Understand your debt.Find your next step.

Explore clear explanations, free tools, and community support to help you compare debt options and make informed decisions.

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1. Your debt2. Contact details

About how much unsecured debt do you have?

Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans. Not your mortgage or car loan.

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What do you need help with?

Managing credit card debtBalances that keep growing despite payments Dealing with debt collectorsWhat collectors can and can't do, and what to send Understanding payday loansRollovers, fees, and ways out of the cycle Comparing repayment optionsConsolidation, DMP, settlement, bankruptcy Considering bankruptcyChapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 and what each protects Rebuilding your creditWhat recovers first and how long it takes

Compare your options

Four common ways out of debt, and what each one costs you

None of these is right for everyone. Each one trades something away.

Consolidation loan

A new loan pays off several debts. You repay one lender.

You repay: The full balance, over 2–7 years
Credit impact: Low
Trade-off: Needs fair-to-good credit. Easy to run cards up again.

Best for: Fair-to-good credit and a payment you can already keep up with.

Learn about consolidation

Debt management plan

A nonprofit credit counselor arranges lower rates. You make one payment through them.

You repay: The full balance, over 3–5 years
Credit impact: Moderate
Trade-off: Monthly fee. Enrolled cards are usually closed.

Best for: Steady income and a plan to repay in full at lower interest rates.

Learn about DMPs

Debt settlement

A company negotiates to pay creditors less than you owe, usually in lump sums.

You repay: Less than you owe, over 2–4 years
Credit impact: High
Trade-off: Fees, possible lawsuits, and forgiven debt may be taxable.

Best for: Falling behind on minimums, with money you can set aside each month.

Learn about settlement

Bankruptcy

A court discharges debts (Chapter 7) or sets a repayment plan (Chapter 13).

You repay: Some or none, depending on chapter
Credit impact: Highest, 7–10 years
Trade-off: Court and attorney costs. Public record.

Best for: Debt far beyond what you could repay, after other options are ruled out.

Learn about bankruptcy

General information, not legal or financial advice. Terms vary by state, lender, and provider. Read the full comparison

Our legal counsel

An attorney who works on debt and bankruptcy law

Loretta Kilday, Esq.DebtCC spokesperson and legal counsel

Loretta works on bankruptcy and debt collection law, and answers questions from DebtCC readers on those topics.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy Chapter 13 bankruptcy Dealing with collectors Your FDCPA rights

Read Loretta's full bio

Free tools

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Letter templates

Sample letters for collectors and creditors

Ready-to-edit letters with plain-English instructions for when to send each one.

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CalculatorCredit card payoffSee how long your balance takes to clear at your current payment.Open calculator CalculatorConsolidation savingsCompare your current rates with one consolidated rate.Open calculator GuideKnow your rightsWhat collectors can and can't do under the FDCPA.Read the guide ReferenceDebt glossaryPlain definitions for the terms on your statements and letters.Open glossary

Community

Ask people who've dealt with the same debt

DebtCC forums

Post your question about a collector, a creditor or a repayment plan. Members and moderators reply with what worked for them.

Browse recent discussions

Member experiences

Read how other members handled collectors, settlements and repayment plans.

Read member experiences

Questions

Before you decide

Straight answers about who we are, what's free, and what happens to your information.

Something else? Ask the community

Is DebtCC legitimate and accredited?

DebtCC is operated by InterNext Technologies Inc. in Reno, Nevada, and has been a BBB Accredited Business since May 14, 2008. You can check our rating and complaint history on our public BBB profile.

Is DebtCC a debt relief company?

No. DebtCC publishes free guides, tools and a community forum. We're not a lender, law firm or debt relief provider. If you request a consultation, a debt relief company that advertises on DebtCC contacts you.

What does it cost?

Our guides, letters, calculators and forum are free, with no signup. The consultation is free too. If you later enroll with a provider, that provider charges its own fees, so ask for them in writing before you agree.

Will requesting a consultation affect my credit score?

Sending the form doesn't involve a credit check by DebtCC. If a provider wants to check your credit, ask whether it's a soft or hard inquiry before you agree.

What happens to my information?

Your name, email, phone number and debt range go to a debt relief company that advertises on DebtCC so it can contact you. We don't sell your personal information to third-party marketers. Read our privacy policy for details.

Which debt option is right for me?

It depends on your credit, income and how far behind you are. Start with the comparison above, or read our full guide to choosing.

Free consultation

What happens after you send the form

You don't need a consultation to use anything on this site.

1You tell us your debt range and how to reach youTwo short steps. Nothing else is required.
2Your request goes to a debt relief providerA debt relief company that advertises on DebtCC receives your details.
3The provider contacts youThey ask about your debts and income, then explain what they offer.
4You decideNo fee to talk and no obligation to sign up.

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Start with step 1

Debt relief can hurt your credit and may cost more than you expect once fees are added.
Some creditors won't negotiate. Forgiven debt may be taxable.