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What Is Accredited Debt Relief?

Accredited Debt Relief is a debt relief company founded in 2011. It helps people to get out of debt by negotiating with their creditors to reduce the total amount they owe.

Since its inception, Accredited Debt Relief says it has helped over 200,000 people resolve over $1 billion in debt, and the company currently has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). If you’re struggling with debt, Accredited Debt Relief may be able to help you get back on track.

Overview

Standout features

  • Reduce your monthly payments by 40% or more
  • Free, no-obligation consultation
  • A+ rating from the BBB

Drawbacks

  • Fees range from of consolidated debt
  • Must have at least $10,000 in unsecured debt to enroll
  • Not available nationwide
  • No support for secured debts, such as mortgages, auto loans and federal student loans

What Types of Debt Do They Consolidate?

Accredited Debt Relief only helps consolidate unsecured debts—debts that don’t have collateral attached to them. These include:

If you have a form of unsecured debt that isn’t mentioned above, you can chat with a debt relief specialist during your free consultation to see if it qualifies for enrollment. Accredited Debt Relief’s website states that it does not consolidate secured debts, including federal student loans, mortgages and auto loans.

Related: Best Debt Consolidation Loans


How Does Accredited Debt Relief Work?

Expect to go through these steps if you enroll in Accredited Debt Relief’s program:

  • Sign up for a free consultation on Accredited Debt Relief’s website.
  • Meet with a certified consolidation specialist to create a customized plan based to fit your budget and help you make a plan to get out of debt. Personalized options may include a debt consolidation program or loan.
  • Open an FDIC-insured savings account and make monthly deposits based on your customized plan.
  • Wait as your assigned debt specialist works with your creditors to adjust your loan terms.
  • If the specialist successfully reaches an agreement, they’ll contact you for approval and use the money in your dedicated account to pay off the loan.
  • The specialist repeats this process until all of your debts are either resolved or deemed ineligible for resolution.

The entire debt relief process can take anywhere from one to four years to complete, and it may take six to nine months to see your first debt consolidation. So don’t expect quick results.


Accredited Debt Relief Customer Reviews

Accredited Debt Relief has good customer reviews on the BBB’s website and Trustpilot.

  • BBB: The company has an accreditation rating of A+ based on its years in business and willingness to resolve customer complaints. It also has an impressive customer rating of 4.81 out of 5. This is based on 238 reviews, with most customers saying the team is helpful, patient and professional.
  • Trustpilot: Accredited Debt Relief has a 4.9 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot, based on 4,168 reviews. According to the site, 89% of people rated Accredited Debt Relief as “Excellent,” 9% rated it as “Great” or “Average” and less than 3% rated it “Poor” or “Bad.”

How To Sign Up for Accredited Debt Relief

If you have at least $10,000 in unsecured debt, you may be eligible for Accredited Debt Relief’s services. To start the process, call 800-497-1965, or follow these steps to fill out the form online:

  • Visit Accredited Debt Relief’s website.
  • Click to “Get Started.”
  • Enter the current amount of debt you owe.
  • Provide your name, phone number, email address and state of residency, then click to get your quote.
  • Wait for a debt relief specialist to contact you.

Once you complete your call, you can decide if you want to move forward based on your specialist’s recommendations.

Note that Accredited Debt Relief services residents of 31 states and Washington, D.C. Check its website for an updated list on which state residents can enroll.

What Fees Does Accredited Debt Relief Charge?

Accredited Debt Relief works on a “performance-based” structure, meaning you pay a fee only if the company successfully reduces your monthly payments. This fee ranges from of your total consolidated debt.

For instance, say you have $20,000 in enrolled debt and Accredited Debt Relief successfully consolidates one-quarter of it—meaning $5,000. If the fee is 25%, you could owe up to $5,000 (25% of $20,000).

The company deducts this fee from your dedicated account once you and your creditor(s) have agreed on a new resolution that’s less than what you owe and you’ve made at least one payment toward it. If the company is unable to reduce a specific monthly payment, it’ll remove it from your dedicated account and adjust your fees accordingly.

Will Using Accredited Debt Relief Affect My Credit?

It’s highly likely that your credit score will go down when you start using any debt relief company, including Accredited Debt Relief. That’s because you’re typically advised to stop making payments on your enrolled debts while they’re being negotiated. This can temporarily tank your credit score, send some of your debts into collections and, in extreme cases, result in lawsuits.

But over time, if Accredited Debt Relief is successful in reducing the total amount of debt you owe, your credit score should tick back up as you pay off debts and make on-time payments.


How To Contact Accredited Debt Relief

There are two ways to contact Accredited Debt Relief customer support if you run into issues.

  • Email customerservice@acrelief.com.
  • Call 877-201-2548 on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time and on weekends from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific.

Who Is Accredited Debt Relief Best For?

Accredited Debt Relief is best for anyone who has at least $10,000 in unsecured debt—think credit cards, medical bills and payday loans—and wants to reduce the total amount they owe. But fees range from of the total enrolled amount, and services aren’t available in at least 19 states.

If you’re on the fence about Accredited Debt Relief, see how it compares to the best debt relief companies before you make a decision.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Accredited Debt Relief legit?

Yes. Accredited Debt Relief is a legitimate company helping struggling individuals and families reduce the amount of unsecured debt they owe. The company has an A+ rating with the BBB and thousands of positive customer reviews online.

Is Accredited Debt Relief the same as Beyond Finance?

Yes, Accredited Debt Relief is a division of Beyond Finance, which is an accredited member of the American Association for Debt Resolution (AADR).

How do I cancel Accredited Debt Relief?

You can unenroll from Accredited Debt Relief’s program at any time by contacting your debt specialist. You’ll get back all the money in your dedicated account, minus any fees you owe.

Is Accredited Debt Relief right for me?

You may want to sign up for a free consultation with Accredited Debt Relief if you have at least $10,000 in unsecured debts and are struggling to make payments, or if you have accounts in collections or feel like money stress is impacting your quality of life.