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5 best companies for credit card debt forgiveness
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While inflation has been slowing down recently, years of rising costs and high interest rates have weighed on many Americans. So, if you’re now struggling to pay off high-interest credit card debt, know that you’re not alone. Since the end of 2021, credit card delinquencies have been increasing in the US, with over 10% of credit card balances at least 90 days delinquent, according to the New York Fed.
If you aren’t capable of paying off your credit debt, there are ways to potentially work out an agreement with credit card companies to either reduce or forgive your debt. One option is to work with a debt relief service, which typically involves stopping payments on your credit cards, setting aside money in a savings account for several months and then ideally working out a settlement with your creditors.
Granted, there are risks involved with this approach, such as potentially damaging your credit score further, along with the costs of the debt relief program. Most reputable companies, however, do not charge upfront fees and instead charge after a settlement is reached.
Meanwhile, a debt relief company might be able to help you reach a better settlement than you could on your own while helping you avoid bankruptcy. But you want to be sure you choose a solid company.
Find out more about the top debt relief options available to you here.
5 best companies for credit card debt forgiveness
With that in mind, consider the following five best credit card debt forgiveness companies, listed in alphabetical order.
Accredited Debt Relief: Best for debt consolidation
Although debt consolidation isn’t exactly credit card forgiveness in terms of reducing the balance owed, a debt consolidation loan can still help save you money by lowering your interest rate and monthly payments. One of the best options for this approach is Accredited Debt Relief, which matches clients to debt consolidation loans to help them become debt-free in 24-48 months.
Learn more about the options available to you from Accredited Debt Relief.
American Debt Relief: Best for quick results
American Debt Relief stands out as one of the best credit card debt forgiveness companies in terms of speed. You can expect to save approximately 30% after accounting for fees over 24 to 48 months, though many can become debt-free within 24-36 months. Note, however, that reviews are mixed, as the company scores well on Trustpilot but poorly on the BBB’s site.
Freedom Debt Relief: Best for a free consultation
Freedom Debt Relief is one of the most popular and also one of the best debt relief companies. The company claims it has helped over 1 million people since 2002 with its debt settlement program that helps you negotiate savings with creditors. While many reputable debt relief companies offer free consultations, Freedom Debt Relief is one of the best choices. They can walk you through your debt management options, including alternatives like credit counseling or debt consolidation.
Get more information about the debt relief options available through Freedom Debt Relief.
National Debt Relief: Best for customer satisfaction
While some companies might have slightly higher ratings on various reviews sites, National Debt Relief stands out for having very strong reviews over a very large sample size. For example, on Trustpilot, National Debt Relief has a 4.7 out of 5 rating, out of over 40,000 reviews.
Learn more about the top debt relief options from National Debt Relief here.
New Era Debt Solutions: Best for experience
New Era Debt Solutions is a long-heralded debt relief company that stands out for being in business since 1999. The company has helped settle over $275 million in debt over the years and has strong reviews, such as being BBB accredited since 2001 and having a 4.93 out of 5 rating.
Other debt relief solutions to consider
While many of these credit card debt forgiveness companies specialize in debt settlement, there are other options to consider, which you might review during a free consultation with one of these companies.
For example, you might go through credit counseling with a non-profit that can help you come up with a budget and plan to pay off your debt. Or, you might try other approaches like negotiating directly with your credit card company to waive certain fees, as well as searching for a debt consolidation loan on your own, or taking the more extreme step of filing for bankruptcy, if necessary.
Overall, it’s important to realize that you have options when it comes to solving credit card debt. Be sure to read reviews, utilize free assessments if you’re interested in a particular company, and make sure you know what you’re getting into before you try to resolve your credit card debt.
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A Georgia county’s emergency call center was overwhelmed by calls on Sept. 4 about a school shooting at Apalachee High School that killed four people and wounded nine others, records released Friday by Barrow County show.
Local news organizations report many of the 911 phone calls were not released under public record requests because state law exempts from release calls recording the voice of someone younger than 18 years old. That exemption would cover calls from most of the 1,900 students at the school in Winder, northeast of Atlanta.
Calls spiked around 10:20 a.m., when authorities have said that 14-year-old suspect Colt Gray began shooting. Many calls were answered with an automated message saying there was a “high call volume,” WAGA-TV reported.
One man called 911 after receiving text messages from a girlfriend. He was put on hold for just over 10 minutes because of an influx of calls at the time of the shooting, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
“She hears people yelling outside, so I don’t know if that’s officers in the building or that’s — I don’t know,” he said, adding that she was eventually evacuated out of the school.
Other adults also called 911 after their children contacted them.
“My daughter calling me crying. Somebody go ‘boom, boom, boom, boom,'” one mother said. The 911 operator responded: “Ma’am we have officers out there, OK?”
Parents of students at an elementary school and middle school neighboring Apalachee also flooded 911 seeking information.
“Sir, my daughter goes to school next door to Apalachee. Is there a school shooter?” one caller asked.
“We do have an active situation (at) Apalachee High School right now,” the operator responded. “We have a lot of calls coming in.”
More than 500 radio messages between emergency personnel were also released Friday.
“Active shooter!” an officer yells in one audio clip while speaking with a dispatcher, CNN reported. Another officer responds, “Correct. We have an active shooter at Apalachee High School.”
The shooting killed teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, as well as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, with seven of those hit by gunfire.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported Thursday that the suspect rode the school bus on the day of the shooting with the assault-style rifle concealed in his backpack.
He then asked a teacher for permission to go to the front office to speak with someone, and when he received it, he was allowed to take his backpack with him, GBI said. He then went to a restroom, where he hid, and then eventually took out the weapon and started shooting, investigators said. A knife was also found on him when he was arrested.
According to investigators, the suspect enrolled at Apalachee High on Aug. 14, and between Aug. 14 and the day of the shooting, he was absent for nine days of school.
The family told CBS News that the suspect’s maternal grandmother had visited the school the day before the massacre to discuss the suspect’s alleged behavioral issues.
The suspect has been charged as an adult with four counts of murder, and District Attorney Brad Smith has said more charges are likely to be filed against him in connection with the wounded. Authorities have also charged his father, 54-year-old Colin Gray, alleging that he gave his son access to the gun when he knew or should have known that the teen was a danger to himself and others.
The 13,000 students at Barrow County’s other schools returned to class Tuesday. The 1,900 students who attend Apalachee are supposed to start returning the week of Sept. 23, officials said Friday.
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