Straight answers, including the uncomfortable ones

Nothing. The consultation, the budget review and the written comparison of your options are all free and carry no obligation. You are not enrolled in anything by having the conversation.

That depends on the route. Consolidation can complete within a week. A management plan takes 30 to 60 days for creditor acceptance. Settlement usually produces its first resolved account between month four and month ten. We give you a projected timeline before you commit, not after.

Settlement will lower it, often substantially, because enrolled accounts go delinquent while your fund builds. A management plan has a milder effect. Consolidation may improve your score over time by reducing utilization. Which of those applies to you is part of the written comparison.

Most people see meaningful recovery beginning within twelve to twenty-four months of accounts being resolved, provided new credit is handled well. Recovery is gradual and depends on the rest of your file, so anyone quoting you a specific score by a specific date is guessing.

It varies by program. Settlement fees are a percentage of enrolled balance, charged after results. Management plans carry a small monthly administration fee capped by state regulation. Consolidation and refinancing costs come from the lender as origination or closing costs. Every figure is disclosed in writing before you commit.

No. We do not charge to assess your situation, to compare your options or to enroll. In states following the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule, settlement fees cannot be charged until a settlement is reached and you have made a payment toward it.

Generally yes. Creditors report forgiven balances over $600 to the IRS on Form 1099-C and it is usually treated as ordinary income. Exclusions exist, most notably insolvency. Speak to a tax professional before accepting a final settlement — we will remind you to.

On a management plan, collection activity generally stops once creditors accept. During settlement, creditors retain the right to call and to pursue legal action on delinquent accounts. That is a genuine risk of settlement and we prioritize accounts most likely to escalate.

Unsecured debt: credit cards, store cards, medical bills, personal loans, some private student loans, and certain business debts. We also handle IRS tax debt and mortgage refinancing. We cannot help with federal student loans, child support, court fines or recent secured borrowing.

Yes. Your information is used to assess your situation and to carry out the program you choose, and is not sold. The detail is set out in our privacy policy, which is written to be read rather than skimmed.

No. We are not a law firm, we do not provide legal advice, and we do not file bankruptcies. Where your situation calls for an attorney, we say so and point you toward qualified counsel in your state.

No. For consolidation loans, personal loans and refinancing we work with a panel of lending partners; the credit decision and the terms are theirs. We do not originate loans ourselves and we do not receive a fee that varies with the rate you accept.