If you’re wondering what Accredited Debt Relief does, it’s probably best to start from the beginning. The most basic answer to this question resides right in their name. Essentially, they provide debt relief services that are accredited by the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC). While this is nice to know, it doesn’t give the full story. If you’re wondering what Accredited Debt Relief does, here are answers to your questions.
What Is Accredited Debt Relief?
Debt relief provides a lifeline for people who are in over their heads in debt. Though many people might feel this way about their loans, there are a few distinctions that can let you know when you’ve really lost control of your debt. Here are a few signs that it might be time to start considering debt relief as an option:
- You seek ways to distract yourself from your debts, such as drugs, alcohol, or other avenues.
- You’re lying to people close to you about your debt and spending.
- You keep needing to take on more debt in order to stay afloat.
- You don’t even know how much you owe anymore.
- Your debt keeps growing even when you’re doing your best to pay it down.
Not all debt is unmanageable, or even bad. The problems arise when you’re simply underwater and can’t reach the surface because you’re being dragged down by your debt. Debt relief programs can provide a structured approach to getting you back on your feet. These are typically either going to come in the form of debt consolidation or debt settlement. Accredited Debt Relief specializes in debt settlement programs, which are a more aggressive form of debt relief. Let’s look at this form of debt relief with a bit more detail.
What Is Debt Settlement?
As you now know, Accredited Debt Relief focuses on a kind of debt relief known as debt settlement. It’s critical you understand how debt settlement programs work before you sign up for one.
When you work with a debt relief company to settle debt, you stop paying your lenders directly and instead send monthly payments to the debt relief organization. They will then hold that money in a dedicated account, with the intent to use it to negotiate down the amount your owe your lenders. There are a few things that need to be kept in mind here:
- The quality of the debt relief company is going to play a big role in your success in debt settlement. Organizations with long-standing relationships with a broad list of lenders are going to be able to more effectively settle debts.
- Debt settlement is typically going to have a negative impact on your credit in the near term, as you’re not paying your bills. While many people who need debt settlement see this as a necessity in order to get out of debt, it’s important to understand this before starting the process.
- Settled debts are generally considered taxable income. While this is vastly preferable to having to pay back your debts in full, you need to be prepared to pay taxes on any settled debts.
Now that you have a working knowledge of what Accredited Debt Relief is and what they do, it’s time to think about if this kind of program makes sense for you.
Who Should Consider Accredited Debt Relief Programs?
First off, you’ll want to ensure you’re actually able to enroll in Accredited Debt Relief debt settlement programs. They’re currently operating in 31 states and Washington D.C. Additionally, not everyone who’s struggling with debt should necessarily go for debt settlement. This is typically a last-resort kind of program for people who have run out of other options for beating their debt. If you’re someone who fits this profile, however, Accredited Debt Relief might be the right company to help you through the debt settlement process.
Accredited Debt Relief is a reliable organization with strong consumer reviews. Once you understand their debt relief offerings, you can decide if pursuing a debt settlement program is the best choice for you financially.