First Choice Debt Relief
Author: Kaitlyn Short
First Choice Debt Relief started in 2008 and is headquartered in Orange, California. The financial service organization offers a variety of services, including debt consolidation services, a debt consolidation loan, debt settlement, bankruptcy services, and credit counseling. First Choice Debt Relief complies with FTC regulations and claims to act in the client's best interest above anything else.
First Choice Debt Relief claims to be able to reduce credit card debt through its debt consolidation program in as little as 12 to 48 months. Through its debt consolidation program, customers can enjoy one low monthly payment and no upfront fees.
The debt settlement program can be completed in 24 to 48 months, and customers work one-on-one with an account manager throughout the process. With debt settlement, customers can settle unsecured loans, credit card debt, collections, medical bills, and more.
The settlement program can act as a fast way to resolve debt and stay clear of bankruptcy. The company claims that its debt settlement program can provide customers with lower payments than their current monthly minimum payments.
First Choice Debt Relief also caters to Spanish speakers.
The company is AFCC and IAPDA accredited.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Well-Established
- Debt Calculator
- Standard Prices
- Money-Back Guarantee
- Performance-Based Fees
Well-Established
First Choice Debt Relief has been in the industry since 2008. The company boasts serving over 2,000 clients across the country, and it has negotiated with 89 different banks. First Choice Debt Relief claims to have resolved $30,000,000 in credit card debt.
Debt Calculator
First Choice Debt Relief customers can enjoy a debt calculator that helps them understand how long it will take to pay off their credit card debt. One can see the difference in the totals from choosing to just pay the minimum payments, or using one of the debt relief programs.
Customers can input their total unsecured debt, targeted months to pay the debt off, number of creditors, and average interest rate to discover the total cost and total time to pay off the debt. Totals can be seen for the following: First Choice Debt Relief consolidation, just paying the minimum payments, credit counseling, and other consolidations loans.
Standard Prices
Though prices are not explained in depth, customers who have made all of the payments for the program saved an average of 50 percent before fees, and 25 to 35 percent with First Choice Debt Relief fees. These savings are pretty average for the industry. Costs vary from state to state. Those who complete the program can possibly settle their debt for 40 to 60 percent of what is owed.
Money-Back Guarantee
The company's services are backed by a money-back guarantee. First Choice Debt Relief stands behind its services and includes a service fee money-back guarantee with all of its debt relief programs.
At the end of the program, if one has paid back the total amount to their creditors (including the service fee), and the total exceeds the original balance, First Choice Debt Relief will refund the difference. However, it is important to note that the guarantee doesn't apply to customers enrolled in an attorney-based debt settlement program.
Additionally, the money-back guarantee does not promise balances will be lessened by a specific balance or timeline.
Performance-Based Fees
First Choice Debt Relief doesn't charge any fees for its debt relief program until after the customer's debt has been resolved.
The Bad
- First Choice Does Not Provide Legal Assistance
- Lacking State Eligibility
- Website Lacks Important Information
First Choice Does Not Provide Legal Assistance
The company does not do anything to help its customers if legal action is filed against them. Since First Choice Debt Relief is not a team of attorneys, it does not provide legal assistance; the company will, however, negotiate accounts with creditors, collection agencies and collecting attorneys.
Lacking State Eligibility
The company's website states that First Choice's debt relief services are not available in all states.
Website Lacks Important Information
First Choice's website lacks a lot of key information.
It does not elaborate on necessary information on fees. While the company does not charge upfront fees, it is unclear whether or not First Choice Debt Relief charges late or cancellation fees. The company also does not explain the specifics of its monthly fee.
Additionally, the website does not clarify whether the company has a minimum debt requirement. While there are debt settlement examples and testimonials on their website, there are no examples or testimonies of First Choice's debt consolidation loan on third-party sites.
The Bottom Line
First Choice Debt Relief offers a variety of debt relief options, including debt consolidation services, a debt consolidation loan, debt settlement, bankruptcy services, and credit counseling.
People who are having trouble making their minimum monthly payments can look into First Choice's debt relief options. First Choice Debt Relief has been in the industry since 2008, giving it more than a decade of experience in resolving consumers' debt. First Choice Debt Relief is accredited by the AFCC and IAPDA, and the company doesn't charge any fees until one saves money with their program. Additionally, First Choice Debt Relief offers a money-back guarantee that will refund the difference if the total amount the customer pays their creditors, combined with the First Choice service fees, exceeds the original balance.
While the company's prices are standard for the industry, the website lacks key information, such as specifics on its pricing and which states they do not offer their debt relief services to.
First Choice Debt Relief is an option worth exploring for customers interested in debt consolidation or debt settlement, as long as they are willing to do more research on whether its services are available in their state.
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MIGUEL MEDEROS Sacramento, CA
2 years ago
Kathy
5 years ago
