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National Debt Relief Reviews

4.8
59,773 reviewsRating Calculation
A company’s ratings are a time-based and verification-based weighted average numerical calculation of the ratings submitted by consumers in the most recent 24-month period.

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Edited by: Amanda Futrell
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Fact-checked by: Jon Bortin

About National Debt Relief

National Debt Relief works on behalf of clients to negotiate lower payoff amounts with creditors, helping people resolve unsecured debt. It has helped over 1.3 million consumers resolve unsecured debt since 2009. Most debt settlement plans are completed in 24 to 48 months, and it claims that those who finish the program typically save about 20% after paying the company’s fees, which cost up to 25% of the total enrolled debt.

Visit www.nationaldebtrelief.com
Pros
  • Free consultation with debt coach
  • Free debt relief quote
  • Several accreditations
  • Easy enrollment process
Cons
  • Fees can reduce overall savings
  • Not available in all states

Helpful Reviews

Orlando, FL
Verified purchase
National Debt is a good company trying to help people. It just is a slow process. They should be the company to give you the loan things could go faster. And not to have a saving account.

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Sierra Vista, AZ
Verified purchase
I was pleased with the expediency of National Debt Relief in making settlements with my three credit cards. It took exactly a year, which was great that they made settlements with...

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National Debt Relief at a glance

Here’s National Debt Relief at a glance:

How National Debt Relief works

National Debt Relief works 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.

National Debt Relief claims that those who finish the program typically save about 20% after fees over two to four years, but results aren’t guaranteed. Savings vary by client and depend on completing the program by settling enrolled debts.

How to enroll in National Debt Relief

To enroll in National Debt Relief’s debt settlement program, you’ll take the following steps:

  1. Apply and fill out a short questionnaire about your financial situation.

  2. Schedule a consultation.

  3. Review and approve your personalized debt relief plan.

  4. Make payments into a dedicated savings account to pay for any settlements.

  5. Accept an offer.

National Debt Relief requirements

National Debt Relief requires owing more than $7,500 in unsecured debt to enroll in its debt settlement program, along with the ability to make monthly payments into a settlement fund.

Generally, its program is meant for consumers facing financial hardship as a result of a recent job loss, divorce, death of a spouse or unexpected hospital or medical bills.

National Debt Relief services

National Debt Relief’s services include debt settlement assistance. It helps clients settle unsecured debts such as credit card debt, medical bills and personal loans by negotiating with creditors. Note that secured debts like mortgages or auto loans aren’t eligible for settlement.

In addition to debt settlement, National Debt Relief offers free tools and resources to support financial management, including:

  • Budget-planning worksheets
  • Debt calculators
  • Consultations with debt specialists

National Debt Relief costs

National Debt Relief costs up to 25% of the total enrolled debt, which is a typical fee for the debt settlement industry. It only charges this fee if you enroll and the company successfully settles your debt. Its initial consultation and quote are free, and it doesn’t charge any upfront fees.

Generally, how much you’ll pay in total costs will depend on your total debt amount and the terms of your program.

How does working with National Debt Relief affect your credit score?

Working with National Debt Relief can cause your credit score to drop by 100 points or more. This can happen during the debt settlement process since many debt settlement programs require you to stop making payments to creditors while negotiations are happening. This can lead to missed-payment marks, delinquent accounts and collections activity appearing on your credit report.

Once your account is marked as "settled," your credit score will start to recover. With consistent, on-time payments, your credit score will improve, but it can take years to see a full recovery.

National Debt Relief FAQ

What are the risks of using National Debt Relief?

The risks of using National Debt Relief include credit score damage if your accounts become delinquent during the process, the potential for interest and fees to accrue on accounts until a settlement is reached and the possibility that some creditors may refuse to negotiate. Also, settled debts may be considered taxable income, and National Debt Relief can’t guarantee results or assume your debt.

What types of debt can National Debt Relief help with?

The types of debt that National Debt Relief can help with include unsecured debts like credit cards, medical bills and personal loans. It can’t help with settling secured debts, like mortgages or car loans.

Is National Debt Relief a scam?

No, National Debt Relief is not a scam. It is a legitimate debt settlement company that is based in New York. It complies with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations about not charging any fees until negotiations are completed. It’s also a member of the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR), and its debt specialists are certified through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA).

Will I owe taxes on forgiven debt?

Yes, you’ll typically owe taxes on forgiven debt since the IRS usually counts forgiven debt as taxable income. The lender who forgives your debt will send you a Form 1099-C. If you qualify as insolvent, meaning your total debts exceed your total assets, you typically won’t owe taxes on forgiven debt.

What states is National Debt Relief not available in?

National Debt Relief is not available in Connecticut, Oregon, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Is National Debt Relief worth it?

Yes, National Debt Relief is worth it for people looking to resolve unsecured debt. Reviewers again and again describe a sense of relief at being treated with patience rather than judgment. A customer in Minnesota recalled feeling like "a failure for not being able to get my financial life back in order" before the intake conversation gave them a plan and let them "breathe again."

Feedback for National Debt Relief consistently describes customers feeling informed, respected and relieved of a burden even before their financial situation changes. However, working with National Debt Relief is not a risk-free decision, and you should be fully aware of the length of the program, the fee structure and the credit consequences of debt settlement before enrolling.

Still have questions?

Is National Debt Relief legit?

Yes, National Debt Relief is a legitimate debt settlement company that’s been in business since 2009. It’s a member of the ACDR and its debt specialists are certified through IAPDA. It has helped over 1.3 million consumers resolve unsecured debt. It offers free consultations and debt relief quotes, and you won’t pay upfront costs or sign-up fees.

While National Debt Relief is a legitimate company, debt settlement still comes with risks. 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. Some creditors may also refuse to negotiate. It’s best to carefully review program details and compare all debt relief options before enrolling in a debt settlement program.

National Debt Relief Reviews

Over 50k reviews since 2016

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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 35
    Verified purchase
    Customer ServiceStaff

    Reviewed Sept. 29, 2026

    I have to say that I was highly impressed by my representative, Angela **, with whom I consulted with about my debt situation. She was polite, professional, and highly knowledgeable about debt management. I spoke with her about my personal struggles and situations that had brought me to this point in my life. I usually take care of any financial situation on my own and what was so special about Angela; she reminded me that I made this call and I was doing something about my financial situation. Her and I conversed like old girlfriends reconnecting after time passing by through our life choices.

    One thing her and I are very passionate about is the Good Lord!!! I just wanted this company to know that they have a precious soul on their hands and to treat her right with the upmost respect and kindness like she did me. This really makes you believe that there are truly genuine people in this world who care about your livelihood. I truly could go on and on about how wonderful Angela is and how she touched my heart with her genuine, kind, beautiful spirit. Thank you again for going above and beyond to fulfill your purpose in this life, Angela **.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Sept. 21, 2026

      This is one of the best experiences I have had in my life now. A short story is that I was killed in 2012 in a car accident when I fell out of the rental car and hit the freeway, I was killed instantly on impact. I was revived by a firefighter who performed CPR into a coma. I was take to the hospital for 5 weeks of recovery including 5 brain surgeries. I spent the following 15 years to get to 80% recovery. I had to file a medical bankruptcy after losing my job as the ITAM for Autotrader (.com) corporation. I suffered permanent loss of short term memory which went back 20 years of my life. My wife and I did not get back together and she never supported me due to the request from her religion (Jehovah's Witnesses). I moved back to home in Washington where my mother medically and financially have been helping me much more than my wife ever did.

      This company now is performing the amazing ability to get me out of my self impacted debt trying to live on SSDI (seriously difficult to do on my own). This company has taken on my expenses from my SSDI for the next 3 years for less than $300 every month. I cannot even go the incredible experience this truly is. I tried to find other support and was totally not successful. They have made huge possible changes in my life and brought warmth to my heart and soul. I will turn 60 when this complete too. What a great thing to have happened and everyone who can get support from this company will really love what they get.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceContract & TermsStaff

      Reviewed Sept. 8, 2026

      I was drowning in debt, and I didn't want to not pay. I also didn't want to file bankruptcy. I know people have used National Debt Relief, and I thought it was the right thing for me. They have a name too and I've never heard anything bad about them. Signing up with them was easy. They explained things to me, and it worked just as they said it was going to. The customer support has been excellent and I like their accessibility. They're stateside and I don't have to worry about accents and not understanding people.

      They made it easy for me to keep track of my progress. I could call or go online. I could look at anything I wanted to at any time. However, I wish that I had understood more as I got towards the end of it. For instance, they made one arrangement with one company. It was $15 a month, and it was going to be for two years. I wish that they would have explained more about how that worked. They could do better at sharing more of the intricacies of the program, how agreements work and how money's accumulated. I was in the program for three years and even though I'm done, there's still some debt being paid off.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed Sept. 2, 2026

      The process to when getting set up was fast and seamless, the debt specialist was very knowledgeable and explained everything fully. The only thing I would say I dislike is having to speak with a different person, I would rather have one specialist I can call I have questions or need changes kind of like an account manager. For example I need to make a change recently and I would have rather spoke the same person that enrolled me but I ended up getting transferred to another dept explained what I needed to that specialist, emailed her my documents then received two emails from two different specialist saying “I’ll be your client success champion” so in total today I spoke with five different people just to make a change, which was exhausting and can be repetitive. Also now I will have to speak another specialist just to confirm the change. Other than that the program so far seems okay and effective, I just wish there weren’t so many eyes and hands accessing my account.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServicePriceStaffBillingLoan ProcessRates

      Reviewed Aug. 13, 2026

      THIS IS LONG BUT PLEASE READ IT THROUGH, IT'S MY IDEA OF PAYING IT FORWARD. All I'm going to say is that Michael ** was super in helping me to sign up for the NDR's program. I'm in an ugly financial place and I've been looking for a loan to pay off my debit. Michael explained to me the pros and cons of a loan using numbers then he explained how NDR can help me again using numbers. I know this is gonna sound like hype but I was paying $1,315.00 worth of minimum payments every month. No matter how hard I tried I had two cards with crazy interest rates which were killing me. But after Mike explained and help me make a budget, Mike then showed me what I could be paying $257.00/bi-weekly better than 50% less.

      I know I'm not every story but if you have doubts I did too. I had been rejecting calls, tossing mail in the trash. Not for any real reason other than I was ALWAYS hoping and wishing for a better day. If you're reading this and you haven't given Mike and NDR a shot please do. I'm new to the program but like I told Mike "I can say that I can at-least see some light, it's been a long time I could say and believe that." Thank you Michael, your math maths with me!!

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceLoan Process

      Reviewed Oct. 28, 2026

      I had reached rock bottom. Paycheck to paycheck. Getting paycheck advances. Calls at work about debts I owed that I simply could not pay. In looking for another loan I came across Mackenzie. She listened and did not make me feel like a complete failure. I am now on the road to being debt free.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 28, 2026

      Representative was very knowledgeable and explained everything. Made sure I had all the contacts for in case I had any questions or had any issues with CC company.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 28, 2026

      Very friendly and helpful when deciding what to do.

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      Verified purchase

      Reviewed Oct. 28, 2026

      I am new to this whole debt relief situation, so far I have no issues with NDR and I don't foresee any in the future.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceTechStaffTransparencyTimeliness

      Reviewed Oct. 28, 2026

      The representative I spoke with was knowledgeable and thorough. Very helpful. I clearly stated that I would not sign the contract at that time. The next day, I received an email from you stating that I did sign everything electronically. I DID NOT SIGN THE CONTRACT! I emailed the representative for an explanation but have not received a response. I am very concerned about this.

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      Verified purchase

      Reviewed Oct. 28, 2026

      Great experience and easy process, explained very well.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 28, 2026

      Erika was awesome!! She was so patient with me. :)

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceStaffBillingHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed Oct. 28, 2026

      My first time ever calling NDR, I had the pleasure of speaking with JR **, and I was very impressed with his pleasant, professional manner. He was down-to-earth, genuine, and understanding regarding my overwhelming credit card debt situation. JR took the time to explain the program in detail and answered all of my questions thoroughly. He was extremely patient while walking me through all of the necessary information, making sure I understood each step of the process. His knowledge, professionalism, and compassionate approach made a difficult situation feel much less stressful. I truly appreciated his honesty, patience, and willingness to help. JR provided outstanding customer service, and I would highly recommend him to anyone seeking debt relief assistance. May God always bless JR in his life and future endeavors at NDR.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceStaff

      Reviewed Oct. 27, 2026

      I have always been very financially responsible. But sometimes life happens and things can balloon out of control before you realize it. I found myself in a financial nightmare trying to figure out how to make everything work. I finally decided to call National Debt Relief. Michael was amazing to work with. He made the process so easy and stress free. He walked me through every step and answered all my questions. If I had known it would be this easy and hassle free I would probably have a few less wrinkles.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 27, 2026

      After speaking with the Turno Debt agent and then the NDR agent, I believe I got all of my questions answered! The MDR agent REALLY cleared up the fog on my understanding of the program!

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      Verified purchase

      Reviewed Oct. 27, 2026

      Dana was very polite, listening to my problems and offering the best solutions to resolve them.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 27, 2026

      Both representatives that I talked to were extremely helpful and kind. They know the product very well, are super patient and friendly!

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 27, 2026

      Initial start can feel stressful and all departments communicating with me were professional, courteous, and thoughtful. It is not easy tell someone of such an embarrassment financial situation. The whole team is supportive.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 27, 2026

      My interactions were very pleasant. I truly believe, due to the representatives personality and language, that he and NDR both care about my financial future. I can't express enough how this program will help me sort out this temporary set back I'm having. They were able to help me find a program that fit my budget.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer Service

      Reviewed Oct. 27, 2026

      It was a long process; I was on the phone for one hour and a half.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 27, 2026

      Very professional and walked me thru all of the steps.

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      Verified purchase

      Reviewed Oct. 26, 2026

      Good service. Give detailed attention to our situation.

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      Verified purchase
      Sales & MarketingStaff

      Reviewed Oct. 26, 2026

      Abel was incredibly reassuring, patient and helpful throughout the entire process. The best part is that it is not a scam and I feel incredibly thankful to this company for taking some needed stress off my shoulders.

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      Verified purchase
      StaffBilling

      Reviewed Oct. 26, 2026

      Kinda nice to use, they have been very patient with me as far as building credit and making payments.

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      Verified purchase

      Reviewed Oct. 26, 2026

      It was very easy. They walked me through it, and I’m very happy now that I've done National Debt Relief.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 26, 2026

      Awesome experience. Explained everything in detail and was patient with me.

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      Verified purchase
      Contract & TermsStaff

      Reviewed Oct. 26, 2026

      From start to finish, Heather was very helpful in clarifying terms and addressing any concerns I had. I am comfortable with the agreement.

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      Verified purchase

      Reviewed Oct. 26, 2026

      I just recently joined National Debt Consolidation, so far I've had no issues.

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      Verified purchase
      Punctuality & Speed

      Reviewed Oct. 25, 2026

      It’s very fast to get approved. I highly recommend to everyone. Thank you so much.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 25, 2026

      It was an easy process to ask for help. The person on the other end had a slight accent so I had to listen close but it wasn’t a big deal. Glad to be on track to a better me.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 25, 2026

      The woman who helped me was kind and very patient. Sometimes I didn't understand what she was telling me, but overall it was a good experience.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 25, 2026

      Excellent service from beginning to end!!! That person made feel very comfortable. Thanks!

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 25, 2026

      I spoke with Jacqueline. She was very professional, knowledgeable, helpful and considerate. She took her time with me and walked me through step by step with the instructions. If I didn’t understand something she kindly explained it until I did. I would recommend National Debt Relief to anyone who needed help with this issue. Incredible work by Jacqueline.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceStaffHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed Oct. 25, 2026

      Shantell (sp?) is fantastic! Unfortunately, our phone call was cut short, so I hope to talk to her again to thank her. She was thorough, honest, kind and reassuring throughout the process thus far. I feel fortunate to have NDR on my side in a world where it’s easy to feel alone. Thank you for your time and support. So appreciated!

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 24, 2026

      They were very patient in listening to me and answering all my questions.

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      Verified purchase
      StaffBilling

      Reviewed Oct. 24, 2026

      My husband has been with NDR for 1.5 years and has helped him through his debt. When he was out of work for 9 months, I had to pick up rest of the payments, and could barely catch up. Clover was the credit counselor specialist who helped me through this debt and eased my mind through this hardship.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 24, 2026

      Each encounter was with knowledgeable people who were patient and kind. Mindy was very good.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceStaff

      Reviewed Oct. 24, 2026

      Tom ** helped me a ton. He kept his word and called me back each time I asked him to and he thoroughly walked me through how everything is going to pan out regarding paying off my debt. I’m very thankful for him!

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      Verified purchase
      Punctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed Oct. 24, 2026

      The gentleman who helped me was very helpful and patient. He was quick to explain any question I had.

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      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Oct. 24, 2026

      I am very satisfied with NDR. I feel like they have been very successful in helping me relieve my debt problems.

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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, Ste. 2800
      City:
      New York
      State/Province:
      NY
      Postal Code:
      10038
      Country:
      United States
      Website:
      www.nationaldebtrelief.com

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