National Debt Relief Vs. Accredited Debt Relief For Debt Settlement

Debt settlement has become an increasingly popular option for consumers struggling with high amounts of unsecured debt like credit cards or medical bills. Two of the biggest players in the debt settlement space are National Debt Relief and Accredited Debt Relief.

But which one is the better choice for your debt situation? Here’s an in-depth look at the pros and cons of National Debt Relief and Accredited Debt Relief to help you decide.

A Brief Comparison Table

Factor	National Debt Relief	Accredited Debt Relief
Founded	2009	2006
BBB Rating	A+	A
Amount of Debt Resolved	$12 billion	$1 billion
Fees	15-25% of debt	12-25% of debt
Accreditation	AFCC	IAPDA
Customer Support	Phone support 7 days/week	Phone support 6 days/week
Process Timeline	24-48 months typically	24-48 months typically
Educational Resources	Debt payoff calculator, budgeting tips, financial articles	Debt settlement calculator, budgeting tools, financial articles

Overview of National Debt Relief

Founded in 2009, National Debt Relief is one of the largest and most well-known debt settlement companies in the industry. They claim to have resolved over $12 billion in debt for customers and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Some key things to know about National Debt Relief:

• Services: They help consumers settle credit card, medical, and other unsecured debt for less than owed. Their debt settlement programs aim to negotiate with creditors to lower balances.
• Fees: National Debt Relief charges an upfront fee when you enroll and ongoing monthly maintenance fees during the program. Fees typically range from 15-25% of enrolled debt.
• Process: After signing up, funds are put into a dedicated account. National Debt Relief then works to negotiate debt settlements while you make monthly deposits. Once settlements are reached, funds are used to pay reduced balances.
• Customer support: National Debt Relief provides customer service 7 days a week. They have financial advisors to help analyze debt and create plans.
• Accreditation: National Debt Relief has accreditation from the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC) for ethical debt settlement practices.
• Educational resources: Their website offers a debt payoff calculator, savings tips, and other resources to help manage finances.

Overview of Accredited Debt Relief

Accredited Debt Relief is another large and accredited debt settlement company founded in 2006. They claim to have resolved over $1 billion in consumer debt.

Some key things to know about Accredited Debt Relief:

• Services: Similar to National Debt Relief, they help consumers settle credit cards and other unsecured debt for less than owed through negotiations.
• Fees: Accredited charges an upfront enrollment fee and monthly service fees between 12-25% of total enrolled debt.
• Process: Customers set up a dedicated account and make monthly deposits while Accredited negotiates settlements. Once reached, funds pay reduced balances.
• Customer support: Support is available 6 days a week by phone, chat, or email. Advisors provide financial analysis and advice.
• Accreditation: Accredited has accreditation from the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators for ethical standards.
• Educational resources: Their website provides debt payoff calculators, savings tips, and other resources to manage debt.

Also Read: Comparison Freedom Debt Relief And Clearone Advantage

Key Differences Between National Debt Relief And Accredited Debt Relief

Now that we’ve overviewed the key features of National Debt Relief and Accredited Debt Relief, let’s compare them across several factors:

• Costs and Fees

The cost structure is one of the most important considerations when comparing debt settlement companies.

National Debt Relief typically charges 15-25% of your total enrolled debt amount in fees. This includes a small upfront fee to get started and ongoing monthly fees for as long as you remain in the program.

For example, if you enroll $20,000 in debt, you would pay around $3,000 to $5,000 in National Debt Relief fees.

Accredited Debt Relief also charges an upfront fee and monthly maintenance fees. Their total fees often range from 12-25% of total debt enrolled.

Using the same $20,000 debt example, you may pay $2,400 to $5,000 in Accredited Debt Relief fees.

So in terms of cost, the fees are relatively similar between the two companies. Accredited Debt Relief can sometimes have lower fees, but total costs vary based on individual debt situation. It’s best to get a custom quote from each for comparison.

• Debt Settlement Experience

The debt settlement process itself works similarly between National Debt Relief and Accredited Debt Relief.

After signing up, you’ll open a dedicated account to start making monthly deposits while the company works to negotiate your debt. It typically takes between 24-48 months to settle all accounts.

Once settlements are reached, the dedicated funds will be used to pay the reduced balances. Both companies have teams of debt experts to handle the negotiations for you.

National Debt Relief touts its experience and claims the large size of its company gives them leverage in negotiating lower settlements. They have settled over $12 billion in debt since 2009.

Accredited Debt Relief also has over a decade of experience as one of the early players in the debt settlement industry. While smaller than National Debt Relief, they still maintain teams of negotiation experts and have resolved over $1 billion in consumer debt.

For most consumers, the back-end settlement process will be relatively similar between the two companies. The expertise of the negotiation teams is strong in both cases.

• Customer Support and Guidance

Having access to customer support and financial guidance is key when going through the debt settlement process.

National Debt Relief provides customer service over the phone 7 days a week. They also have financial advisors available to provide a free consultation and debt analysis when you sign up. You can get tailored advice on paying down debt.

Accredited Debt Relief also has customer service agents available 6 days a week by phone, email, and online chat. Their advisors will discuss your financial situation when you enroll and put together a debt settlement plan.

Both companies offer mobile apps to track your accounts and settlements. Overall, National Debt Relief and Accredited Debt Relief offer solid customer service and resources. National Debt Relief has the edge with 7 day a week phone support.

• Credibility and Trustworthiness

It’s vital to choose a reputable debt settlement company that follows ethical business practices.

National Debt Relief is accredited with the American Fair Credit Council and maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. They’ve also been recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies according to Inc 5000. These are strong signs of a reputable company.

Accredited Debt Relief is accredited with the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators. They also hold an A rating with the Better Business Bureau. While not as highly rated as National Debt Relief, they still demonstrate credibility.

Both companies have proven histories in the debt settlement industry. National Debt Relief comes across as slightly moreestablished. But Accredited Debt Relief is a credible option as well.

Also Watch This Review Video:

• Educational Resources

The educational resources and tools provided can make a big difference in keeping you on track with the debt settlement program.

The National Debt Relief website contains a debt payoff calculator, budgeting tips, and articles with advice on saving money and getting out of debt. Their online dashboard lets you track settlements.

Accredited Debt Relief also provides a debt settlement calculator, budgeting tools, and financial articles full of tips. Their online portal allows you to monitor your accounts and settlements.

Overall, the two companies offer comparable educational tools and resources to support the debt settlement process. National Debt Relief may have a slight edge in terms of content volume. But both provide solid self-help tools.

• Closing Summary: Key Considerations

When comparing National Debt Relief vs Accredited Debt Relief for debt settlement services, keep these key factors in mind:

1. Fees are similar, around 15-25% of debt enrolled. Get custom quotes for exact costs.
2. Both have strong teams to negotiate and settle your accounts. The process is relatively equal.
3. National Debt Relief offers 7 day/week support. But Accredited has strong support too.
4. Both companies have long track records and strong reputations as nationwide debt settlement firms.
5. The educational resources are well-rounded with both companies. Calculate potential savings with their tools.

While National Debt Relief has a slight edge in tenure, ratings, and customer service availability, the overall services are relatively similar. The best option may come down to getting the lowest fee quote based on your unique debt situation. Compare custom quotes from each company to find the most affordable debt settlement program for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Thought

Some potential disadvantages of using National Debt Relief for debt settlement include:

• High fees – Their fees range from 15-25% of total debt enrolled, which can equal thousands in fees based on your debt amount.
• Credit score impacts – Debt settlement programs can negatively impact your credit score initially as accounts become delinquent.
• Tax implications – Settled debt could be treated as taxable income by the IRS in some cases.
• No guarantees – While National Debt Relief has a solid history of negotiating settlements, there is no guarantee settlements will be reached for all accounts enrolled.
• Lengthy process – It can take 2-4 years to fully complete debt settlement programs. Requires discipline.
• Limited states – National Debt Relief does not offer services in all states due to state laws. Be sure they operate in your location.

While National Debt Relief is a legitimate and trusted debt settlement company, make sure you understand the impacts and commit to seeing the process through over several years. The high fees and credit score hits especially need to be carefully weighed before deciding if it is the right option for your debt situation.