National Debt Relief has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2013 and has an A+ rating. On Trustpilot, National Debt Relief has an excellent rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on over 36,000 reviews. It is also accredited by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators.

Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO credit score, so enrolling in a plan with National Debt Relief could negatively impact your credit rating. The extent of that impact, however, depends on whether you're still current on your bills or not.

Credit score impacts When you use a debt settlement company like National Debt Relief, you can expect a credit drop by as much as 100 points; however, the company states that if you're able to settle your debts, the credit impact is about half of what it would be if you were to declare bankruptcy.

National Debt Relief charges a fee of 18%-25% of enrolled debt. This means if you came into the program with $20,000 in debt, expect to pay NDR between $3,600 and $5,000 in fees. There may be additional service or maintenance fees to pay depending on your state.

There are no sign-up fees, no cancellation fees, and there's absolutely no obligation – you're in control. Once debts are settled, the average client usually pays a fee of 15-25% of the total debt enrolled as part of their monthly payment. And if we can't settle your accounts, you don't pay us. It's that simple.

It can help you get back on track financially If you're doing everything you can to pay off your balances but can't seem to make any headway, debt relief can help you stop treading water and rebuild your finances. Find out what debt relief options are available to you here.

Warning: There could be tax consequences for debt forgiveness. If a portion of your debt is forgiven by the creditor, it could be counted as taxable income on your federal income taxes. You may want to consult a tax advisor or tax attorney to learn how forgiven debt affects your federal income tax.

Cons of debt settlement Stopping payments on your bills (as most debt relief companies suggest) will damage your credit score. Debt settlement companies can charge fees. Not all debt settlement companies are reputable, so you'll have to do your research.

Can You Use Credit Cards After They've Been Consolidated? When you consolidate credit card debt, sometimes creditors will allow you to keep the accounts open. If this is the case, your credit won't be impacted as harshly, but it's still best to stop using them for a while.

At National Debt Relief, you must have at least $7,500 and be able to make monthly payments into your settlement fund to qualify for our debt relief program. Debt relief companies also might have other criteria.

For example, the National Debt Relief allows you to cancel the program at any time if they're unable to settle the debt or you aren't satisfied with their services. You won't be charged any penalties or cancellation fees, and you'll have your money back.

Those who have been on repayment plans, hold federal direct loans or federal family education loans and have completed 20 or 25 years of qualifying months are eligible for forgiveness, depending on when the loans were originated, the type of loan borrowed and the specific type of plan.