Freedom Debt Relief review

Freedom Debt Relief offers debt settlement solutions that are suitable for a range of different circumstances.

Freedom Debt Relief review
(Image: © Freedom Debt Relief)

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

Freedom Debt Relief offers programs for people struggling to pay back a wide range of unsecured debts. It is the biggest provider in the U.S. and has already settled over $10bn in debt.

Pros

  • +

    No fees charged until debt is settled

  • +

    Variable program lengths

  • +

    AFCC accredited

  • +

    Very good customer reviews

Cons

  • -

    Up to 22% fee to settle debt

  • -

    Only available in 37 states

  • -

    CFPB lawsuit (now settled)

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Freedom Debt Relief has a broad range of industry accreditations and is listed as the country's largest debt settlement provider. The company sets the minimum debt requirement to $7,500. Freedom Debt Relief helps customers who are struggling to pay back a wide range of unsecured debts, including credit cards, loans, and store cards, and makes our list of the best debt settlement companies.

The company operates in 37 states and charges an average of 22% of the enrolled debt as a fee for settling. The staff are knowledgeable about clients' options, depending on their circumstances. 

Freedom Deft Relief offers a free consultation for potential customers, so you can work out if debt settlement is the right solution for you. The consultations are carried out with an IAPDA-certified consultant. This means you will receive expert information and a good idea of whether or not debt settlement is the best move for you. The company has been in operation for over 17 years and settles over 50,000 accounts a month.

One thing to note about Freedom Debt Relief is that it was hit by a lawsuit from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for allegedly charging upfront fees and not being fully transparent with its customers. The matter was settled out after the company agreed to pay restitution, but if you want an alternative, National Debt Relief is our top choice overall. 

Freedom Debt Relief review: Features

  • Accredited by the Better Business Bureau
  • Online dashboard with program tracker
  • No upfront fees

Freedom Debt Relief offers flexible debt settlement programs that are designed to make paying back unsecured debts more affordable. The company is a leading provider of the service and therefore has plenty of reviews from people who have received their help in the past, if you like looking for examples of testimonies. Freedom Debt Relief does not require any upfront payment and offers a free one-hour consultation to establish if your circumstances are right for settlement.

Understandably, debt settlement is a big step and is one that should be considered carefully. Like most debt settlement companies, Freedom Debt Relief has a team of advisers who will help you work through your current situation to find out how debt settlement could help, and if it's the most appropriate solution. Before your consultation, it's a good idea to gather together any relevant information about your finances at the moment, including any outstanding debts, your income, and expenses. You should also mention any plans you have for the future that could require decent credit, such as buying a house.

Because you will stop paying your creditors whilst you pay into your settlement account, you may end up with a lower FICO credit score. There are ways the company can help you regain a better score once your debts are fully paid but you may want to assess what will happen to your credit in the short-term and if that is something you think you will need. 

Freedom Debt Relief can give you advice on how to handle any calls or mail you may get about overdue payments, but it is important to understand that legally you will remain liable for your debts during the process. 

Freedom Debt Relief: Key Specifications

Information Support: Over the phone and online
Support: Online, phone
Interface: Desktop, tablet, and mobile

Freedom Debt Relief review: Interface and usability

  • Easy-to-navigate website
  • Online settlement dashboard
  • Highly trained advisers

Freedom Debt Relief has good reviews in regards to taking clients through the settlement process, with initial contact usually taking place over the phone. Then your account can be accessed and managed online. 

Through an easy dashboard display, you can see exactly how much money has entered the settlement account. And through an initial phone call with advisers who will personally look at your outstanding debt, you will have an idea of when debt settlement negotiations can take place. This could mean that you are out of debt a lot sooner than planned if, for instance, you could only afford to pay off the minimum amount.

If in doubt, give one of the advisers a call and they can tell you how close you are away from receiving a settlement figure.

Freedom Debt Relief review

(Image credit: Freedom Debt Relief)

Freedom Debt Relief review: Quality of product

  • Fees are variable
  • Terms can be adapted depending on your needs
  • Company has a good reputation

Freedom Debt Relief stands out from its competitors in part thanks to the online dashboard it offers clients used to keep track of their settlement program. The website helps the company's customers keep track of their progress, and also has a range of informative and educational content to help people manage their finances going forward.

The company focuses on helping people to get their finances back on track in the long term by providing a good level of reduction of debt entrusted to them.

Freedom Debt Relief review: Customer reviews

  • Excellent reviews for its customer service
  • Trustpilot score of 4.5 stars

Reviews for Freedom Debt Relief are mainly very positive from the tens of thousands of customers who have commented on Trustpilot. 

They speak of helpful customer service handlers and the company having good resources with a personal touch. There is a small amount of negative reviews however, these include having some settlements with no discount attached and various credit impacts. 

Essentially these are risks of any settlement company and should be fully explained at the start of any agreement. Mostly though, Freedom Debt Relief have excellent reviews around its customer service and staff.

Should I choose Freedom Debt Relief?

Freedom Debt Relief offers settlement solutions for people with over $7,500 in debt. The company does not charge any fees upfront and is highly regarded in the industry. The service is recommended for customers who are struggling to meet minimum payments on a monthly basis and who are looking to avoid bankruptcy. 

Freedom Debt Relief's charges vary on a case-by-case basis, but the average fee is around 22%. Fees can be a little higher than average, but the company has a good track record with achieving good reductions for their clients. They operate in 37 states and work with most major lenders. When starting the settlement process you will open an FDIC-insured bank account that you control throughout the process.

While debt settlement might be a good idea if you are struggling to meet your minimum repayments it must be stressed that there are financial implications to this route which will likely hurt your FICO credit score. This is due to missing payments while you are paying into your settlement account. Any account that shows missed payments and debts that are handed to collection agents can result in bad credit. It is worth keeping in mind that this will affect your ability to borrow money in the future.

For these reasons, it's always advisable to explore alternatives such as the best debt consolidation companies first. However, if you are looking for a reputable debt settlement company, with several accreditations and highly trained advisers, then Freedom Debt Relief may be a great option for you.

Gina Clarke

Gina Clarke has worked in journalism for over a decade for titles such as The Daily Mail, The Sun and Forbes. She began her career in BBC radio and now specialises in subjects such as financial technology and women’s health. She has written for the Top Ten Reviews brand on a number of different and varied topics.