Settle your unsecured debts for significantly less than you owe, negotiated by certified professionals, with no upfront fees.
Get Your Free QuoteUpdated quarterly from the Federal Reserve, the CFPB, the IRS, and Experian. See the latest U.S. household debt statistics.
| $18.79T | Total U.S. household debt in the first quarter of 2026, an all-time record. The average U.S. consumer carries $105,444 in total debt. (Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Q1 2026 / Experian, 2025) |
| 1 in 4 | Americans carries more than $20,000 in unsecured debt including credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans. (Consumer debt research, Dec. 2025) |
| 40–50% | Average savings on enrolled debt before fees for clients who complete a debt settlement program. (Debt settlement industry data, 2026) |
Debt settlement is a debt relief strategy that resolves your unsecured debts for less than the full balance you owe, on average 40 to 50% of the enrolled amount before fees for clients who complete a program. It is one of the most powerful options available to Americans in genuine financial hardship who are carrying significant unsecured debt, credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans, and struggling to keep up with minimum payments.
United Debt Relief’s done-for-you Debt Settlement program uses certified debt negotiators and attorneys who work directly with your creditors on your behalf. We serve clients in all 50 states. And we never charge a single dollar in fees until after a settlement has been successfully completed for you. If you are still comparing your options, our guide on how to choose the best debt settlement company walks through the accreditation, fee rules, and written disclosures worth checking before you enroll anywhere.
See how much money and time you can save by speaking with one of our debt relief specialists.
Resolve your enrolled debts in 12-48 months through our debt settlement program.
Get your financial freedom back and begin a new future.
Debt Settlement is a done-for-you debt reduction program. Once enrolled, you make one affordable monthly deposit into a dedicated FDIC-insured savings account. The amount is determined during your consultation based on your total enrolled debt. As your savings builds, in-network certified negotiators and attorneys work directly with each of your creditors to reach a reduced settlement, one account at a time, until you are completely debt-free at a significantly lower amount than you originally owed.
Unlike making minimum payments for years at interest rates exceeding 22%, Debt Settlement gives you a defined path to becoming debt-free, faster, and for less. Settlement outcomes depend on your creditors and your individual circumstances, so verify any proposed terms in writing before you accept them.
This program is designed for anyone in genuine financial hardship who is struggling with unsecured debt. You may be a strong candidate if you:
A free consultation with one of our debt specialists. We review your complete financial picture, identify which debts qualify, and confirm that debt settlement is the right program for your situation. Every situation is different, we make sure this program makes sense for you before moving forward.
Once enrolled, you make one affordable monthly deposit into your dedicated savings account, typically lower than your current combined minimum payments. Your dedicated account manager supports you throughout and prepares you for any creditor contact during this phase.
As your savings builds, certified negotiators and/or attorneys go to work. They negotiate account by account for the deepest possible reduction. Once a settlement is reached, you authorize it before any funds are released. You remain in control at every step.
Once all enrolled accounts are settled and closed at zero balances, you graduate the program completely debt-free. Most clients complete in 12–48 months. Many then transition to a Credit Repair program to accelerate score recovery.
Debt settlement is the process of negotiating with creditors to accept a reduced lump-sum payment in exchange for forgiving the remaining balance. It is designed for people with significant unsecured debt who are in genuine financial hardship and want a real alternative to bankruptcy.
Clients who complete the program save an average of 40–50% of their enrolled debt before fees. Individual results vary based on creditor, account age, and financial situation. Your free consultation will provide a realistic estimate based on your specific debts.
Most clients complete the program in 12–48 months, depending on total enrolled debt and monthly savings consistency. Your specialist will provide a realistic timeline during your free consultation.
Yes. During the program, enrolled accounts typically become delinquent as you redirect funds to your savings account. This will impact your credit score. However, many clients follow up with a Credit Repair program after completion and see significant score recovery.
No. United Debt Relief and our network partners never charge fees until after a settlement has been successfully completed and you have authorized it. Fees are based on a percentage of your enrolled debt.
Inform them you wish for all communications to be sent in writing. You are not legally required to speak with collectors. If you feel a collector is harassing you, contact your team immediately, we monitor for FDCPA violations and can bring in a partner debtor’s rights attorney.
We strongly advise enrolling all qualifying unsecured accounts. Leaving an active account outside the program significantly complicates negotiations with your other creditors.
Debt consolidation combines debts into a single loan repaid in full at a fixed rate. Debt settlement negotiates to actually reduce the balance you owe. Settlement is best for those in financial hardship; consolidation is better suited for those who can repay the full balance at a lower rate. United Debt Relief offers both.
You have the legal right to negotiate directly with creditors, but debt settlement is complex and time-sensitive. Creditors recognize professional negotiators and respond differently than they do to individual consumers. Errors in the negotiation process, such as partial payments or improper communication, can reset statutes of limitations or create additional legal exposure. Professional representation consistently produces better settlement percentages and protects you from collector violations throughout the process.
No. Debt settlement and bankruptcy are fundamentally different. Bankruptcy is a federal legal proceeding that either liquidates assets (Chapter 7) or restructures payments under court supervision (Chapter 13). Debt settlement is a private negotiation process that resolves accounts individually through agreed reductions. Bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 7 to 10 years and can affect professional licenses, housing applications, and security clearances. Many people choose debt settlement specifically to avoid the long-term consequences of bankruptcy.
Once all enrolled accounts are settled and closed, the negative impact of the program stops accumulating. Many clients pursue a Credit Repair program immediately after completion to dispute inaccurately reported items and build new positive payment history. Clients who combine debt settlement with subsequent credit repair often see meaningful score recovery within 12 to 24 months of program completion.
Debt relief companies help consumers resolve unsecured debt through programs such as debt settlement, debt validation, or debt consolidation. United Debt Relief reviews the full financial picture in a free consultation, then enrolls the client directly into the program that fits, with no upfront fees. United Debt Relief runs five programs and handles enrollment itself. Programs and results vary depending on debt and budget.
A debt relief program can be worth it for consumers with significant unsecured debt who cannot keep up with minimum payments and want to avoid bankruptcy. Benefits include a single monthly deposit and a defined payoff timeline. Trade-offs include a credit-score impact while the program runs. United Debt Relief offers a free consultation to review the available options. Results vary by situation.
Most debt settlement companies charge a performance-based fee, typically a percentage of the enrolled debt, collected only after a debt is settled and never upfront. The FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule bars debt relief companies from collecting fees before a debt is resolved. United Debt Relief charges no upfront fees and explains all costs during the free consultation. Fees and results vary by program.
In-depth answers to the questions people ask most before enrolling in a settlement program. If you are still weighing paths, compare this program against consolidation loans and debt validation before you decide.
The credentials, fee rules, and written disclosures to check before you enroll.
When DIY negotiation works on card balances and when to bring in help.
What actually moves a creditor toward a reduced payoff.
What you can negotiate on your own, and the limits you should know.
Weighing attorney-based settlement against the standard program.
Which balances a settlement program can reach, and which it cannot.
The real credit-score impact, explained.
Two different outcomes, and two different tax consequences.
Every method to lower what you owe, explained.
United Debt Relief is America’s Debt Relief Experts, a national debt relief company serving all 50 states. Our five programs span debt settlement, debt validation, debt consolidation loans, tax resolution, and credit repair, so your debt, tax, and credit problems are handled together rather than referred out. Our specialists assess your situation, explain each option, and enroll you in the one that fits. Program services are performed by our stringently vetted in-network providers and law firms, each BBB Accredited with an A rating. Results vary by situation.
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