National Debt Relief review.
Consumer debt settlement
The biggest badge collector in debt relief. Legitimately excellent, for credit cards. An MCA is not a credit card.
Our verdict
Let’s be clear about what National Debt Relief is: a real, accredited, A+ BBB company with an enormous track record: over $1 billion settled, more than half a million clients, and Forbes Advisor’s top debt-relief pick four years running. For unsecured consumer debt, they are legitimately excellent, and their fee disclosure is a model for the industry.
Now the part the badges don’t tell you. An MCA is not a credit card. It’s structured as a purchase of your future receivables, it often arrives with a UCC-1 filing and a confession of judgment attached, and the funder’s collection playbook moves in days, not billing cycles. The consumer settlement machine (enroll, save into escrow, negotiate over 24–48 months) was not built for that machinery, and pointing it at a funder can accelerate exactly the enforcement you’re trying to avoid.
So the ranking is a fit question, not a quality question. If your real problem is personal unsecured debt (and for plenty of owners it is, because the business debt is cross-defaulted onto personal cards) NDR will serve you well. If the problem is an advance with your receivables pledged against it, the badge on their homepage is for a different problem than yours.
What we like
- Over $1 billion settled for 550,000+ clients, scale nobody else on this list matches
- Forbes Advisor’s top debt relief company four consecutive years, cited for fee transparency
- A+ BBB with thousands of reviews; deep customer-service infrastructure
- Handles unsecured business debt alongside personal balances
What gave us pause
- Built for credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans. Not commercial paper
- No machinery for UCC-1 liens, confessions of judgment, or funder litigation
- 24–48 month program clock, which an MCA default timeline will not respect
Who it’s for
- Owners whose real burden is personal credit cards and loans
- Unsecured business debt without UCC/COJ complications
- Anyone who values maximum brand accountability
Who should look elsewhere
- Merchant cash advances or funder litigation
- Anyone who needs resolution in weeks
How National Debt Relief stacks up against our #1 pick
In their own words
What customers wrote about National Debt Relief
What satisfied customers wrote
“Quick. Personal, Doable. From the outset NDR has been prompt, clear, and knowledgeable in their communications and explanations especially regarding plan options to meet my financial relief needs. Best of all, they really listened when I reviewed the issues that led me to their services. They made me an active part of the process with estimated goals and timeframes with which to monitor my progress and online learning resources to manage my fiture financial health. I look forward to overcoming my Sisyphean finances.”
★★★★★ E. D · 08/18/2026 · BBB
“After talking I felt a huge relief off my shoulders I would highly recommend all my questions were answered and nothing feels better then knowing i could feel like Im on a good start to becoming debt free”
★★★★★ Christine H · 08/17/2026 · BBB
“Just joined the program days ago and staff has been amazingly supportive. So happy that I took the step while my debt accounts were in good standing. Looking forward to move on with the program and have better control and get back on track.”
★★★★★ Rose P · 08/16/2026 · BBB
What complaints and critics wrote
“I would not recommend this program to absolutely anyone unless you want to pay way more money then you should. I was rapidly funding my account almost $1200 in a month and a half, as we are trying to rebuild our credit and work on buying a house. This was way over the requested funding for my account and I started getting settlement offers. They settled one of my accounts from $1700 to $436 which I thought was great I was starting to get super excited. They secured this settlement by paying $50 and then turned around and charged me $500 for there fees for settling before the account was even settled or resolved. then stated I needed to make more payments so they could pay this in full. It really [name withheld] because so many people looking into this are probably like us and are just trying to do better for them selves but leave it to big corporations to stick it to the common man trying to do better. I am out over $900 now and no accounts settled. I am currently fighting with them to get my money back and my next step will be disputing with my bank, if a resolution can not be received.”
★ Haley C · 08/19/2026 · BBB customer review
“I hired national debt relief for a few of my credit cards. They never settled any of them in the three years I was paying them. When I called to cancel they said I had no money in the savings account. I paid over 200 a month for three years. I ended up just filing bankruptcy. Such a scam! I want my money back. Or at least a print out of where my money went!”
Complainant · 07/29/2026 · BBB complaint · Product Issues
“I cancel the program national debt relief and july [name withheld]. They keep adding fees july31,2026 from my savings account. I dont want more fees. I want them to return what i spoke in the phone 1450. Even thought i had more them2700 in savings account the charge [name withheld] more feees. They promise me 1450. They dont send my proof of what im going to get. They dont want to give papers canceling my program july 30 spoke with nataly. I need proof they will return my 1450 and that they will not charge me more fees. They dont want to send my check please help.”
Complainant · 07/31/2026 · BBB complaint · Product Issues
Quotes are reproduced exactly as written, including original spelling and punctuation, and are trimmed only with an ellipsis where marked. Where the BBB has redacted an employee’s name we show [name withheld]. Reviewers are identified only by the display name their platform shows. We pick quotes to represent the range on each profile, not to make a case, and we publish the overall rating and review count beside them so you can judge how typical any one of them is. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
The court record
Lawsuits involving National Debt Relief
27 matters on file, grouped by who did the suing, because those are not the same fact. We confirmed every one against a court record.
Lawsuits involving National Debt Relief (27)
Each entry is tagged by who brought it. A funder suing a settlement firm and a client suing one are close to opposite facts, so read the tag before the caption.
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Client sued Emery v. National Debt Relief, LLC Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionVoluntarily dismissed. Text order of February 23, 2021: 'this action is dismissed with prejudice as to Plaintiff's individual claims and without prejudice as to the putative class members' claims.'
Putative class action alleging violations of federal telephone-solicitation restrictions arising from calls or texts to the plaintiff; resolved by voluntary dismissal without any merits ruling.
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Client sued Schopp v. National Debt Relief, LLC See disposition
DispositionReferred to a mediator September 15, 2025; stipulation of dismissal filed November 5, 2025. Terms not public.
Action alleging violations of federal telephone-solicitation restrictions; resolved by stipulated dismissal following mediation.
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Client sued Cacho v. National Debt Relief LLC Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionVoluntarily dismissed; order dismissing case and closing civil case entered April 20, 2026 (Judge Kathleen Cardone)
Action alleging violations of federal telephone-solicitation restrictions, filed by a plaintiff appearing without counsel, which also named Robert Stanley Gitmeid and the Law Offices of Robert S. Gitmeid & Associates PLLC as co-defendants; voluntarily dismissed.
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Client sued Vasile v. National Debt Relief LLC Pending
DispositionPending; answer filed December 19, 2025
Action alleging violations of federal telephone-solicitation restrictions; the company has answered and the matter remains pending.
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Client sued Omeed Tabiei v. National Debt Relief LLC Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionVoluntarily dismissed without prejudice May 30, 2019
Action alleging violations of federal telephone-solicitation restrictions; voluntarily dismissed without prejudice.
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Client sued Karestin Thompson v. National Debt Relief, LLC Dismissed, without prejudice
DispositionDismissed without prejudice April 28, 2020 (Judge Percy Anderson)
Action alleging violations of federal telephone-solicitation restrictions; dismissed without prejudice.
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Client sued English v. National Debt Relief Dismissed, without prejudice
DispositionDismissed without prejudice January 14, 2019
Action brought under the Telecommunications Act (cause 47 U.S.C. 332) which also named Alex Kleyner and Daniel Tilipman as co-defendants; dismissed without prejudice.
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Client sued Combs v. National Debt Relief Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionCourt order of August 13, 2018 states 'This case has been reported settled'; notice of voluntary dismissal filed August 30, 2018
Action under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681, in which the company moved to dismiss before the case was reported settled and voluntarily dismissed.
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Client sued Ostrowsky v. National Debt Relief, LLC Dismissed, with prejudice
DispositionDismissed with prejudice August 29, 2018, 'each party to bear their own costs, fees, and expenses'
Action under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681; dismissed with prejudice with each side bearing its own costs.
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Client sued Clayton v. National Debt Relief LLC Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionVoluntarily dismissed; case closed April 18, 2017
Action under the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 1640; voluntarily dismissed.
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Client sued Voegtli v. National Debt Relief, LLC Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionNotice of voluntary dismissal filed July 31, 2026
Action under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 1692; voluntarily dismissed.
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Client sued Lombardi v. National Debt Relief, LLC Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionJoint stipulation of voluntary dismissal without prejudice under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii), June 16, 2020
Diversity action docketed under nature of suit 370, Other Fraud; resolved by joint stipulation of voluntary dismissal without prejudice.
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Client sued Vincent v. National Debt Relief LLC Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionCompany's motion to compel arbitration DENIED July 8, 2024 (Judge Lewis J. Liman): 'The motion to compel arbitration and stay the case is DENIED.' Plaintiff then filed a notice of voluntary dismissal WITH PREJUDICE on August 7, 2024. No class was certified and no classwide relief was ordered.
Putative class action docketed under nature of suit 360 in diversity, brought by Bursor & Fisher, in which the court denied the company's motion to compel arbitration and the plaintiff subsequently dismissed her own claims with prejudice.
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Client sued Cavalier v. National Debt Relief LLC Settled
DispositionSettled in principle. Order of dismissal February 21, 2025: 'all claims asserted herein have been settled in principle … DISMISSED and discontinued without costs, and without prejudice to the right to reopen the action within sixty days … if the settlement is not consummated.'
Diversity action docketed as Contract: Other brought by plaintiffs Dominique Cavalier and Justin Caffier through Carney Bates & Pulliam; dismissed after the parties reported a settlement in principle.
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Client sued Hantel v. National Debt Relief, LLC Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionNotice of settlement May 12, 2025; stipulation of voluntary dismissal entered July 18, 2025
Diversity action docketed as Contract: Other; resolved by stipulated voluntary dismissal following a reported settlement.
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Client sued Bernardi v. National Debt Relief, LLC Pending
DispositionPENDING. Company moved to dismiss the first amended complaint November 10, 2025; briefing completed December 22, 2025; an order issued July 31, 2026 whose content could not be retrieved. Outcome of the motion to dismiss NOT verified.
Diversity action docketed as Contract: Other brought by plaintiffs Loretta Jean Bernardi and Solomon Huebner-Mendoza; a motion to dismiss the amended complaint was fully briefed and an order issued whose disposition is unverified.
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Client sued Allen, James v. National Debt Relief, LLC Sent to arbitration
DispositionCompelled to arbitration and stayed. Order of October 24, 2025: 'Defendants' unopposed motions to compel arbitration and stay are GRANTED. Plaintiff and defendants shall participate in arbitration consistent with the arbitration provisions outlined in the Multiple Advance Loan Agreement, Debt Settlement Contract, and Retainer. This matter is STAYED until such arbitration occurs. See 9 U.S.C. Sec. 3.'
Consumer action in which the court granted unopposed motions to compel arbitration under the parties' loan agreement, debt settlement contract and retainer, and stayed the case pending arbitration.
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Client sued Garcia v. National Debt Relief LLC Pending
DispositionPending; answer filed February 26, 2026
Consumer action against National Debt Relief, LLC; the company has answered and the matter remains pending.
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Client sued Elizabeth Allen v. National Debt Relief, LLC See disposition
DispositionStatus not verified. Answer filed March 30, 2026; scheduling order May 4, 2026; a June 26, 2026 entry labeled 'Dismiss Case'. CourtListener shows no termination date and the entry text is a bare label.
Consumer action against National Debt Relief, LLC in which the docket reflects an answer, a scheduling order, and a later entry labeled as a dismissal whose content and effect could not be confirmed.
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Client sued Garcia v. National Debt Relief LLC Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionNotice of voluntary dismissal filed May 27, 2026
Consumer action against National Debt Relief, LLC; voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff.
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Client sued James S. Mendoza v. National Debt Relief, LLC Pending
DispositionPending; outcome not verified. Motion to compel arbitration filed May 20, 2026; motion to remand to state court filed June 2, 2026; a July 29, 2026 entry labeled 'Compel Arbitration AND Remand Case to State Court' whose disposition could not be confirmed.
Consumer action removed to federal court in which competing motions to compel arbitration and to remand were filed; the resulting order's content could not be retrieved.
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Client sued Holt v. National Debt Relief LLC Pending
DispositionPending. An order on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion issued July 22, 2026 whose content was not retrievable, so the outcome is NOT verified; scheduling order and ADR order entered August 12, 2026.
Consumer action in which the court ruled on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and thereafter entered scheduling and ADR orders; the substance of the dismissal ruling is unverified.
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Client sued Murga Orci v. National Debt Relief, LLC Pending
DispositionPending; answer filed July 28, 2026
Consumer action against National Debt Relief, LLC; the company has answered and the matter remains pending.
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Client sued Castrillo v. National Debt Relief LLC Voluntarily dismissed
DispositionNotice of voluntary dismissal filed May 27, 2026, fourteen days after the case was filed
Consumer action against National Debt Relief, LLC voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff two weeks after filing.
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Client sued Sues v. National Debt Relief LLC Remanded
DispositionDecided May 14, 2021. The Circuit Court had denied the company's motion to compel arbitration; the Intermediate Court of Appeals VACATED and REMANDED with instructions to GRANT the motion, holding that an arbitration provision is severable from the remainder of the contract. This is a procedural ruling on arbitrability and made NO finding about the company's conduct.
Putative class action alleging violations of Hawaii's debt adjuster statute in which the appellate court held the contract's arbitration provision severable and directed the trial court to compel arbitration.
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Other National Debt Relief, LLC v. Season 4, LLC and Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC Judgment against
DispositionJUDGMENT AGAINST THE COMPANY. Order of June 24, 2024: 'The defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint (Dkt 26) is granted, substantially for the reasons stated in the report and recommendation … of Magistrate Judge Parker. The dismissal is for want of subject matter jurisdiction as to…' Clerk's judgment entered June 27, 2024 in favor of Season 4, LLC and Milberg and against National Debt Relief, LLC.
National Debt Relief, LLC brought Lanham Act trademark infringement claims against a marketing entity and a law firm; the complaint was dismissed for want of subject matter jurisdiction and judgment was entered for the defendants.
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Other Sanaiya Carlton v. National Debt Relief LLC Pending
DispositionPending; docketed June 14, 2026
Appeal arising from the employment discrimination action CARLTON v. National Debt Relief LLC, D.N.J. 2:26-cv-00944, in which a motion to compel arbitration was filed February 20, 2026 and an order issued May 21, 2026 whose outcome was not verified. This is an employment matter, not a consumer matter.
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Claims we could not verify, and therefore do not state as fact: “National Debt Relief installs the Claritas TRKN tracker and violates the California Invasion of Privacy Act (the Vincent case)” (topclassactions.com); “National Debt Relief unlawfully shared consumer data with Meta and Google (March 2025)” (Bloomberg Law headline and Class Action U); “Spam emails to veterans falsely appearing to come from the Department of Veterans Affairs (the Castrillo case)” (a search-result summary); “A judge denied the company's motion for summary judgment in early 2024 in a TCPA case” (thecreditpeople.com, an SEO page); “'National Debt Relief Provider Reaches $9 Million Settlement with FTC' (JDSupra / Goodwin, March 2017)” (JDSupra and Goodwin); “Paul Sapan v. National Debt Relief Group Inc, C.D. Cal. 8:15-cv-00150 (TCPA, filed 2015-02-01, dismissed with prejudice 2015-03-23)” (CourtListener RECAP); “Any CFPB civil investigative demand issued to the company” (n/a — coverage limitation); “State-regulator discipline in CA, TX, IL, MN or FL, or on NMLS 1250950” (n/a — coverage limitation); “Identity of any equity owner or parent holding company” (SEC EDGAR full-text search); “Outcomes of the July 31, 2026 order in Bernardi, the July 29, 2026 order in Mendoza, the July 22, 2026 order in Holt, the June 26, 2026 entry in Elizabeth Allen, and the May 21, 2026 order in CARLTON” (CourtListener RECAP docket labels). Each appears online with no court, caption, or docket behind it. We list them so you know we looked.
Court records are public and they change. A filed complaint contains allegations, not findings, and a case appearing here is not a conclusion that the company did anything wrong. Where a case ended, we say how it ended. Where we could not confirm a docket, we say that too. One limit worth knowing: free docket sources show only what someone has already paid to fetch, so a case we describe as open may have been resolved since the date shown against it. Treat every date here as the last time the record was refreshed, not as today. Last verified August 24, 2026.