First Choice Debt Relief
Pro: One of the only companies to advertise (low) prices
Con: Only available in 14 states
First Choice Debt Relief is a credit card debt settlement company located in Orange, California. Since 2008, the company has offered interested consumers free consultations, financial education, and multiple debt management programs with no upfront fees. Administrative fees are based on the client’s state of residency and the total amount of owed debt. First Debt Relief offers consumers a standard money-back guarantee and features numerous customer testimonials and proof of past successful negotiations on its corporate website.
First Choice Debt Relief is accredited by the American Fair Credit Council and the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators. The debt relief company is fully compliant with the Federal Trade Commission.
The Good
Positive Customer Feedback
There are numerous testimonials from satisfied customers on the corporate website. Consumers report struggling with debt for years until choosing First Choice Debt Relief and report being happy with the customer service they received. Also provided are copies of past successful debt negotiation letters. Many of these statements show that First Choice was able to reduce customers’ debts by approximately half of the original balance.
Money-Back Guarantee
First Choice Debt Relief offers a full money-back guarantee like many other debt settlement companies in the industry. If the paid amount to creditors exceeds the original balance, the company will refund the difference to the customer.
The Bad
No Listed Fees
While the company does not charge upfront fees, it does not clearly state what its administrative charges are on the corporate website. Charges depend on the unique financial situation of the client, including the overall ability to pay monthly, the total amount owed to a creditor, and the state in which the individual resides.
Refund Limitations
The company’s website states that the money-back guarantee does not apply to consumers enrolled in an attorney based debt settlement program. Neither does the guarantee ensure that balances will be reduced either by a specific balance or timeline.
Limited State Availability
First Choice Debt Relief does not clearly disclose what states the company offers debt management solutions to. However, in an email to us, the company said they operate in 14 states: AL, AZ, AR, CA, FL, LA, MA, MI, ME, NM, NY, NC, OK, VA.
The Bottom Line
First Choice Debt Relief helps consumers relieve credit card debt with no upfront fees. Free consultations and financial education are provided as well, along with a full money-back guarantee. The company has numerous accreditations and customer testimonials regarding its excellent customer service and there have been no filed complaints.
However, this debt settlement company does not offer any pricing information and programs are limited in some states. The refund policy from First Choice Debt Relief does not apply to those enrolled in attorney based services.
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About First Choice Debt Relief
First Choice Debt Relief offers financial education and credit card debt relief services with no upfront fees. The company helps consumers resolve debt through creditor negotiation for lowered debt totals and monthly debt repayments. Any charged administrative fees depend mainly on individual circumstances and the state of residency of the consumer.
A large portion of debt settlement letters posted on the company’s website shows that First Choice Debt Relief reduced original balances by half through creditor negotiation.
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- Takes your existing debt and try to settle with your creditors for a lower amount. If you pay off the settled amount, your debt will be considered paid in full.
- Negotiates with your creditors on your behalf.
- Fee based on a percentage of your total starting debt or a percentage of the debt they save you.
- Most settlement companies have you create a separate "escrow" account where you will make monthly contributions over a certain amount of time to contribute to your settlement. Once there is a substantial amount of funds to show your creditors, the settlement company will try to negotiate a lower amount of debt.
- Combines all your debts and creditors into one monthly payment.
- Allows you to pay one monthly payment to the consolidation company, instead of multiple payments to different creditors.
- You no longer owe your original creditors; instead you pay one monthly payment to your consolidation company.
- Consolidation companies can help negotiate lower interest rates on your debts and help lower your total debt payment in the long run. A lower interest rate will lower the amount you owe in the end.
- Allows you to consolidate all your different debts into one personal loan that can be paid off over time.
- Can offer borrowers a lower interest rate with a longer payback term (compared to high-interest credit cards or medical bills). This will lower the amount of money required to pay off the loan over time.
- Personal loan debt consolidation can be an effective way to raise your credit score quickly (within 3-6 months).
- Borrowers can receive funds from their loan within only a few days.
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