your debt. Each settlement is a negotiation, and the results can vary.
  • High fees. Freedom Debt Relief takes 15% to 25% of your enrolled debt amount as a settlement fee. They have the experience to settle your debts for 50% of what you owe, but there’s no guarantee. If they’re only able to settle your debts for 75% of what you owe, there’s a chance you won’t save money and may damage your credit in the process.

What Freedom Debt Relief customers are saying

More than 1,300 customer reviewers rated Freedom Debt Relief an average of 4.34 out of 5 stars through the Better Business Bureau. Many customers cited the ease of the process. One customer mentioned that Freedom Debt Relief helped her handle civil cases brought against her. And many reviewers said the customer service is friendly and helpful. Freedom Debt Relief also has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating with Trustpilot and a 4.4 out of 5 with Consumer Affairs.

Additionally, a recent survey of Freedom Debt Relief program graduates offers some insight into how working with the service impacted their overall debt burden and credit. According to the survey, the median debt burden of Freedom Debt Relief graduates decreased from $28,000 at the time of program enrollment to $3,800 45 months after enrollment. Surveyed customers' median FICO scores also continued to improve more than two years after using the company's services. 

Freedom Debt Relief customer service

You can contact Freedom Debt Relief via phone call or email.

Certified debt consultants are available:

  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET
  • Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET

Customer service representatives are available:

  • Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET
  • Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET
  • Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET

FAQs about Freedom Debt Relief

Is Freedom Debt Relief legit?

Yes. Freedom Debt Relief is a legit debt relief company and is not a scam. Freedom Debt Relief is committed to fair business practices and is accredited by the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC). In fact, it is one of the founding members of the American Fair Credit Council and is a platinum member of the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). The company has been around for 20 years and has helped more than 1,000,000 customers resolve debt.

How does Freedom Debt Relief impact your credit?

Debt settlement programs, including Freedom Debt Relief, typically have negative impacts on credit scores. That’s because these programs require you to become delinquent on your payments until your creditors will accept a lump sum that is less than you owe as payment for your debts. In addition, settled debts stay on your credit report for seven years. However, healthy credit habits can help you improve your credit score again once you pay off your debt.

How much does Freedom Debt Relief cost?

Freedom Debt Relief takes between 15% and 25% of your total enrolled debt amount, depending on your state of residency. For example, if you have $10,000 in total debt and Freedom Debt Relief settles your debt for $5,000, you would owe between $1,500 and $2,500 of the settlement amount to the company for its negotiation work. Also, keep in mind that you will likely need to pay taxes on the amount of debt forgiven.

Is debt settlement a good idea?

If you’re in over your head, debt settlement can be a better option than filing for bankruptcy. Just be sure to do your research and choose a debt settlement service, like Freedom Debt Relief, that is committed to integrity. However, be aware that there’s a risk you won’t come out ahead after paying taxes and fees on your forgiven debt. It’s best to try other debt resolution strategies first, like negotiating with your creditors on your own, trying a debt repayment strategy such as the debt avalanche method, or using a debt consolidation loan. These methods can help you progress toward becoming debt-free.

The bottom line

Generally speaking, if you're experiencing financial hardship and struggling to get out of debt, you should consider the debt settlement process only if other strategies won’t work for you. Before you decide to work with a debt settlement company, you might try these other debt solutions:

If the amount is too high or these options prove ineffective, debt settlement can sometimes be a better option than bankruptcy, though it depends on your financial situation. You should calculate the cost of both choices, along with the effort required, when making your decision. 

If you do decide to go the route of debt negotiation, we think Freedom Debt Relief is one of the safest debt relief companies around, evidenced by thousands of happy customers. If you're still undecided, you can learn more by comparing National Debt Relief vs. Freedom Debt Relief.

Freedom Debt Relief Benefits

  • Recommended Minimum debt: $15,000
  • Has resolved over $17 billion in debt
  • Affordable program with one low monthly deposit
  • No upfront costs or hidden fees
  • May resolve unsecured debt in as little as 24-48 months1

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