Freedom Debt Relief

Freedom Debt Relief Reviews

Freedom Debt Relief Reviews
4.5(30,902)

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About Freedom Debt Relief

Freedom Debt Relief is a nationwide debt relief company that provides debt settlement services and education. The company requires applicants to have at least $7,500 of unsecured debt. Its fees vary by location and range from 15% to 25%, depending on the state where the client lives and the amount of debt they enroll. Though user credit suffers in the short term, Freedom Debt Relief’s credit score impact study, which was updated in 2022, found that most customers saw credit score recovery in 36 to 45 months.

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • No fees until settlement reached, authorized by client
    • Has resolved over $15 billion in debt in 20-plus years
    • Works with high debt amounts
    • Long-term credit recovery

    Cons

    • Fees up to 25% of settlement amount
    • Short-term impact on credit

    Bottom Line

    Freedom Debt Relief is a good match for those with $7,500 or more in debt. Although its fees can range up to 25% of the settlement amount, fees are only collected when a settlement is authorized and a payment is made toward that settlement.

    Featured Reviews

    Verified
    San Francisco, CA

    I’m so grateful to the staff of Freedom Debt Relief. It’s been a struggle at times, but it also has been a positive crossroad ... This is the best decision I have ever made for my...

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    Verified
    Gates, NC

    I have had an excellent experience with FDR. They listened, got me where I needed to be, and stuck with me the entire time. It has been a journey worth taking. They are faster tha...

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    What is Freedom Debt Relief?

    Freedom Debt Relief (FDR) specializes in debt resolution services, also known as debt negotiation and debt settlement, for those grappling with overwhelming debt. Having been in business since 2002, FDR touts a record of having resolved over $15 billion in debt and serving over 850,000 clients. It’s a Platinum member of the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators and part of the American Fair Credit Council.

    If you have $7,500 or more in unsecured debt, FDR will work to help you negotiate a settlement with your creditors for as low as 50% of what you owe.

    How does Freedom Debt Relief work?

    To get started with Freedom Debt Relief, you must have at least $7,500 in unsecured debt — debt that is unattached to collateral, such as a house or car. If you qualify, you’ll talk with one of FDR’s consultants or get a debt evaluation through digital enrollment to get a plan that works for you.

    FDR’s program length typically ranges from 24 to 48 months, and you can track your progress through the online dashboard 24/7. The company also offers an online evaluation tool to help you see if you qualify.

    If a settlement is reached with a creditor, FDR will ask you to authorize the settlement and then charge a fee based on the settlement. It won’t charge until a settlement is reached and authorized by you. Keep in mind that not all creditors will let you settle.

    How much does Freedom Debt Relief cost?

    Freedom Debt Relief’s fees typically range from 15% to 25% of the settled debt. When you apply, a certified debt consultant will receive your case and you’ll get an exact percentage and a monthly cost. Fees vary depending on the state you live in and the amount of debt you enroll.

    Legally, FDR can’t charge any upfront fees, so each charge is initiated after the company settles part of your debt. Users need to authorize a settlement before the company initiates any charges, so this fee should never be a surprise.

    Freedom Debt Relief FAQ

    How does Freedom Debt Relief affect your credit?

    As with all debt relief and settlement programs, working with Freedom Debt Relief will likely negatively affect your credit in the short term. However, a Freedom Debt Relief program can help encourage positive credit habits, which over time could help improve your credit. The company conducted a study and reported that its customers’ credit improved significantly over 24 to 45 months.

    Where is Freedom Debt Relief located?

    Freedom Debt Relief has offices in Phoenix, Arizona, and San Mateo, California, but it serves customers across the country.

    Is Freedom Debt Relief a debt settlement company?

    Yes, Freedom Debt Relief’s program involves negotiating settlements with your creditors.

    How long does Freedom Debt Relief affect your credit?

    According to a study conducted by the company, customers of Freedom Debt Relief saw a significant dip in credit score in the beginning, with median scores of 497 at six months after enrollment, then saw a steady increase, with median scores reaching 604 at 24 months and 648 at 45 months. This study tracked the scores of customers between 2014 and 2018 with a median starting credit score of 650.

    Does Freedom Debt Relief offer loans?

    Freedom Debt Relief does offer debt consolidation loans. In the debt evaluation process, Freedom Debt Relief reviews other options that are available to the client aside from debt settlement, which may include loans, and may refer the client to an affiliated company, such as Achieve Personal Loans or Achieve Home Loans, for loan products.

    Is Freedom Debt Relief legit?

    Freedom Debt Relief is a reputable company with a proven track record. The company is a member of the American Fair Credit Council and a Platinum member of the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators. If you have $7,500 or more in unsecured debt, Freedom Debt Relief may be able to help you.

    While all debt relief services will likely cause a negative mark on your credit report, Freedom Debt Relief professionals can assist you in negotiating with creditors in a way you may not be able to do yourself. Although its fees may be high — as much as 25% of what you save on your debt — it still may cost you less than paying the debt in full.

    Freedom Debt Relief Reviews

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    Verified purchase
    Customer ServiceStaff

    Reviewed Oct. 5, 2023

    Updated on 11/02/2023: Everything was perfect. At first, I was dipping around the pool trying to figure out how to get out of debt because I was pregnant at the time, and I explained my situation to Freedom Debt Relief. I have all these credit cards piling up and Covid, and they understood that I wasn't employed and that I have a partner who was. They were fully on board with what I had to offer and made sure that every single time something with me changed, I immediately let them know. They put it in the system, and they worked around any situation I had. When we couldn't make one payment one month, they allowed us to skip that month, but double it for the next month. People don't normally see that in big businesses especially 'cause all they see is money.

    So for us, we didn't feel like a number. We felt like we were being helped, and on top of that, when we had to do the negotiations and when we had to find a notarizer, they broke everything down. I didn't even know what a notarizer was. Everybody was absolutely amazing. I accidentally missed one of my emails, and they came right back. They called me and made sure. They even called and reached out to my partner, the one that's making all the payments. They said, "Hey, we're trying to get ahold of Savannah. Is she available?” I didn't think that they would go to the length of trying to make sure that I was secure with taking down a negotiation. They wanted me to get that before the deadline was due, and I had absolutely no idea that I had that email. They saved me.

    I was about $30,000 in debt, and Freedom Debt Relief resolved 21,376. I was there from September 2019 to October 2023, and the whole system itself was really easy. They saved me a good chunk of money, so much time as well as a lot of worry. My entire pregnancy, I was stress-free, and now I have a really happy almost three-year-old. That's a huge milestone for me and especially being able to buy a car. We're gonna be taking out a loan and putting a down payment for a house. Freedom Debt Relief has really helped us in the last three and a half years that we've been with them. We couldn't expect anything more or anything less. We're really satisfied with what we went through. Thinking back on it, we were struggling before them, and I wouldn't change a single thing.

    Original Review: When I came to FDR for assistance I was literally drowning in debt. They set me up with a dashboard, sent a welcome packet to my home and proposals to eliminate my debt within a few weeks. I also had some of the best lawyers, too! I highly recommend signing up.

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    Response from Freedom Debt Relief

    Hi Savannah, it is great to hear that you would recommend our company based on the great experience you had! We are honored to partner with you on your journey!

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServicePriceOnline & AppStaff

      Reviewed Aug. 25, 2023

      I called Freedom Debt Relief. At first, it was nerve-racking. But after I got done talking with their rep, it was exciting and I was ready to start. The program they set up for me was supposed to add around 22. But life happens so you have to change things around. They had me for 2025 and that should save me at a balance of 2 something. Ever since then, they settled a few things and I was able to get a few things done. I actually bought my first home this year because of Freedom so it's been a blessing.

      Freedom's price is fair for what they've done, how they fixed things on my behalf and kept all the unnecessary calls off my back and the others' back as well. Most times you have other consumers trying to call and get some things paid off from them. But because I'm with Freedom Debt Relief, the other consumers can't call me. You're relaxed and you don't have to worry about, "Oh, my gosh. When's my next bill?" because you're paying on time with Freedom. Even if you have to skip a month that day, their team itself helps take care of you and relieve the stress off of you. It's almost like a big brother or a big sister.

      I like the constant positive attitude of Freedom. Every time I had to call, I never got that judgy tone or that they woke up on the wrong side of the bed tone. They're always in like they had coffee or that first shot of the day. They're always in a great mood. That makes me excited about talking to them. I was referring my friends and family to them. Their website is easy to look at and they updated recently. It's easy to review what you've paid off and it gives you more drive to wanna pay things off earlier, if you're able to.

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      Response from Freedom Debt Relief

      Hi Marcus, it's wonderful to hear about your positive experience with us, and congratulations on buying your first home this year! It's great that you find our team's positive attitude and responsiveness to be such positive factors in your experience. Thank you for allowing us the honor of working with you!

      Verified purchase
      Customer ServicePriceStaffProcessTransparency

      Reviewed Dec. 11, 2022

      FDR was a lifesaver for me. I was $16,000.00 in debt and engaged to get married. I didn’t want my future husband to have to worry about my debts. That was my responsibility. I had a good job but I had a lot of medical issues which involved deductible. Even though I was paying my credit cards I wasn’t getting anywhere because of the high interest I was paying. So I called FDR to see what they were about. They were so nice and understanding. They walked me through the process and I decided to let them help me. The biggest issue I had was that none of my accounts were behind but I would pay say $300.00 on a card and only a $100.00 went toward knocking my bill down. I was barely making it and not getting anywhere. So I agree to commit to a 4 year plan.

      My accounts had to go to past due status and I started to get those calls which I hated. I am not a bad person so I wrote a letter to each of my creditors and gave them FDR information and it stopped. I paid my payment faithfully for 4 years. They handled everything else. They will work with you if you have an issue and they support you and show you where you're at each month. I would highly recommend them if you're over your head and struggling. Pick up the phone and start your new life. I have learned how to manage the cards I have. I don’t spend more than I can afford when I wanted new furniture or lawnmower. I only buy something if it was interest free for 48, 24, 18 months and I always pay over the amount due as it helps knock the bill down faster.

      Word of advice. Paying the minimum is what will get you in trouble again. For example I bought a new washer & dryer on a holiday weekend. It was $2000. Minimum payment $39.00. Interest free 18 months. I pay $200 and it will be paid off in 10 months. None of those extra interest charges and always pay early. Never late. You can have a credit card but be responsible. I always ask myself, "Do I need it or do I want it." I can’t thank the FDR family enough for all their help and support. Because I had no one I could borrow money from. I don’t come from a rich family just ordinary people and I didn’t want them knowing I got myself in a pickle. So if you're that person who is overwhelmed and the burden is getting too heavy to carry alone call FDR. Your shoulders will feel lighter.

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      Response from Freedom Debt Relief

      Hi Mary Kay,

      First of all, WOW!! Your response is amazing and so powerful, congratulations on your fresh start. Thank you for choosing Freedom Debt Relief and congratulations again, on your success!

      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceStaffProcessTransparency

      Reviewed Dec. 5, 2022

      In order to keep my divorce civil, I did not ask my ex-husband for financial support. All of a sudden I had piles of bills for which I alone was responsible. I was able to pay the minimum amount due each month, but it left me with no money. The worst part? I was never going to get out of debt by paying the minimum! My bank account was depleted but the amounts due on my credit cards were stagnant. It was maddening and there was nothing more I could do. I had gotten a job that paid $30K more than my previous job and still, I couldn’t make a dent in my debt. I felt hopeless and afraid that I would never be able to financially recover or stand on my own two feet.

      I did some research and found Freedom Debt Relief online. FDR had great ratings and so many success stories that I decided to look into it. I had tried “debt consolidation” once before, in my 20s and it was a joke. FDR seemed different but I was still skeptical after some due diligence on my part, I called FDR. The person I spoke to answered my questions and explained how Freedom Debt Relief’s program worked for 45 minutes ~ FDR was 100% transparent from day one. I was accepted into the program and decided to commit ~ it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

      3.5 years later, after sticking to the program & making my deposits on time I am about to graduate with my $20,000 debt completely paid!!! FDR provides a service that, in my opinion, is invaluable. Yes, it took hard work and commitment on my part. No, it wasn’t always easy, but FDR was there every step of the way; always available to answer questions and offer guidance. If you are serious about settling your debts and committed to the process I promise you, Freedom Debt Relief will help you achieve your goals. I am forever grateful.

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      Response from Freedom Debt Relief

      Jana, thank you for sharing your experience with us. It as an honor to be your partner in your journey towards a better financial future. We wish you nothing but continued success in your future!

      Verified purchase
      Customer Service

      Reviewed Nov. 13, 2022

      I say that because I wasn't completely prepared for what was about to happen to my already shaky credit score. I was making minimum payments, not even making a dent in any of my credit cards, kept going downhill from there. Getting loans to cover "a couple of cards" only to get behind on other ones. Got to the point of living paycheck to paycheck with no relief in sight. Finally, after not being able to get another loan, looked at Freedom Debt. They will go through all your accounts, add up all the debt that you have and give you a dollar amount that you will need to pay per month. You will stop paying all debt that you added to this program and wait for the fun part. Now you start getting all the missed payment notices, then come the annoying phones calls from creditors.

      You start seeing your credit score tanking and now you're really screwed (at least for a few years) cause no one is gonna give you any kind of credit. Stick it through, don't be dumb and get into any more debt, and in a few years you start seeing some improvement. But wait, there's more!! Now you start paying off a few here and there, then come the tax papers from said creditors. It's funny cause no one really tells you about this part. They send you a few emails where you can click on different stories, one of them being these forms (1099 I believe) they don't really make a big deal of them. But they are!

      They count as extra income so they need to be added to your taxes. For some not a big deal, for me, it sucked. It was the difference in paying or getting a refund. So another thing to be careful of. They say that it's rare, but for me, every creditor sent me one. At the end of everything, though, I stuck it through and it's in the rearview mirror. Not living paycheck to paycheck anymore and definitely hoping to never do this again!! Hahaha! TLDR: stick it through till the end, don't get any new debt. Plan will work. Don't stick it through, keep getting more credit cards. Don't even bother doing this.

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      Response from Freedom Debt Relief

      Hello Antonio, thank you for your feedback. We understand that there are negative impact that come from our program such as the possibility of receiving 1099-c forms, which are sent out by your creditors. As well as the negative impact to your credit, you should see your credit improve as your accounts are resolved. If you compare our fees to the overall savings of your program, our clients still have obtain significant savings. We encourage you to contact customer services to address any questions you may have about your program.

      Verified purchase

      Reviewed Nov. 3, 2023

      I am so happy I'm debt free, I would highly recommend FDR to my friends. FDR has been my consultants for the last 3 years. It's such a relief not to worry about debts again, thank you for everything. I'm debt free, now I can breathe and go on with my life

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      Response from Freedom Debt Relief

      Hi Sarah, thank you so much for this wonderful review. We are so excited to congratulate you on being debt free! You did it! Excellent work and we are so thankful that you chose us to serve you. We wish you nothing but continued success.

      Verified purchase
      Price

      Reviewed Nov. 3, 2023

      I'm new to the process but I'm hopeful that this will truly help me get out of credit card debt. It's so stressful knowing that you are about to get swallowed up in debt that will just keep growing due to interest. I now feel like there is an end in sight. The hit my credit score will take is nothing compared to the joy of getting rid of these credit card debts.

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      Response from Freedom Debt Relief

      Hi Martha, this is so great to hear. We are happy that we could provide you with some relief and support you on your journey to becoming debt free. Thank you for trusting us and sharing your experience.

      Verified purchase
      Staff

      Reviewed Nov. 3, 2023

      I told my friend and she is now part of the program. Her and her husband are really excited to see how this will help them. I hope in the future I will have no more money issues. I also hope to be able to send more money each month.

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      Response from Freedom Debt Relief

      Hi Pat, thank you for recommending us to your friend. We are excited to see both of your results! Thank you for trusting us.

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      Process

      Reviewed Nov. 3, 2023

      I wondered for a long time on how to go about my debts. I finally decided to take action. I am happy I did it with Freedom and they broke it down to me. I feel confident that it will work. The process is simple and you are allowed to ask all possible questions. You set your payments based on your budget. It is better than living in stress each day. Thank you Freedom

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      Response from Freedom Debt Relief

      Hi Yolanda, thank you for sharing your review! Debt and worry free is the goal and we can't wait to see you get there! Thank you for trusting us and sharing your experience.

      Verified purchase
      Customer Service

      Reviewed Nov. 3, 2023

      So far every email and every contact has made me feel confident that I made the right choice. I am finally feeling less stress and can concentrate on other things that I have been leaving to the back of my mind due to worrying about the money and paying this debt. Freedom Debt Relief is the go to for giving me peace of mind.

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      Response from Freedom Debt Relief

      Hi Rena, thank you for sharing such positive feedback with us! We are happy to hear that you feel comfortable and supported while working with us. We work very hard to ensure our members experience debt relief and stress relief.

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      Freedom Debt Relief Company Information

      Social media:
      Company Name:
      Freedom Debt Relief
      Company Type:
      Private
      Year Founded:
      2002
      Address:
      PO Box 2330
      City:
      Phoenix
      State/Province:
      AZ
      Postal Code:
      85002-2330
      Country:
      United States
      Website:
      www.freedomdebtrelief.com

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