When it comes to paying back family members or someone truly in need, I believe those people should be paid back in full. But when it comes to working with some of these lending companies, it’s less of a moral issue and more of a simple numbers issue. 

The creditors that allow for debt negotiation do so for a reason. They know that in the end, they still come out on top and walk away with gobs of money. 

(Again, keep in mind that with debt negotiation, you’re still paying back a large sum, if not significantly more, than what you originally borrowed - just on better, less exploitative terms. It’s not as if you’re borrowing and paying back nothing)

That said, what does the Bible actually say about debt and debt negotiation? Well, in Psalm 37:21, God’s people are told they ought to repay their debts. But here’s what else was true: 

1st of all, the Israelites weren’t allowed to charge each other interest. Paying back your debt to a fellow Israelite wasn’t nearly as difficult as trying to repay a credit card at 29% interest. In fact, that would have never been allowed. 

Usury - the practice of making high interest loans that unfairly enrich the lender - which is what most banks are practicing today, is condemned throughout the Bible when lending from one Israelite to another:

Exodus 22:25 (NIV): "If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest."

- Leviticus 25:35-37 (NIV): "If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit."

- Deuteronomy 23:19 (NIV): "Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest."

Obviously, this concept of not charging interest flies in the face of modern day banking. 

Second, the concept of debt forgiveness is present in the Bible. It’s a way of restoring economic balance and relieving the poor.

In fact, debt forgiveness/cancellation was a common practice for Israelites. There were even laws that helped ensure lending didn’t become a tool for oppression.

- The Year of Jubilee: Every 50 years, debts were forgiven, and land was returned to its original owners (Leviticus 25:8- 55). This ensured that families could recover from financial hardships.

- Sabbath Year (AKA the Year of Release): Every seven years, debts were canceled (Deuteronomy 15:1-2), providing regular relief for those in debt.

We live in a time and a country where millions are being charged 20-30% or more on unsecured debts, which is an interest rate you wouldn’t have been paying back in the times of Moses. No wonder so many of God’s people struggle to get free!

We also see examples of debt forgiveness in the New Testament like the parable in Matthew 18. A servant owed his master 10 thousand bags of gold, and after much pleading, the master kindly cancelled the debt (verse 27). I’m pretty sure that amount the servant owed makes your debt look like peanuts.

All that to say, while it’s great to want to pay back these companies in full (and you often will, plus significantly more), a more important moral obligation is securing your family’s well being and financial future.

Not only that, debt negotiation can allow you to save and give more to those who truly need it vs. these massive companies sitting on huge sums of money. What could you do with that money instead for the kingdom? I’m sure you’d put that money to better than Wells Fargo or Bank of America.

Wanting to pay back what you owe is an admirable mindset, and it says a lot about your character. I completely understand where you’re coming from—many people feel a moral responsibility to repay every penny they owe.

But here’s the thing: by the time people enroll in debt negotiation, they’ve often already paid back the original amount they borrowed—and sometimes two or three times over—thanks to all the interest and fees.

It’s kind of like going to a restaurant, ordering a $15 burger, and then being charged $75 because they added fees for the plate, the napkin, and the air conditioning. At some point, it’s not about refusing to pay—it’s about saying enough is enough because you know you’re being taken advantage of.

Debt negotiation isn’t about skipping out on your responsibilities; it’s about finding a fair middle ground. By the end of the program, many people will have paid back a significant chunk of their debt—often close to or even more than the original loan amount.

What you’re avoiding is the endless treadmill of interest that keeps you stuck paying forever. You’re still doing the right thing—you’re just doing it in a way that finally lets you move forward."

There is no cost to sign up and nothing due on day one.  There are no fees upfront to pay. The only way they personally get paid is if they help you settle (more on that below).

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a great credit score. In fact, for many in the long run, debt negotiation is the first step to making that happen!That said, by going through debt negotiation, your credit score will dip temporarily. But let's be real: unless you're about to finance a car, buy a house, or refinance, your credit score is the least of your problems right now.

Here's something crucial to understand: there's a big difference between your credit score and your creditworthiness.Your score is just a number, but your creditworthiness - your actual ability to get more credit - depends on factors like utilization, debt-to-income ratio, and the interest rates you qualify for.

You might have a decent score right now, but if your creditworthiness isn't good, there's a good chance your credit can't be used for anything anyway, making it essentially an unusable asset.The good news is that settlements typically start happening within 3-6 months, and every time you settle an account, your score should actually tick up because that high utilization is no longer crushing your credit report.

In fact, it's not uncommon for people to graduate from debt negotiation programs with higher credit scores than when they started. You'd be surprised how much your credit can jump even in just a year, especially as your debt-to-income ratio improves with each settlement.Bottom line, think of debt negotiation like cleaning out a messy garage: it might look messy at first, but once everything's organized, you'll feel a huge weight lifted off your shoulders.

Plus, being debt-free puts you in a much stronger position long-term. And unlike just paying minimums forever, you'll actually have a finish line to cross.But before I move on, I have to rant for a second. Here's what really doesn't make sense to me: What's the use of a perfect credit score if you're drowning in debt and being ripped off by thousands, sometimes 10's of thousands of dollars?Think about it. Now maybe your credit score is high right now. But if your credit score is already low, let's say in the 500s, then what difference does it make if it goes down even more? You’re probably not getting loan offers left and right anyway at the moment.

At the end of the day, the number you should be most concerned about is the amount of debt you can potentially cut in half and the amount of ungodly interest you're no longer having to pay the creditors - NOT your credit score.That said, like I’ve mentioned, as long as you continue to be financially responsible after your settlements, your creditworthiness will organically recover.

It doesn't happen overnight, but gradually your credit becomes usable again after completing the program. Remember, this temporary dip in your credit score is just that - temporary. The financial freedom you gain can be permanent."But Jeremy,” you might ask, “I want to buy a house soon." Well, here’s the honest truth: When someone has a lot of debt, they also tend to have thinner-than-should-be savings.And buying a house without 10's of thousands extra in the bank for emergencies is a MASSIVE financial risk. It's a curse, not a blessing.

As soon as the basement floods, the roof leaks, the HVAC goes out, or you lose a job or some key customers, you're like the people I talk to facing bankruptcy, foreclosure, or living in a house that's literally deteriorating before their eyes because they can't afford the repairs.

It's catastrophic, and I NEVER want you to have to experience the fear I see in them.

Sometimes you’ll see settlements within weeks of getting started, but the average time to see first settlements is 3-6 months.

Creditors don’t always agree to settle right away—they like to drag their feet and see if you’ll pay more. It’s kind of like a staring contest, and your negotiation team has gotten pretty good at not blinking.

The process takes time because they want to negotiate the best possible deal for you. You also need time to save up enough for your negotiating team to help work out a deal.

But don’t worry—while they’re doing the heavy lifting, you’re building up your settlement fund, so when creditors do come to the table, you’re ready to make a deal.

Most programs last a maximum of 2–4 years, depending on your situation. That might feel like a while, but think about how long you’ve been stuck in the debt cycle already. This is your exit ramp!

And hey, 2–4 years of focused effort beats paying minimums for the next 20 years, right? Also, if you put more toward it each month, you can speed things up even faster and pay off the debt sooner!

During the program, you won’t be able to use your enrolled credit cards, but you might be able to keep a card or two for emergencies—just make sure it’s not part of the settlement program.

Even then, while you can leave them out of the settlement, a lender can still decide to close them. But lenders close accounts all the time anyway, even if someone isn’t in a debt negotiation program.

That said, since debt negotiation is all about freeing up your cash flow anyway, you’ll actually have more breathing room over time, so those emergencies won’t feel so overwhelming.

That’s because as you start lowering the monthly amount going to debt, and debts are being settled, you’ll have more money freed up in your budget to cover random emergencies. You’ll learn to live off the cash you have, not the credit cards (which is a great skill to master!).

Plus, credit cards aren’t as secure of a safety net as people think. You have no ultimate control whether or not the lenders decide to raise your interest rate or lower your credit line at a moment’s notice.

I’ve seen people log into their accounts and see $5,000 in available credit one day, and the next day, they log in to find the lender has dropped their line of credit by $5,000.

Now they’re maxed out, getting hit with overage fees, and their credit takes a massive hit. Logging into your account and seeing that happen is like a lion jumping out at you from behind a bush. Trust me, it’s not a fun feeling. 

That said, I still get that it can feel troubling to cut off the credit card safety net, but let’s be honest—if credit cards got us into a jam in the first place, maybe it’s time they went on a little vacation, right?

Debt negotiation is all about breaking the cycle and learning to live without relying on borrowed money. Most people find that once they stop using credit cards, they actually become better at budgeting and managing their cash.

It’s like taking a break from junk food—you might miss it at first, but eventually, you’ll feel healthier and more in control.Besides, once you’re debt-free, you can rebuild your credit and use cards again - responsibly this time, with the right habits in place.

Absolutely! Debt settlement isn’t a life sentence—again, it’s more like a financial reset button. Once you’re debt-free and have a chance to rebuild your credit, you’ll be able to get credit cards again.

And this time, you’ll be in control because you’ll have learned how to manage debt wisely. Think of it like a breakup: you and credit cards need some time apart to work on yourselves, but once you’re back together, it’ll be a healthier relationship.

Your program specialist will do a thorough budget with you to make sure you can find a payment that is manageable. They’ll ensure it fits your budget while still keeping you on track to ideally be out of debt in 2-4 years max. 

If they review your budget and it is not a great fit, they will advise you of this and work to find another solution if they can. The good news is most of their clients end up paying substantially less a month than what their high interest minimums are.

At the end of the day, the best payment to get out of debt is the highest one you can afford. This will give you the shortest program. But your specialist will take time to make sure whatever number they recommend does fit in your budget and lifestyle.

A consolidation loan can seem like a good option, and we're able to offer those if that's what makes the most sense. But it’s not always the magic fix it seems to be.

For one, you still owe the full amount and the interest keeps piling up. You're still overpaying on the debt and might as well set fire to a chunk of your paycheck. It just shifts the debt around like musical chairs without doing as much to save you money.

Plus, if your credit score has already taken a big hit, qualifying for a low-interest consolidation loan usually is nearly impossible. And let’s not forget, you could end up paying even more in total interest over time if the loan stretches the payments out over several years.