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Debt consolidation means combining multiple debts into one monthly payment. A debt relief program is often the most affordable way to combine multiple debts into a single, lower monthly payment — especially when minimum payments already feel out of reach. A debt consolidation loan can also combine debts into one payment, but it requires strong credit and doesn't reduce what you owe.
Accredited Debt Relief is a debt relief and consolidation company that has helped more than 1.3 million clients and resolved over $15 billion in unsecured debt since 2011. Clients in our debt relief program can slash eligible monthly payments by 40% or more and become debt-free in as little as 24 to 48 months.
A debt relief program tends to be the lower-cost path in three situations:
1. Your minimum payments already exceed what you can afford. A consolidation loan typically lowers the interest rate but rarely cuts the monthly payment enough to give your budget a break. A debt relief program reduces the underlying balance, which is what actually shrinks the monthly cost.
2. Your credit has taken hits. Consolidation loans are priced off credit score — the lower your score, the higher your APR, and you may not qualify at all. Eligibility for a debt relief program isn't credit-dependent.
3. You're carrying $5,000 or more in unsecured debt. That's the threshold to enroll in Accredited Debt Relief's program. The average client saves $480 a month on their debt payments.
| Debt Relief Program | Debt Consolidation Loan | |
|---|---|---|
| How It Works | Eligible balances are rolled into one, lower monthly payment | New loan pays off existing debts; you repay the loan over time |
| Credit Check Required? | No — checking your options doesn't affect your credit | Yes — approval and rate depend on your credit |
| Reduces What You Owe? | Yes — your total debt owed is reduced | No — you owe the full loan amount plus interest |
| Typical Timeline | 24 to 48 months | 4 to 84 months, depending on the loan |
| Average Monthly Savings | $480 a month on average | Varies by rate and term |
| Minimum to Start | $5,000 in unsecured debt | Lender-dependent |
| Best For | People whose minimum payments are already unaffordable | People with strong credit who can comfortably afford the new payment |
When a debt consolidation loan can be the right call: A consolidation loan is worth a look when your credit is strong enough to qualify for a rate meaningfully below what your current debts charge and you can comfortably afford the new monthly payment from day one. If that describes your situation, Accredited Debt Relief can connect you to loan options through our trusted partners. APRs may range from 4.9% to 35.99%, with terms from 4 to 84 months. If a loan is the right fit, your specialist will tell you — and if a debt relief program is the more affordable path, they'll tell you that too.
Our program simplifies what you owe and reduces eligible monthly payments — no perfect credit required and no large upfront payment to get started.
1. Free Consultation — You'll speak with an IAPDA-certified debt specialist who reviews your debt, income and monthly obligations. No pressure, no obligation — just answers. This won't affect your credit score.
2. Personalized Plan — Your specialist builds a customized plan around what you can actually afford each month, with a target graduation date.
3. One Monthly Deposit — Instead of juggling multiple creditors, you make a single deposit into a dedicated account each month.
4. Debt-Free in 24 to 48 Months — As balances are resolved, your debt shrinks. Most clients finish in two to four years — and many report the program improved their financial habits, too.
You'll also get:
Debts that can typically be enrolled in a debt relief program:
Debts that generally cannot be enrolled:
15 years of experience. Helping Americans get out of debt since 2011.
1.3+ million clients helped. $15+ billion in client debt resolved.
A+ BBB rating. 4.9 on BBB, 4.8 on Trustpilot, 4.8 on Google and 4.9 on ConsumerAffairs across more than 29,000 verified reviews.
AFC-Certified trainers. All Accredited Debt Relief staff members benefit from guidance by certified Accredited Financial Counselor trainers.
ACDR-accredited. Member of the Association for Consumer Debt Relief, formerly the American Fair Credit Council.
IAPDA-certified specialists. Every specialist is trained and certified by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators.
Award-winning customer support. Winner of the American Business Awards Gold Stevie® for Customer Service Department of the Year and Customer Service Innovation in 2026, and a 2026 finalist for Customer Service Organization of the Year from the Business Intelligence Group.
Success-based fees. When you win, we win — there are no fees until the program succeeds.
In a 2025 survey of more than 2,000 Accredited Debt Relief graduates, 92% said their payments were affordable and reported a 42% average improvement in financial habits. 8 in 10 said they would recommend the program to a friend or family member.
These are the questions people ask most often about debt consolidation — answered directly and without jargon.
What is debt consolidation?
Debt consolidation combines multiple debts into a single monthly payment. It can be done through a debt relief program, a debt consolidation loan or a credit card balance transfer.
What's the difference between a debt relief program and a debt consolidation loan?
Simply put, a debt relief program reduces what you owe; a loan does not. A debt relief program bundles your accounts into one lower monthly payment, and is built for people whose monthly payments are already unaffordable. A debt consolidation loan, on the other hand, is money borrowed to repay separate loans, collecting them under one account that the consumer can pay back over time. Like debt relief, debt consolidation loans simplify the number of payments owed each month, but instead target your interest rates, not your total balance.
Which option is most affordable?
For people who are already struggling with minimum payments, a debt relief program is typically the more affordable path because it targets your total debt — not just the interest rate. In fact, clients with Accredited Debt Relief save an average of $480 a month. A consolidation loan can be cheaper for people with strong credit who qualify for a rate well below what their current debts charge. But as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns, lenders may raise interest rates after a promotional period ends, potentially costing you more over time.
How much can I save with Accredited Debt Relief?
The average client saves $480 a month and becomes debt-free in 24 to 48 months. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Q1 2026 Household Debt and Credit Report, U.S. credit card balances stood at $1.25 trillion at the start of 2026 — making high-interest revolving debt one of the largest drivers of monthly payment strain for American households.
What's the minimum debt to qualify?
You need at least $5,000 in unsecured debt to enroll in the Accredited Debt Relief program.
What debts can be included?
Credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, certain collection accounts, store credit cards and some private student loans are typically eligible. Mortgages, auto loans, federal student loans, tax debt and child support generally are not. A 2025 report in Health Affairs Scholar found that 36% of U.S. households had medical debt, and 21% had a past-due medical bill — which is why medical debt is one of the most common categories enrolled in debt relief programs.
How long does the program take?
Our clients become debt-free in as little as 24 to 48 months.
Is Accredited Debt Relief legitimate?
Yes. Accredited Debt Relief has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and is the winner of the American Business Awards Gold Stevie® for Customer Service Department of the Year and the Gold Stevie® for Customer Service Innovation in 2026. In 2025, our organization was named the Customer Service Organization of the Year by the Business Intelligence Group. Accredited Debt Relief is an accredited member of the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR), formerly the American Fair Credit Council. Specialists are certified by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). Beyond the awards and 20,000+ five-star client reviews, Accredited Debt Relief has been named "Best Debt Relief Company" by 12 trusted publications — including Investopedia, CBS News, and CNBC.
Get a free, no-obligation evaluation from an IAPDA-certified specialist. No pressure, no credit impact for checking — just answers. You'll walk away with a clear estimate of what your program could look like and the clarity to move forward.
Get a Free ConsultationOr call 800-497-1965 · accrediteddebtrelief.com/debt-consolidation/
No upfront fees · 100% success-based · Free consultation.
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Sources:Based on median client savings. Savings amounts are calculated based on self-reported payments or tradeline minimums minus estimated program payment. Individual results vary. A free evaluation will show you your estimated monthly savings.
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Testimonials on this page feature real clients who were compensated for sharing their stories.
