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Accredited Debt Relief is a debt settlement company that negotiates on behalf of consumers to lower how much debt they owe to their creditors.
In this review, I cover how the settlement process works with Accredited Debt Relief, what pros and cons to consider and how to qualify.
But first I want to be clear: Debt settlement is risky. There’s no guarantee of success, and it can seriously damage your credit.
Debt settlement may be an option for those severely overwhelmed by debt. Before opting into a program, NerdWallet recommends exploring other ways to get out of debt, like enrolling in a debt management plan or applying for a debt consolidation loan.
» MORE: What is debt settlement?
Our Debt Relief Partners
Accredited Debt Relief
Accredited Debt Relief NerdWallet partners with Accredited Debt Relief to provide customers with over $20,000 in credit card debt with consolidation options to help them become debt free in 2-4 years by significantly reducing your monthly payment.
Freedom Debt Relief
Freedom Debt Relief NerdWallet partners with Freedom Debt Relief to provide customers with over $7,500 in unsecured debt with settlement options to reduce credit card debt, get one affordable monthly payment, and resolve their debt in as little as 24-48 months.
National Debt Relief
National Debt Relief NerdWallet partners with National Debt Relief to provide customers with over $10,000 in unsecured debt with settlement options to help them become debt free in 2-4 years with a total average savings of 23% after fees.
Accredited Debt Relief at a glance
| Minimum debt required to enroll: | $10,000. |
| Types of debt eligible for enrollment: | Unsecured debt, including credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and some collection accounts. |
| Settlement fee: | 18% to 25% of the total debt enrolled. |
| Account fees: | $9 one-time setup fee. $9.75 monthly maintenance fee. |
| How long it may take: | Two to four years. |
| How much you may save: | 45% of enrolled debt before fees. |
| Availability: | Not available in: Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. |
How does Accredited Debt Relief work?
Once you enroll in Accredited’s debt settlement program — which the company may call “consolidation” — you’ll be instructed to stop making payments toward your debts and open an FDIC-insured “dedicated savings” account, which you’ll pay into instead.
You own and control this account, which you can access anytime online. Accredited works with you to determine how much to deposit into the account each month.
As the money in the account grows, Accredited will start negotiating with your creditors to get them to accept less than the amount you owe. The idea is that creditors will be motivated to accept the lower amount, rather than risk getting nothing at all.
If a creditor accepts the offer, you’ll pay the creditor from the dedicated savings account, and the debt will be considered settled.
According to Accredited, customers may save an average of 40% or more on their monthly payment. Keep in mind, the less you pay each month into the dedicated savings account, the longer it may take to reach a settlement offer.
Accredited says it takes about two to four years on average to successfully settle a customer’s enrolled debts.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Debt settlement companies often list projected savings on their website. These percentages vary significantly and may not include fees, so take them with a grain of salt. Customers can expect to save an average of 45% of their enrolled debt before fees with Accredited. That means if your enrolled debt is $20,000, you could save $9,000 (without factoring in the fees below). Projected savings are never a guarantee. How much does Accredited Debt Relief cost?
The biggest cost of debt settlement is the settlement fee. Accredited’s Debt Relief’s settlement fee ranges from 18% to 25% of the total enrolled debt. This percentage is based on the amount of debt you enroll, your state of residence and the structure of the program, Accredited says.
Here’s how the settlement fee works: Let’s say you enroll with $30,000 in credit card debt, and you’re able to settle that debt for $16,500. You might pay a settlement fee up to $7,500 (25% of $30,000). This is in addition to the $16,500 you pay to your creditors. Altogether you’d pay $24,000.
A debt settlement company cannot collect a debt settlement fee until it successfully settles a debt .
Other costs to using Accredited Debt Relief include a one-time $9 setup fee for its dedicated savings account and a monthly $9.75 fee for maintaining the account.
Is Accredited Debt Relief legit?
Accredited Debt Relief is a legitimate debt settlement company founded in 2011. It’s accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating and holds an accreditation from the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR) .
It’s important to carefully weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether to work with Accredited Debt Relief.
Pros
Free consultation.
Multiple accreditations.
Offers debt consolidation loans.
Cons
Lack of transparency.
Risky way to get out of debt.
No guarantee of success.
Costs add up.
Pros of Accredited Debt Relief
Free initial consultation: Accredited Debt Relief offers a free initial consultation with one of its “consolidation specialists.” During this call, Accredited will confirm your eligibility and review your financial situation, including debts you want to settle, before giving a personalized recommendation. Accredited emphasizes this is a no-obligation call.
Multiple accreditations: Accredited Debt Relief holds multiple accreditations that may give customers peace of mind. In addition to its BBB and ACDR accreditations, the company’s consolidation specialists are accredited through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA), a nonprofit organization that helps both consumers and debt settlement companies assess debt relief options.
Debt consolidation loans: Accredited says it offers debt consolidation loans via its network of affiliates. This gives you an additional debt payoff option, which not all debt settlement companies provide.
Financial experts widely consider debt consolidation loans to be a safer option than debt settlement. Unlike settlement, a consolidation loan can help build your score, as long as you make payments on time.
Cons of Accredited Debt Relief
Lack of transparency: Accredited refers to its debt settlement product as “consolidation,” which may be confusing for customers since settlement is different from consolidation. While settlement can clear your debts for less than you owe, consolidation involves paying back the full amount you owe — ideally under a lower interest rate — with the help of a consolidation loan or balance-transfer card.
A risky way to get out of debt: There are risks in working with Accredited Debt Relief, including a major hit to your credit, falling deeper into debt as you await a successful settlement negotiation and even the possibility of being sued by a creditor. Learn more about debt settlement risks lower down.
No guarantee of success: Like all debt settlement companies, Accredited Debt Relief may not be able to settle all your debts even if you follow the program perfectly. This is because not all creditors accept settlement offers.
Costs add up: When working with a debt settlement company like Accredited Debt Relief, you may be charged multiple fees, including a monthly account maintenance fee and a settlement fee of up to 25% of the enrolled debt. These fees are in addition to any charges you may accumulate from your creditors, like late fees or interest. Consider alternative ways to get out of debt (listed below) that may have fewer fees and cost less overall.
How to qualify for Accredited Debt Relief
Accredited Debt Relief works with consumers who have at least $10,000 in unsecured debt, including credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, some collection accounts and store credit cards.
Accredited Debt Relief doesn’t settle secured debts, meaning any debt tied to collateral, like an auto loan or mortgage. It also doesn’t settle private student loans or tax debt.
Accredited does a soft credit pull during the application process, which won’t hurt your credit score. It may conduct a hard credit pull in rare cases, which temporarily knocks a few points off your credit score. Accredited will ask for your consent before conducting a hard credit pull.
Know the risks of debt settlement
It’s important to understand the overall risks of debt settlement before deciding whether to work with Accredited Debt Relief.
Organizations like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission urge consumers interested in debt settlement to consider these risks:
- It will hurt your credit: Because you’re required to stop making payments on enrolled debts, those accounts will be marked delinquent on your credit reports. Your credit score will take a significant hit, especially if you weren’t already delinquent on those accounts. Delinquencies and settled accounts stay on your credit reports for seven years .
- Interest and fees continue to accrue: Until you enter a settlement agreement, you’ll accrue additional interest and late fees on your debt . If you don't stick with the program to completion, or if the debt settlement company can't negotiate a settlement, you may end up with an overall higher balance.
- You may still hear from creditors or debt collectors: There’s no guarantee your creditors will want to work with a debt settlement company, and you may be contacted by debt collectors or sued by creditors during the process .
- Forgiven debt may be considered taxable income: Forgiven debts over $600 may be counted as income on your taxes . Creditors may send a 1099-C form to you in the mail and to the IRS. One exception is if you are insolvent (your liabilities exceed your total assets) at the time the company settles with your creditors.
Accredited Debt Relief vs National Debt Relief
Accredited Debt Relief and National Debt Relief are two large debt relief companies that offer similar debt settlement programs. Both companies help you settle unsecured debts for less than you owe and project the same average time frame of two to four years.
Both companies also offer a free initial phone call to go over your debt relief options, which may include traditional debt consolidation loans.
While Accredited Debt Relief settles larger debts starting at $10,000, National Debt Relief has a minimum requirement of $7,500, so it may be a better fit if you have a smaller debt load. National Debt Relief is also available in more states.
Alternatives to hiring a debt settlement company
Do-it-yourself debt settlement
Though it may seem easier to have a third party, like a debt settlement company, intervene on your behalf, you could have just as much success calling your creditors and negotiating with them yourself — and you can save thousands by not having to pay a settlement fee.
Same as with using a debt settlement company, success isn't guaranteed, but if you owe only a few creditors, it’s worth a try.
Debt management plan
With a debt management plan, you’ll work with a nonprofit credit counseling agency to consolidate your debts into one monthly payment, while also reducing the interest rate.
This is a good option for consumers with credit card debt who have a steady income to repay the debt within three to five years.
Unlike debt settlement, a debt management plan should help build your credit score.
» MORE: What is a debt management plan?
Debt consolidation loan
By taking out a debt consolidation loan, you can pay off multiple debts at once, so you’re left with only one payment on your new loan.
These loans are available to borrowers across the credit spectrum, and you can often pre-qualify with lenders to see your rates with a soft credit check.
A debt consolidation loan should have a lower interest rate than your current debts, which saves money and helps you get out of debt faster.
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy lets you resolve your debt under protection from a federal court.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the most common form, erases most unsecured debts in four to six months. It’ll also stop calls from collectors and prevent lawsuits against you.
Like with debt settlement, your credit will suffer, so consult a bankruptcy attorney first.
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- 1. Federal Trade Commission. Debt Relief Services & the Telemarketing Sales Rule: A Guide for Business. Accessed Feb 9, 2026.
- 2. Better Business Bureau. Accredited Debt Relief. Accessed Feb 9, 2026.
- 3. Association for Consumer Debt Relief. Find an Accredited Debt Relief Provider. Accessed Feb 9, 2026.
- 4. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How long does information stay on my credit report?. Accessed Feb 9, 2026.
- 5. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What is a debt relief program and how do I know if I should use one?. Accessed Feb 9, 2026.
- 6. Federal Trade Commission. How To Get Out of Debt. Accessed Feb 9, 2026.
- 7. Internal Revenue Service. About Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt. Accessed Feb 9, 2026.
