Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Finance Debt Relief Is National Debt Relief Legit? Our 2025 Review (Rated 4.9/5.0) Updated Nov 26, 2025 7-min read Reviewed by Catherine Collins Reviewed by Catherine Collins Expertise: Budgeting, mortgages, home equity, credit, debt, investing, personal loans, small business, entrepreneurship, student loans Catherine Collins is a personal finance writer and author with more than 10 years of experience writing for top personal finance publications. As a mother to boy/girl twins, she is passionate about helping women and children learn about money and entrepreneurship. Cat is also the co-host of the Five Year You podcast. Learn more about Catherine Collins Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Expertise: Student loans, mortgages, personal loans, home equity, investing Kristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their three senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015. Learn more about Kristen Barrett, MAT Best Overall 4.9 /5 Learn More 800-461-0084 Our take: National Debt Relief is a debt settlement company that negotiates with your creditors to reduce the amount you owe. It earns our “Best overall” award because of its many positive reviews from real customers, its professional accreditations, its satisfaction guarantee, and more. See everything we like about NDR in the review below. Debt Relief and Consolidation Excellent company history with thousands of positive customer reviews Fees only collected after successful settlement Accredited by the BBB, AADR, and IAPDA Negative impact on your credit score Process takes time Lack of fee transparency Min. required debt$10,000Settlement feeUp to 25% of total debt enrolled in the programAdditional fees$9 one-time setup fee, $9.85 monthly maintenance feeHow much can you save?Up to 46% of debt before debt relief fees and 25% of debt after fees National Debt Relief is one of the largest debt settlement companies in the U.S., with more than 550,000 customers served and tens of thousands of positive reviews across Trustpilot, Google, the BBB, and ConsumerAffairs. In this National Debt Relief review, we break down how it works, who qualifies, how much it costs, and whether it’s a legitimate option for reducing unsecured debt. Debt relief companies follow set industry standards. Programs last two to four years, during which clients stop paying creditors, causing credit scores to drop. Clients make monthly deposits into an FDIC-insured escrow account used to fund settlements. The company negotiates lower payoff amounts and charges a 15% to 25% fee only after a settlement is reached. Reputable firms follow FTC rules and belong to groups like the AFCC or IAPDA. Table of Contents What is National Debt Relief? How it works Step-by-step How long does the process take? Is it right for me? Is National Debt Relief legit? Pros and cons Alternatives vs. Freedom Debt Relief vs. Accredited Debt Relief What is National Debt Relief? National Debt Relief is a for-profit company that negotiates with creditors to settle unsecured debts for less than the amount owed. To start the process, you typically stop making payments on your enrolled debts. This damages your credit score and can trigger collection calls, but it is a required part of debt settlement. The company is accredited by the American Association for Debt Resolution (AADR), the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). What Is Debt Relief, and How Does It Work? How does National Debt Relief work? National Debt Relief negotiates with creditors after your accounts become delinquent. Once your debts are behind, creditors become more willing to settle for a reduced lump sum. Step-by-step You stop making payments on your enrolled debts. This is standard for debt settlement and will harm your credit. You make monthly program payments into an FDIC-insured savings account that you control. NDR negotiates with creditors to settle your debt for less than the total owed. You approve or reject each offer. Nothing is finalized without your consent. Fees are collected only after your first settlement is completed. How long does the process take? According to National Debt Relief, the typical timeline is 12 to 48 months. This is consistent with most debt settlement companies. Your monthly program payment accumulates in your dedicated account until there’s enough to begin settling debts. This time frame depends on: Your enrolled debt amount Your monthly budget How quickly creditors agree to settle NDR only collects fees once you approve your first settlement and make a payment toward it. Is National Debt Relief right for me? You may be a good fit if you have $10,000+ in unsecured debt, such as credit card debt, payday loans, medical bills, or personal loans. Minimum debt$10,000Eligible debtsCredit cards, medical bills, unsecured personal loans, payday loans, collections, repossessions, some business debts, some private student loansIneligible debtMortgages, auto loans, child support, back taxes, federal student loansLocations47 states (not in Oregon, Vermont, or West Virginia), plus Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C. If you need immediate credit score protection or want to avoid delinquency at all costs, debt settlement may not be a good fit. How to Choose Between Debt Relief vs. Debt Consolidation How much does National Debt Relief cost? National Debt Relief charges: Settlement fee: Up to 25% of the total enrolled debt One-time setup fee: $9 Monthly maintenance fee: $9.85 These fees are standard in the industry, though some consumers report wanting clearer upfront numbers. NDR does not collect any settlement fees until after your first settlement is completed and paid. Is National Debt Relief legit? Yes. National Debt Relief is a highly reputable company with BBB accreditation and an A+ rating with the platform, as well as the following customer reviews: SourceCustomer ratingNumber of reviewsTrustpilot4.7/543,240Google4.6/513,344Better Business Bureau (BBB)4.73/56,103ConsumerAffairs4.9/558,497Collected on November 26, 2025. It’s been in business since 2009 and is one of the most established debt settlement companies in the U.S. Many reviewers use phrases like “professional,” “knowledgeable,” and “helpful” to describe their experience. National Debt Relief pros and cons All debt relief companies have pros and cons. National Debt Relief is no exception. Before using National Debt Relief to help you reduce your debt, here are the benefits and drawbacks. Pros Thousands of positive customer reviews The company is consistently rated among the highest in the debt relief industry. Accredited and trusted NDR is accredited by the BBB, AADR, and IAPDA, signaling compliance with industry standards. No upfront settlement fees You don’t pay settlement fees until a deal is reached and you approve it. Cons Negative impact on your credit score Stopping payments is required for settlement programs and will damage your credit. Lengthy process Debt settlement typically takes 24 to 48 months to complete fully. Issues with fee transparency While fees are standard, customers sometimes feel unclear about how total costs are calculated. Is Debt Relief a Good Idea? Here’s When It Makes Sense How to get started with National Debt Relief Apply online: Enter your debt amount and basic info. Get a free consultation: An advisor will call within minutes. Review your options: Determine whether settlement or consolidation services make sense. Sign the agreement: If you choose to proceed, you’ll begin making monthly program payments. Stop paying creditors: Required for settlement to work. Wait for settlement offers: Approve or deny each one. Begin paying settled debts: Funds come from your dedicated account. Alternatives Here’s how National Debt Relief compares to our other picks for the best debt relief providers. In 2025, it earns LendEDU’s highest editorial rating among debt relief companies (4.9/5) and our Best Overall designation. Best Overall 4.9 Learn More Learn More Savings Potential Up to 50% Min. Debt $10K Customers Helped 1.2 million+ Free Evaluation Yes 4.9 Learn More Best for MCA Debt Relief 4.6 Learn More Learn More Savings Potential Up to 50% Min. Debt $7.5K Customers Helped 1 million+ Free Evaluation Yes 4.6 Learn More Best for Payday Loan Relief 4.4 Learn More Learn More Savings Potential Up to 50% Min. Debt $10K Customers Helped 1 million+ Free Evaluation Yes 4.4 Learn More National Debt Relief vs. Freedom Debt Relief Freedom Debt Relief is the only competitor close to National Debt Relief in size, but the two companies feel different in practice. FDR is often a better fit for borrowers with slightly smaller debts or those who want a more hands-on, call-heavy support model. National Debt Relief, on the other hand, tends to score higher in customer satisfaction and maintains stronger average ratings across review platforms. If trust signals, transparency, and overall customer experience are top priorities, National Debt Relief usually comes out ahead. But if your debt is less than $10,000, or you prefer a more structured, hands-on program, Freedom Debt Relief may be a better match. National Debt Relief vs. Accredited Debt Relief Accredited Debt Relief is known for its personalized approach and strong consumer reputation, but its scale and brand recognition don’t reach National Debt Relief’s level. Both companies follow nearly identical settlement processes, and fees are similar, but NDR’s larger client base and deeper review volume provide a clearer picture of long-term performance. Accredited may appeal more to borrowers who want a boutique-style feel or prefer working with a slightly smaller firm. National Debt Relief is generally better for borrowers who value a proven track record, high average ratings, and broad availability across states. Read more: Best Debt Relief Companies Bottom line National Debt Relief is one of the most reputable and widely used debt settlement companies available today. While the process requires late payments and a temporary credit hit (standard across all debt relief companies) NDR’s high customer satisfaction, strong industry reputation, and no upfront settlement fees make it a strong option for those struggling with $10,000+ in unsecured debt. If settlement doesn’t feel right, alternatives include debt management plans, home equity, or negotiating directly with creditors. How we rated National Debt Relief We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best debt relief options. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms. We compared National Debt Relief to several debt relief companies, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating and best-for designation, recapped below. Company Best for… Rating (0-5) 4.9 Learn More Best Overall 4.9 Learn More About our contributors Written by Catherine Collins Catherine Collins is a personal finance writer and author with more than 10 years of experience writing for top personal finance publications. As a mother to boy/girl twins, she is passionate about helping women and children learn about money and entrepreneurship. Cat is also the co-host of the Five Year You podcast. Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Kristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their three senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015.