Evaluating a debt relief company involves many different factors, from the stability of the company to the user experience. Taking the time to look into the debt relief company you’re considering can make a big difference. Let’s cover the numerous factors to check into before you get started with a debt relief company.
Factors For Evaluation
Factor One—Stability
Two main elements of debt relief company stability are the amount of time they’ve been in business and if they’re a member of any professional trade associations.
Time In Business
The length of time a debt relief company has been in business is crucial. Research indicates more established businesses are more likely to stick around than newer businesses, which is essential when you’re forming a business relationship for as long as a few years. Be sure the debt relief company will be there for you till the end.
Professional Trade Association Memberships
Another element of stability of debt relief companies is being accredited by professional trade associations. Companies belonging to at least one recognized trade association such as the American Fair Credit Council or International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators usually rank highest with clients.
Factor Two—Customer Experience
Depth Of Information On Their Website
One of the main ways clients can get a feel for a debt relief company before signing up is by reading through the company’s website. Is there plenty of information available to cover your most pressing concerns? Does the company cover all aspects of debt relief or just the ones it offers services for? You can learn a lot by reading through the content on a website, so don’t overlook this detail.
Company Reputation And Customer Ratings
When it comes to debt relief, a company’s reputation speaks volumes about the quality of its results. Reading actual customer reviews can provide some of the best insight into the experiences of a debt relief company’s past clients. Where can you find these types of reviews and client feedback? The Better Business Bureau is one good place, along with ratings websites like TrustPilot.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accreditation
The Better Business Bureau has been around for more than 100 years now, building a system for reviewing and comparing businesses through a customer reviews and ratings process. Accreditation with the BBB is one attribute to seek, because it indicates a good-faith effort of the company to provide an easy way to resolve any issues customers may have.
Better Business Bureau Reviews
While BBB accreditation is a great starting point when finding a solid debt relief company, you should give even more consideration to any customer reviews and complaints registered through the BBB. This client feedback about an individual debt relief company will tell you a lot about how they operate and treat their clients. Customers who leave a review with the BBB can rate the company using a star rating system of 1 to 5, with 5 stars being the best.
TrustPilot Reviews
Browsing the Trustpilot or TrustLink reviews of a debt settlement company is another great resource for real client feedback. These sites often have plenty of customers who provide their experiences with businesses, providing you an extensive resource for testimonials from past clients.
Traits Of The Best Debt Settlement Companies
Quick Turnaround Times
Some debt settlement companies may take up to 3-5 years to finish your debt relief process. The best companies will cut this time down to less than 3 years in many cases.
Effective debt relief companies will have a strong track record of getting the job done in a timely fashion. This indicates they’ve established solid working relationships with the biggest financial institutions and collection agencies, greatly helping to expedite negotiations.
Zero Upfront Fees
An FTC ruling on October 27, 2010 stated that a Debt Settlement Company cannot legally charge you any fees unless or until they settle your debt. Therefore, it’s essential to be wary of any debt settlement companies who are breaking the rules. If a company risks being shut down by the government for breaking the law, they risk losing everything that’s been invested in their programs by their clients. So steer clear of companies who aren’t following the rules to a tee.
Zero “Add-On” Charges
Sometimes debt relief companies will try to circumvent debt relief laws by charging administrative fees, sign up fees, consultation fees, and various other types of fees to try to collect more money. The best debt relief services companies, like Alleviate Financial, do not charge fees until your debt is settled, and you only pay for the debt relief service itself—no filler fees.
Start To Finish Service
Some so-called debt relief companies you talk to are really just sales lead generation organizations who sell or pass your account off to a handful of different debt relief companies to handle your actual debt relief program. This could mean your financial data being passed around with little incentive to protect it.
Be sure the debt relief company is the one that does the entire program from start to finish, like Alleviate Financial. We love serving our clients and seeing their results at the end of the process!
Experienced Debt Relief Team
Unestablished debt relief companies simply don’t have the experience or relationships necessary to get the best possible outcomes for its clients. That’s why it’s crucial to seek out debt relief companies who’ve been around long enough to build a solid reputation of getting results for clients.
The Debt Relief Services You Seek
When you’re seeking a debt relief company who will stop at nothing to help you become debt-free, Alleviate Financial can help you get started today. Contact our team of debt relief specialists and get an honest expert analysis of your entire financial picture to learn your options.
Our debt relief team will take the time that’s necessary to fully understand your circumstances to develop the best debt relief plan for you. Contact us today!
