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National Debt Relief Reviews

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About National Debt Relief

National Debt Relief is one of the largest debt settlement companies in the U.S. Founded in 2009, National Debt Relief negotiates with creditors to reduce how much you owe on unsecured debts such as credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, private student loans and collections. It offers personalized plans to help you resolve debt, along with support from dedicated debt specialists.

Pros
  • Free consultation with debt coach
  • Free debt relief quote
  • Numerous accreditations
  • FProfessional and responsive customer support
  • Easy enrollment process
Cons
  • Fees can reduce overall savings
  • Not available in all states

Featured Reviews

Burke, VA
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Albert was very friendly, understanding and very knowledgeable about how the process works. Filled out application and was approved in no time at all. Albert walked me through the...

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Sebastian, FL
Verified purchase
My experience with the National Debt Relief representatives has been nothing but positive. The reps have all been upbeat and clear in their verbal and email communications and I a...

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What is National Debt Relief?

National Debt Relief is a debt settlement company founded in 2009 and based in New York. It works on behalf of clients to negotiate lower payoff amounts with creditors, aiming to help people resolve unsecured debt and get closer to financial independence.

According to its website, most programs are completed in 24 to 48 months, depending on the amount of debt and how quickly clients can fund settlement offers. Its debt specialists are certified through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA), and the company follows standards set by the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR).

National Debt Relief is available in 46 states, Washington, D.C., and select U.S. territories. As of October 2025, it has a strong 4.9-star rating on ConsumerAffairs with over 58,000 reviews.

» RELATED: Debt settlement vs. bankruptcy

National Debt Relief at a glance

How does National Debt Relief work?

National Debt Relief doesn’t assume your debt or make payments directly to creditors. Instead, it negotiates with creditors to reduce unsecured debts to settle for less than the full balance. The process begins with a free consultation to review your financial situation and available options. After you approve a personalized plan, National Debt Relief’s experts work to secure settlements on your behalf. You’ll fund a dedicated account to make payments toward these settlements.

Savings vary by client and depend on completing the program by settling enrolled debts. National Debt Relief states that those who finish the program typically save about 25% after fees over two to four years, but results are not guaranteed.

Not all debts qualify for settlement, and some clients may not complete the program due to financial challenges. There may also be tax consequences, and settling debt can impact your credit score.

How to sign up for National Debt Relief

  1. Visit National Debt Relief’s website and click “Apply.” Fill out a short questionnaire about your financial situation.
  2. Have a free consultation with a debt specialist.
  3. Review and approve your personalized debt relief plan.
  4. Start making payments into your dedicated savings account to fund settlements.

National Debt Relief requirements

To qualify for National Debt Relief, you must:

  • Be able to make a monthly payment into a settlement fund
  • Owe more than $7,500 in unsecured debt
  • Be going through a financial crisis with no quick end in sight (such as recent job loss, divorce, death of a spouse or unexpected hospital or medical bills)

How National Debt Relief affects taxes

Like with other debt settlement companies, using National Debt Relief can affect your taxes. When a creditor forgives part of your debt, the IRS typically treats the forgiven amount as taxable income. For example, if you settle a $10,000 debt for $6,000, the remaining $4,000 may be considered taxable income and be reported on a Form 1099-C.

You can sometimes avoid paying taxes on forgiven debt if you qualify as insolvent, meaning your total debts exceed your total assets. The IRS provides Form 982 for this exception. National Debt Relief advises clients to speak with a tax professional before filing to understand whether they’ll owe taxes on any settled accounts.

National Debt Relief services

National Debt Relief’s primary service is debt settlement assistance. It helps clients settle unsecured debts such as credit card debt, medical bills and personal loans by negotiating with creditors. National Debt Relief states its debt specialists have worked with over 10,000 creditors to secure these agreements.

In addition to debt settlement, National Debt Relief offers free tools and resources to support financial management, including budget planner worksheets, a debt calculator and consultations with debt specialists. The initial consultation is free and intended to help you determine if you are a good candidate for debt settlement services.

National Debt Relief costs

National Debt Relief’s initial consultation and quote are free. If you enroll and the company successfully settles your debt, you’ll pay a fee equal to 15% to 25% of the total enrolled debt. There are no upfront costs or sign-up fees; you only pay after a settlement is reached. The exact cost depends on your total debt amount and the terms of your program.

» READ MORE: Debt settlement pros and cons

National Debt Relief FAQ

Can National Debt Relief hurt my credit score?

Yes, National Debt Relief can affect your credit score. Debt settlement often lowers credit scores because missed or late payments may be reported during the process. This is common in debt settlement but is usually seen as a better alternative to bankruptcy. National Debt Relief does not provide credit repair, counseling or advice on improving credit scores.

What are the risks of using National Debt Relief?

Debt settlement can lower your credit score, especially if accounts become delinquent during the process. Interest and fees may continue to accrue until a settlement is reached, and not all creditors may agree to negotiate. National Debt Relief warns that settled debts may be considered taxable income and does not guarantee results or assume your debt.

How long does National Debt Relief take?

National Debt Relief states that it typically takes 12 to 48 months to pay off enrolled debt. It will ultimately come down to how quickly you’re able to save to pay for settlements.

What types of debt can National Debt Relief help with?

National Debt Relief assists with unsecured debt, including credit card debt, medical bills, personal loans and some other unsecured debt types. It doesn’t handle secured debts, like mortgages or car loans, and it doesn’t cover certain student debts.

Can National Debt Relief stop creditor calls?

No, National Debt Relief can’t directly stop debt collection calls. Some creditors may call less once negotiations start, but it’s up to the collector. You can stop calls yourself by sending a written cease-communication letter.

Will I owe taxes on forgiven debt?

In most cases, yes, you will owe taxes on balances forgiven by debt settlement companies, including National Debt Relief. The lender who forgives your debt will send you a Form 1099-C.

Exceptions are sometimes made for those who qualify as insolvent — meaning those who have debts exceeding their total assets. To qualify for this exemption, you must fill out IRS Form 982.

Does NDR charge upfront fees?

No, there are no upfront fees with National Debt Relief. You won’t pay until a settlement is reached. Once that happens, you’ll pay a fee equal to 15% to 25% of the total enrolled debt.

Is National Debt Relief legit?

Yes, National Debt Relief is a legitimate debt settlement provider. It’s accredited by the Association for Consumer Debt Relief, and its debt specialists are certified by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators.

As of October 2025, it has more than 58,000 reviews on ConsumerAffairs, with an average rating of 4.9 stars out of 5. Reviewers often describe the process as transparent and report that staff were professional and accessible. The company won multiple awards in our 2025 Buyer’s Choice Awards.

National Debt Relief may be a good choice for people struggling with at least $7,500 in unsecured debt who can make monthly payments into a savings account while the company negotiates with creditors.

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National Debt Relief Reviews

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    Reviewed Feb. 28, 2026

    I chose National Debt Relief to get rid of all my credit cards. That way, I could concentrate on my house bills. It was a high payment. I could barely make it with my household expenses. That was just for me in the house. I had two credit cards that lingered, a Target and a Premier Bankcard. That's why I went on. At first, it was, “Okay. This is what I see. This is the ones that I have that I can't pay.” NDR ran everything. They contacted everybody quickly. I was able to make a payment and send it to them, which helped. Every time I called to check how much longer I had, which ones fell off, and if I had any added on, NDR was always right on it. They never placed me on hold. They help me right then. I would call, and they would go over it. I would write it down. I would review it against what I saw in my bill book.

    I now don't have any worries. I just have household bills. I have my cashback credit card. And I have the very first credit card that I got a gazillion years ago. I was able to buy a new car because I didn't have the money to pay $5,500 to my old car. I'm now in a car that is just 10 years old. Insurance is low. And I don't even have my license plate yet for it. My payments to NDR ended not even two months ago. I have told a couple of people about NDR. It's easier. They do all the work. I don't have to worry about the payment. It just comes out. I just have to budget it into my expense account each month and know that amount will come out regardless right away.

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      Reviewed Feb. 17, 2026

      My credit card bills were building up. I went past my budget. I was trying to nip it in the butt before it got bad. I sought out National Debt Relief's services. They really tailored the monthly payments to something that's more manageable to help me pay off the debt as where some of the other places that I tried calling were outright putting me in almost a really high range of paying off the debt. Enrolling to their debt consolidation program was fairly simple. It included verifying some of the credit cards once they got my personal information so they can keep track of what all I was trying to get rid of.

      What stood out with my experience was the ease of access of making payments and seeing how far along my progress is going. That was one of the bigger interactions with them that I definitely enjoyed. As far as customer support, I received a call from them one or two times because I would forget to move money from savings to checking, and I didn't get charged. One of the calls was checking up on me and making sure I'm not going through any hard times or any other financial struggles, just to see if my monthly payment was still good. The quality of service is great, especially with them being as transparent. I also had access to most of the information they told me on the phone through their website.

      Since I'm debt-free now, I don't feel like I have a financial burden right now. If I had a friend who was looking for debt relief or asking about it, I'd definitely say to go for National Debt Relief because they try to keep your best interest in mind and tailor the payment process to suit you and not put you in such a financial strain. Also, their people were easy to talk to. They walked me through the process and made it sound like it wasn't gonna be a harder time on me. It was definitely excellent.

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      Reviewed Oct. 9, 2025

      I was in really bad credit and National Debt Relief was awesome. They really work with you and help you out. You give them a certain amount of money and then they’ll talk to all your debt people, all the people that you have real bad credit with. They do all the legwork for you and you don't have to deal with any of those people, period. The process could last a year or six months. It's up to the individual on how fast you want to pay your stuff off, because it's your money. You're paying the creditors off. But the good part about it is National Debt Relief holds your money until they know that you can pay something off. They're not gonna pay towards a debt and you can't really pay that person off.

      Let's say the debt is $2,500 and I only gave them $100. They're gonna hold it. They ain't gonna pay that $2,500 off or they're gonna call the debt people and make settlement fees. You don't even have to call them. National Debt Relief would come up with a reasonable number and they'll come back and ask what you think about it. They work for you. You don't work for them. That's what I like about them.

      Say you got some money and you'll be like, "Okay. I came into $500." They'll say first, "Well, do you wanna pay your smallest things off with this $500 or do you want us to hold it into this account for you?" And say you come into hardship and you need that money, they'll still give you that money back and you'll still be on their payment plan. Then they give you time to pay them back off. Say I can't pay National Debt Relief one month, they'll put it on a hold for me for three months or whatever hold I need. Then I could call them to release the hold and they'll start paying the debt again. Then I start paying them again.

      The only thing they need to be a little stern about is to make sure nobody runs from them because they're very lenient. Some people would change their accounts and National Debt Relief couldn't get any money to pay off creditors. But I treated them well because they helped me. I paid National Debt Relief whatever that fee was that they charged me and it wasn't too hard for me to pay. They're the bomb. They were amazing. The customer service was good and my credit was restored, but I messed it up again. I might need them again but I would wait until I'm more financially fit.

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      Reviewed Sept. 27, 2025

      I was desperate after dealing with a lot of debt after COVID and I had about $96,000 in student loan debt, and my parents couldn’t help me. I’d been working jobs to pay it down on my own since 2010, and by 2023 I was about two-thirds done, but the interest was hard and it was accumulating every day. I looked up programs and found National Debt Relief. I had doubts at first, but the customer service was good. I spoke with someone twice for about 45 minutes each time, asked a lot of questions, and they answered all of them. I was in the program for about two and a half years, and I’m now out of debt.

      I joined in February 2023 and was put on a payment plan. I had to stop paying my loans, and I started getting letters. I lost my credit card, but I knew that was going to happen. They also started sending letters to my parents, who were co-signers and don’t have money. But I warned them ahead of time that I was doing this and would stop paying while the NDR lawyers negotiated. I trusted the process. NDR sent me paperwork to give them permission to speak on my behalf with one of the creditors. I filled it out, got it notarized, and faxed it back.

      I kept money in my bank account, and NDR withdrew $260 every two weeks. They negotiated with the creditors and eventually got the third creditor included. At the end, I sent an extra $5,000 to finish faster. NDR reimbursed me at the end because I was over $300 in payments. The communication was awesome. Everyone was kind, patient, and willing to answer my questions, even when I asked the same ones again.

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      Reviewed May 17, 2025

      After trying for years on my own to get on top of credit card debt acquired in hard times, I decided to seek help before I got behind. I was circling the drain just making the minimum payments and maybe a little extra when I rarely could but I knew before long it was going to catch me and I'd start to miss payment or even default all together. My credit suffered due to the maxed out cards so getting a loan just wasn't an option. I researched debt consolidation and found National Debt Relief. They are accredited on the Better Business Bureau and had great reviews so I gave it a shot. I filled out the short form on their website and got a call from their representative, David. He was so very understanding and gave me all of my options and every tiny detail about each.

      He reviewed all my debt that was eligible and even went over every aspect of my budget down to every dollar I typically spend in a month to make sure the consolidation payment would fit and not put me back in a bind. The call was lengthy, about 2 hours, but it was start to finish on the entire process. It saved me nearly $700 a month now and $63,000 in the end of what I would have paid in debt/interest on my own. And I'll be done with all of it within 4 years instead of 50! I started out feeling terrible for asking for help but by the time everything was set I knew it was a solid choice and he made me feel comfortable and confident in it. I highly recommend this company to anyone that is struggling in today's economy and trying to get by under the weight of non-secured debt.

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      TechStaff

      Reviewed April 5, 2026

      George took the time to understand my situation and physical handicaps. He explained the contract to and with me. He explained about the legal part and how they would back me up. He was very thorough. I felt a lot better than when I had talked to another company. Thank you.

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      Staff

      Reviewed April 4, 2026

      Jason ** was a great guy to deal with! He gave us great advice and helped us get our heads above water! We will definitely recommend to anyone who is needing help with debt. He is a very down to earth and humble man and was very easy to get along with.

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      Reviewed April 4, 2026

      Had a very good experience with Jason, very straightforward, told me how it is and where I was, and what was reasonable and what wasn’t. I’d recommend to family a very reasonable time difference and pay off amount from what credit cards are asking.

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      PricePunctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed April 2, 2026

      Extremely helpful and left me with peace of mind! I feel like I’m finally getting my life and finances back on track. What a relief! Can’t wait to be debt free! So easy. Took a little bit of time but very worth it!

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      Customer ServiceStaff

      Reviewed March 31, 2026

      Diana was knowledgeable and has a good customer service. She was patient in explaining everything. She answered all my questions and was satisfied that made me go to this program to help me with my debt.

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      National Debt Relief Company Information

      Social media:
      Company Name:
      National Debt Relief
      Company Type:
      Private
      Year Founded:
      2009
      Address:
      180 Maiden Lane, 30th Floor
      City:
      New York
      State/Province:
      NY
      Postal Code:
      10038
      Country:
      United States
      Website:
      www.nationaldebtrelief.com

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