Learn before you decide
Plain-language guides on your rights, your options, and the numbers behind each one. No sign-up required to read anything here.
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Settlement vs. consolidation: a side-by-side comparison
What each program does to your balances, your credit score, and your timeline — plus the situations where the honest answer is none of them.
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9 articlesYour rightsWhat debt collectors are not allowed to doThe federal rules on calls, threats, and workplace contact — and the letter that makes them stop.5 min read
Medical debtAlways read the itemized bill firstBilling errors are common. How to request an itemized statement and what to look for line by line.7 min read
Getting startedHow much debt is too much?The ratios lenders use, and the simpler question worth asking: is the balance still shrinking?6 min read
CreditWhat actually happens to your scoreMissed payments, settled accounts, and utilization — how each one moves the number, and for how long.9 min read
BudgetingA budget that survives a bad monthFixed costs, variable costs, and the buffer most budgets forget to include.6 min read
Your rightsYou've been served — what to do this weekDeadlines matter more than anything else. What to do in the first seven days, and who to call.8 min read
Medical debtHospital charity care, explainedMost nonprofit hospitals must offer financial assistance. How to ask, and what income limits apply.7 min read
Getting startedIs forgiven debt taxable income?What a 1099-C is, when it arrives, and the insolvency exception worth asking your tax pro about.5 min read
CreditRebuilding after a program endsSecured cards, utilization targets, and the timeline for a score to recover — without paying anyone.6 min read
Free help, not ours
Government and nonprofit resources
These are free and independent of us. If one of them solves your problem, you don't need a program.
CFPB — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Free complaint filing against creditors and collectors, plus plain-language guides on your rights. consumerfinance.gov
NFCC-affiliated credit counseling
Nonprofit agencies offering free or low-cost budget counseling and debt management plans. nfcc.org
HUD-approved housing counselors
Free help if you're behind on a mortgage or facing foreclosure. Never pay for this service.
Federal Student Aid
Income-driven repayment, deferment, and forgiveness for federal loans — all free. studentaid.gov
AnnualCreditReport.com
The only federally authorized source for your free credit reports from all three bureaus.
Your state attorney general
Licensing checks for any debt relief company, including us, plus state-specific consumer protections.
Educational content only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify every external link and organization name before publishing.