Tell us a little about your situation and what you owe, and we will help you compare your options, including free and nonprofit help first. A review is free and carries no obligation. It is educational, not advice, and you are never pushed into a paid program.
Before you consider any paid debt-relief program, it is worth talking to a nonprofit
credit counselor, which is usually free or low cost. A counselor can review your budget,
explain a debt management plan, and tell you
honestly whether you even need a paid service. You can find one through the National
Foundation for Credit Counseling or the U.S. Department of Justice list of approved
agencies. We are independent, we do not sell debt relief, and we are not paid to recommend
any specific company.
What an honest comparison looks like
There is no single best option, only the one that fits your numbers and your goals. A
debt settlement program can reduce balances
but can damage your credit, charges fees, and may leave you with a tax bill on forgiven
debt. Consolidation only helps if the new
rate and terms are truly better. A debt
management plan can lower rates through a nonprofit but asks for a steady schedule.
Bankruptcy is a legal reset with lasting
effects. The review below is a starting point for weighing these, not a sales pitch.
Free, no obligation
Tell us about your situation
Optional and free. Share as much or as little as you like. We use it only to help you
compare options and, where helpful, to arrange a free review with a vetted nonprofit
counselor or provider. We do not sell your information, and this is education, not advice.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is this debt-relief review really free?
Yes. Requesting a review costs nothing and puts you under no obligation. We point you to free and low-cost nonprofit credit counseling first, because for many people that is the better starting point than any paid program. If you later choose a paid service, that company sets its own fees, which you should compare carefully before signing anything.
What happens after I submit the form?
Your details are used to arrange the review you asked for. No vetted nonprofit counselor or relief provider is signed to receive it yet (see the panel below), so until one is in place we personally follow up and point you to free and nonprofit help. We do not sell your information to lead buyers, and any follow-up is about the review you requested.
What are the downsides of paid debt relief?
They are real and worth weighing. Debt settlement can seriously damage your credit, usually charges fees, and forgiven debt can be taxed as income. Debt consolidation only helps if the new rate and terms are genuinely better and you do not run the balances back up. A debt management plan through a nonprofit can lower rates but asks you to close cards and stick to a fixed schedule. Bankruptcy has lasting credit effects. None of these is a quick fix, and a free nonprofit counselor can help you compare them for your actual numbers.
Will requesting a review hurt my credit?
Simply asking questions and learning about your options does not affect your credit. Your score can be affected later by what you decide to do, for example enrolling in a settlement program or missing payments while you save toward one. That is exactly why it is worth understanding the trade-offs, ideally with a nonprofit counselor, before you commit to anything.
Do I have to use a paid company?
No. Many people get out of debt on their own with a payoff plan, or with free help from a nonprofit credit counselor. Our get-out-of-debt plan and our honest comparison of relief options walk through the do-it-yourself path and the free options first. A paid program is only one path, and it is not the right one for everyone.
Defeating the Debt is an independent educational resource. The content here is for general information only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Every situation is different, so before acting on anything you read here, consider speaking with a qualified professional or a nonprofit credit counselor (you can find one through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or the U.S. Department of Justice list of approved counseling agencies). We do not sell debt relief, and we are not paid to recommend any specific company.