CreditAssociates Review
CreditAssociates has been in the debt relief industry for more than 12 years. The Dallas-based company negotiates with creditors to help clients pay off credit card and other debt for less than originally owed. CreditAssociates has resolved more than $1 billion in debt, and most clients complete the program in an average of 36 months. CreditAssociates serves every state except New Jersey. If this is your home state, please see our Best Debt Consolidation Companies guide for alternatives.
Pros
- Uses a proprietary debt relief software program
- Free debt consultation
- Only pay for services if you accept a settlement
Cons
- Automated text message communication
CreditAssociates Debt Relief Programs
CreditAssociates’ services focus on individual debt negotiation. Once you qualify and enroll, you begin depositing an amount of money you can afford into a personal account each month. CreditAssociates then uses those funds to negotiate with your creditors to settle your debts for a fraction of what you owe. In most cases, they’re able to settle every credit account within 24 to 36 months
No debt relief company can guarantee a settlement, so you don’t pay for services unless the negotiations are successful. While there is no law requiring creditors to negotiate debt, most companies are willing to negotiate a settlement if you’re unable to pay any other way.
How Much Can You Save with CreditAssociates?
The chart below gives you an idea of how much you might be able to save if you complete a CreditAssociates program. Each example assumes a 15% interest rate on the debt with 36 negotiated monthly payments. The savings amount does not include CreditAssociates’ service fee, which varies by state and other factors.
| Debt Amount | Monthly Payment | Total Negotiated Debt | Total Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $178 | $6,400 | $3,600 |
| $25,000 | $445 | $16,000 | $9,000 |
| $50,000 | $889 | $32,000 | $18,000 |
| $100,000 | $1,776 | $64,000 | $36,000 |
Paying Off Debt with CreditAssociates
Call CreditAssociates for a free consultation to discuss your financial situation and goals. Your consultant will explain the debt settlement process to determine if it is a good fit for your needs.
- Sign a contract with CreditAssociates, and the company starts the debt resolution process by contacting your creditors to begin negotiations. On average, it takes six to nine months to negotiate a debt settlement.
- You stop making payments to the creditor if you haven’t already. Unpaid bills convince companies you are unable to pay, which gives them an incentive to accept a lower amount.
- You deposit an affordable amount into a Special Purpose Savings Account each month. Once you accumulate a target lump sum that can be used to pay a settlement, CreditAssociates goes back to work for you.
- CreditAssociates offers a lump sum from the savings account to the creditor during negotiations. Creditors are often willing to accept the payment in return for wiping your debt off their books.
Debt settlements usually have a negative impact on your credit score, and interest and penalties accumulate on the amount you owe a creditor during negotiations. However, people working out debt relief agreements typically have a low credit score before working with CreditAssociates because of unpaid bills. If negotiations are successful, the settlement combined with CreditAssociates’ fee is less than the total amount you owed to the creditor.
CreditAssociates Debt Settlement Cost
CreditAssociates does not charge advance fees to work with you. Instead, you pay the company only if you accept a debt settlement negotiated on your behalf. The cost for services and your settlement payment are withdrawn from your Special Purpose Savings Account. The company does not provide sample costs, which vary depending on each state’s regulations. Discuss fees for debt settlement services during the free consultation.
We recommend speaking to a financial advisor about taxes you may owe on the amount of debt forgiven. Your circumstances may make you eligible for an exclusion or exemption from taxes on passive income.
CreditAssociates Complaints
CreditAssociates is a ConsumerAffairs-accredited brand and scores 4.5 out of 5 stars from clients. The company receives an A rating from the Better Business Bureau and 9.6 out of 10 stars from Trustpilot. Many consumers say they received a complete explanation of their debt settlement program and respectful treatment from the company’s employees. Some complained about receiving unsolicited calls and mailers from CreditAssociates. While we found complaints about the impact on credit scores or that only a portion of debts were settled, these are possibilities discussed during the consultation.
CreditAssociates Q&A
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Who should consider using CreditAssociates debt negotiation services?
People who can’t pay their bills and are considering bankruptcy should consider working with a debt settlement company like CreditAssociates.
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Do I have to settle each of my debts with CreditAssociates?
CreditAssociates recommends working on all of your debts at once. However, you are not required to enroll all bills in the program.
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Do all creditors work with debt relief companies like CreditAssociates?
Some creditors refuse to work with debt relief companies, including American Express, Discover, Chase and Macy’s. CreditAssociates can still help you try to resolve debt with these creditors, but you may need to handle the negotiation process yourself.
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Does CreditAssociates negotiate all debt?
No debt relief company can work with federal student loans or secured debt such as mortgages and car loans. CreditAssociates specializes in resolving credit card debt, personal loans, medical debt and other unsecured debt. You must contact a tax relief company if you need help reducing back taxes and penalties.
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Does CreditAssociates operate in nationally?
No, CreditAssociates operates in 31 states and territories but is not available nationally. CreditAssociate’s services are available in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Conclusion
With more than a decade of experience negotiating debt settlements, CreditAssociates can make paying off your bills affordable. Debt settlements are a possible path to financial freedom for those who don’t have the money to pay bills, often due to circumstances beyond their control. CreditAssociates can work out a debt settlement to reduce your bills and allow you to pay off debt faster.