Accredited Debt Relief Review 2026: What To Know Before Enrolling

Quick Take: Accredited Debt Relief is a company that offers debt relief, debt consolidation, credit counseling and debt management plans. To qualify for debt relief, you need at least $5,000 in unsecured debt like credit card balances, personal loans and medical bills.

Key Takeaways

• You need at least $5,000 in unsecured debt to qualify. Eligible balances include credit cards, personal loans and medical bills; secured debts like mortgages and auto loans don't qualify.

• Fees typically run 15% to 25% of enrolled debt and only apply after a settlement. Under FTC rules, a debt relief company can't collect a fee until it settles at least one debt, you've agreed to the terms and you've made a payment.

• Most clients work toward becoming debt-free in 24 to 48 months. The company reports lowering eligible monthly payments by about 40% or more, though results vary and savings aren't guaranteed.

• Debt settlement can seriously damage your credit. Because you typically stop paying creditors while you save, accounts can go to collections, balances can grow and negative marks can stay on your reports for up to seven years.

• The company reports a long track record and high marks. Founded in 2011 as part of Beyond Finance, it cites 1.3 million-plus clients and more than $15 billion in debt resolved, with an A+ BBB rating.

• Forgiven debt may be taxable. If a creditor cancels $600 or more, you may receive a Form 1099-C and owe taxes on the forgiven amount unless an exclusion applies.

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

MoneyLion offers a service to help you find personal loan offers. Based on the information you provide, you can get matched with offers for up to $100,000 from our top providers. You can compare rates, terms, and fees from different lenders and choose the best offer for you.

Accredited Debt Relief was founded in 2011 and is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The company has served over 1.3 million clients and resolved more than $15 billion in debt. They are rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and 4.9 out of 5 stars on Consumer Affairs.

Each consumer’s case is different, results can vary, and savings is not a guarantee. Debt relief may cause credit damage since you stop making payments to your creditors, and those same creditors can forward your accounts to collections.

Pros and Cons

Here are some advantages and disadvantages to Accredited Debt Relief:

Pros

• Variety of options: You can seek debt relief, debt consolidation or credit counseling.

• Widespread availability: Accredited Debt Relief is available in all 50 states.

• No minimum credit score to qualify: You don't need a minimum credit score to seek debt relief with the program.

• Complimentary consultation: You can get a free consultation with a debt specialist.

• No upfront fees: Accredited Debt Relief doesn’t charge any fees at the initial consultation.

Cons

• No guaranteed outcome: There’s no guarantee that you’ll have success with debt relief.

• You risk credit damage: You may risk credit damage since some creditors don’t want to settle, and because you’ve stopped payment to your creditors, those accounts may go into collections.

• Minimum unsecured debt: You must have a minimum of $5,000 of unsecured debt to qualify.

Accredited Debt Relief Company Overview

Accredited Debt Relief is a division of Beyond Finance, LLC. The company offers a variety of options for consumers: debt relief, debt settlement, debt consolidation and credit counseling. The company evaluates consumers in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.

Accredited Debt Relief focuses on consumers who are undergoing financial hardship and are making very little progress in making monthly payments. They are focused on finding a solution that reduces the hardship. The company states that consumers reduce eligible payments by 40% or more. The timeline is to become debt free in 24 to 48 months.

Key Features

Free Evaluation

To find out if Accredited is a good fit for you, you can call or fill out a form online. The debt specialist will review your financial picture. This review includes taking a look at your total debt, monthly income and financial goals.

Debt Relief and Consolidation Options

Accredited Debt Relief follows a three-step model to address your debt relief:

1. You consult with a debt specialist who explains debt relief and debt consolidation.

2. You’ll be enrolled in a debt relief program that fits your timeline and specific budget.

3. Your client specialist will negotiate on your behalf. According to the website, most see a reduction of 40% in your eligible monthly payments.

Types of Debt

Accredited Debt Relief addresses unsecured debt including credit cards, personal loans and medical debt.

Reviews, Testimonials and Trust Signals

Accredited Debt Relief is rated high on several platforms. The company has over 3,000 reviews on BBB with 4.9 stars out of 5 stars with an A+ rating. Trustpilot has over 10,000 reviews with 4.8 stars out of 5 stars, while Google also ranks Accredited Debt Relief with 4.8 stars out of 5 stars and over 13,000 reviews. The site also has featured testimonials from clients.

Savings and Timeline

Accredited Debt Relief suggests that consumers reduced their monthly payments by 40% or more and are typically debt free within 24 to 48 months. The company shares the following example on their website: If you have $25,000 in unsecured debt, that frees up about $480 per month. These are estimates only and are not guaranteed outcomes.

Also, the site prominently states that 92% of its graduates from the program state that payments were affordable, and an average of 42% reported an improvement in financial habits.

These are not guaranteed outcomes, but based on survey data conducted by Accredited Debt Relief. Each case will have varying results.

Support and Resources

Accredited Debt Relief provides several free resources:

• Complimentary consultations

• Human support from certified specialists

• FAQs that answer common questions

• Blog content tackling key topics

• Customer stories

The site also offers dashboard support as well as a phone number to contact debt specialists.

Costs and Fees

There are no costs for an initial consultation. Exploring options is completely free.

For debt relief programs, once you enroll, fees vary state by state, and you may pay 15% to 25% as an average — should the debt relief be successful.

For debt consolidation loans, here's how they works:

• For loan amounts from $1,000 to $100,000, the APRs are 4.9% to 35.99%

• Origination fees are 1% to 6%

• Terms range from 4 to 84 months

Note that any forgiven debt may be considered taxable income, and creditors file Form 1099-C with the IRS and send you a copy if the forgiven amount is $600 or more. You may owe taxes, unless an exclusion like insolvency applies to your situation.

Eligibility Criteria

Here’s what you need to know about Accredited Debt Relief:

1. You must have at least $5,000 of unsecured debt.

2. You struggle to keep up with monthly minimum payments.

3. Accredited Debt Relief also offers debt consolidation options, credit counseling and debt management plans.

4. Secured debt is not eligible, and not all creditors will accept settlements.

5. Debt relief may negatively impact your credit, and balances may grow because you’ve stopped making payments to your creditors.

6. Service terms may vary state-to-state.

How To Apply

Applying to Accredited Debt Relief is easy. Here are the steps:

1. You can start with a consultation either on the phone or online.

2. A debt specialist will review your financial picture including your debt, income and monthly obligations.

3. You have the option to choose between debt relief or debt consolidation.

4. Once you decide on what's a good fit, you follow the plan working toward resolving your unsecured debt.

Accredited Debt Relief vs. Comparable Options

How does Accredited Debt Relief compare to other options? Here’s a comparison table to help you decide:

Who It's Best For

Accredited Debt Relief is ideal for those consumers who are on the fence regarding debt relief and want to consider other options, like debt consolidation loans. It's also ideal for those who are carrying at least $5,000 worth of unsecured debt and aren’t making progress with monthly minimum payments.

If you're a consumer who likes certainty and guaranteed savings and want to prevent credit impact, you may want to consider other options.

Final Take

Accredited Debt Relief has a great reputation with high marks from Google, Consumer Affairs, Trustpilot and BBB. The company also offers options other than debt relief that may appeal to some consumers. Outcomes may vary based on individual cases. Electing to do debt relief can pose its own set of risks including getting accounts sent to collections and negative activity on your credit report.

FAQs

How much does Accredited Debt Relief cost?

If your settlement is successful, Accredited Debt Relief charges from 15 to 25%. Costs vary by state.

What debts qualify?

Unsecured debts qualify like medical bills, credit card balances, personal loans and other types of unsecured debt.

Will it hurt your credit?

Debt relief can damage your credit. There’s no guarantee that creditors will agree to a settlement, and in some cases they may forward your account to collections.

Does Accredited Debt Relief offer consolidation loans?

Yes, Accredited Debt Relief also offers consolidation loans.

Key Terms

• Debt settlement: A program in which a company negotiates with your creditors to resolve unsecured debts for less than the full balance you owe.

• Unsecured debt: Debt not backed by collateral, such as credit cards, personal loans and medical bills; this is the type of debt eligible for settlement.

• Secured debt: Debt tied to an asset, like a mortgage or auto loan, that generally cannot be enrolled in a settlement program.

• Dedicated account: A consumer-owned account where you set aside funds for settlements and fees; under FTC rules you own the money and can withdraw it without penalty.

• Advance-fee ban: The FTC rule barring for-profit debt relief companies from charging fees before settling at least one debt, securing your agreement and collecting a payment.

• Debt consolidation loan: A new loan used to pay off multiple debts, leaving one monthly payment; approval and APR depend on your credit and debt-to-income ratio.

• Charge-off: When a creditor writes off an unpaid account as a loss; it's reported to the bureaus and can stay on your credit for up to seven years.

• Form 1099-C: The tax form a creditor may issue when it cancels $600 or more of debt, which the IRS may treat as taxable income.

Sources

• CFPB: What is a debt relief program and how do I know if I should use one?

• CFPB: Credit counseling vs. debt settlement, consolidation or repair

• FTC: Debt Relief Services & the Telemarketing Sales Rule — A Guide for Business

• FTC: Debt Relief Companies Prohibited From Collecting Advance Fees

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

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