Guest Post by Ben Walker Everyone deserves a vacation. Or at least that’s a common sentiment. But travel doesn’t come cheap, and it can seem like an unreachable goal if you’re in debt. According to the Federal Reserve, U.S. household debt balances climbed above $15 trillion in 2021. This included debt from mortgages, HELOCs, auto loans, credit cards, student loans, and more. If you’re dealing with paying off debt from any of these sources, you might find it difficult to understand how you can also work toward other goals, such as traveling. Rather than trying to do both things, consider ..read more

  Guest Post by Lyle Solomon Debt relief scams are rampant in the country, and perhaps this is why the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued new rules to protect consumers on September 27, 2010. Even though a decade has passed, many Americans are still not aware of the debt relief laws passed by the FTC for their protection, and that's unfortunate. Scammers take advantage of their ignorance and milk money without providing any service. If you owe money on your credit cards and are planning to work with a debt relief company, it's essential to know the provisions of the Telemarketing Sales ..read more

May 2022 — Best Company recently announced the 14 debt relief companies that earned the Great Customer Service Award in 2022. About this award The Great Customer Service Award from Best Company is presented to companies that have a 4+ average service sentiment with a minimum of 50 user reviews on the review site. Companies did not have to apply for this award. Rather, they qualified based on positive reviews from their past clients, specifically regarding customer service and how well they treat their clients. Award recipients The companies listed below are the recipients of the 2022 Great Cus ..read more

  Guest Post by Jeremiah Heck  The short answer: yes, you can still settle your debt even if a creditor sues you.  The longer answer: the settlement is often less than the amount owed, and in some circumstances, you might have grounds to sue the creditor (or take other legal action).  Read on to learn about your consumer rights in a debt collection lawsuit, debt settlement, and potential legal defenses when you find yourself facing unpaid debts.  Before You Settle, Verify According to Forbes, 70 million American consumers have credit issues ranging from collection agen ..read more

Guest Post by Lyle Solomon Most of us will incur debt at least once in our lifetime, be it student loans, mortgage, or credit card debt. Depending on your financial situation, debt can be good or bad. However, all debts are not the same, therefore managing these debts is not the same.  Mainly, there are two types of debt: secured and unsecured debt, with other subtypes of debt coming under each or both. It's essential to understand how each kind of debt works, if you'll be able to manage it along with the rest of your obligations, and how it can affect you.  What is debt? Debt is def ..read more

Do your thoughts about taking your family on vacation automatically trigger feelings about your current debt status? Do you want to treat your family to a quality getaway without risking putting yourself further in debt? If so, you are not alone. Consumer debt reached approximately $4 trillion at the end of 2018, with the average debt being roughly $12,000 per capita. This means that mounting debt is a factor for many American families. The cost of taking the family on vacation can add a considerable amount to the debt level of American families. According to NYU, 30 percent of families spend ..read more

August 2022 — Best Company recently awarded Freedom Debt Relief its 2022 Expert's Choice Award. About the Expert’s Choice Award Every year, the Best Company vertical expert highlights one company that they think stands out among competitors, regardless of overall category ranking. The Expert’s Choice Award is given to a top company in an industry based on the Best Company expert's analysis and discretion. Freedom Debt Relief did not apply for, nor pay to receive this award. About Freedom Debt Relief {%company-card vertical="debt-relief" company="freedom-debt-relief"%} Best Company User St ..read more

Guest Post by Lyle Solomon It is common for people struggling with debt to receive notices and calls about overdue payments on their debt. It is advisable not to ignore them because they can become more stressful than managing your debt. Debt collectors try to contact the debtor multiple times before filing a lawsuit against them.  Having a debt collector file a lawsuit against you can be stressful, and most people don't know how to address situations like this. The most crucial thing to do here is to respond to that lawsuit. Although you think you do not owe the debt you were sued for, y ..read more