National Debt Relief vs Accredited Debt Relief: Fees, Minimums and Records Compared

By LoansGenerator.comLast updated October 1, 2026

Partner disclosure. Loans Generator has a direct business relationship with National Debt Relief and is paid when a reader we refer enrolls in its program. Loans Generator may also be paid when its loan matching service refers you to other debt relief companies, which can include Accredited Debt Relief. This does not change the facts reported here: both companies are described from their own pages and the same regulator searches, including where Accredited's published terms are clearer than NDR's. National Debt Relief did not review, approve or commission this page.

National Debt Relief and Accredited Debt Relief run the same kind of program: debt settlement, where you deposit into a dedicated account you own, usually stop paying enrolled debts, and the company negotiates each one down, charging a percentage of the enrolled debt after each settlement. Both quote fees of 15% to 25%. They differ on how much debt you need to start, how openly they publish account fees, how they describe results, and the size of their complaint files. This page compares them from each company's own pages and the regulators' records, checked October 28, 2026.

Key takeaways

Fees: both say 15% to 25% of enrolled debt, charged only after a settlement is approved and paid on.

Minimum debt: Accredited does not state a minimum; it says typical clients have $5,000 or more in unsecured debt and eligibility is case by case. NDR's qualifications page says you typically need $10,000 or more in unsecured debt; an NDR blog article, updated in August 2026, says $7,500.

Account fees: Accredited publishes $9.00 to set up and $9.75 a month. NDR does not publish its provider's fees.

Both publish a figure for clients who complete the program: Accredited says those who make all deposits pay back about 55% of enrolled debt before fees; NDR says completing clients save about 45% before fees, so about 55% paid. These describe completers, not typical clients, and an industry advertising review found earlier savings claims by both companies did not reflect typical results. Neither is a promise.

We found no CFPB or FTC enforcement action under either company's name. The Minnesota Attorney General included NDR in 2023 investigations into 52 student-loan debt-relief companies, and an industry advertising review asked each company to change some claims (Accredited's operator in 2022, NDR in 2025).

The two programs compared

	National Debt Relief	Accredited Debt Relief
Legal entity and base	National Debt Relief LLC, New York	Accredited Debt Relief, LLC, a DBA of Beyond Finance, LLC; notice address in San Diego; BBB profile in Chicago
Founded	2009	2011
Scale claimed	"More than 1.5 million people have enrolled"	"enrolled over 1.3 million clients"; "more than $15 billion in debt" resolved
Fee	"up to 25%" (homepage); "15%-25%" (qualifications)	"range from 15% - 25% though this may vary by state"
When the fee is charged	After you approve a settlement and at least one payment is made	"only earned after the client approves an offer and makes at least one payment under the new terms"
Minimum debt	$10,000 or $7,500, depending on the page	No stated minimum; "typical clients have $5,000 or more"
Dedicated account	FDIC-insured, "usually held through Global Holdings"	"owned and controlled by the client and operated by an independent third-party provider"
Account fees	Not published	$9.00 one-time setup and $9.75 a month
Program length claimed	"24-48 months," not guaranteed	"24-48 months"
Results claim	"45% before fees, or 20% including our fees" for completing clients (How It Works)	Clients "typically reduce their eligible monthly debt payments by 40% or more"; "$608" a month, which one footnote calls a median and another an average
BBB	A+, accredited; 544 complaints in 3 years	A+, accredited; 104 complaints in 3 years
ACDR member list	Listed	Listed

Sources: each company's own pages; Beyond Finance newsroom release, May 19, 2025; BBB.org; acdr.org. All accessed October 28, 2026.

Fees and account costs

Both companies charge a percentage of enrolled debt, the proportional method the federal rule allows, and both describe the fee trigger the way 16 CFR 310.4(a)(5)(i) requires: no fee until a settlement is reached under an agreement you sign and at least one payment is made. On $25,000 enrolled, 15% to 25% is $3,750 to $6,250 at either company. Neither publishes a fee by state.

Accredited is more specific about the account. Its published $9.00 setup fee and $9.75 monthly fee total $9.00 + (48 × $9.75) = $477.00 over 48 months. NDR's FAQ names the provider it usually uses but not the cost. Ask NDR for the provider's fee schedule in writing before comparing.

Minimum debt

Figure: debt figures as published on Accredited's homepage and FAQ (a typical client figure, not a minimum) and on NDR's qualifications page and blog, accessed October 28, 2026. Bars are to scale.

If you owe less than $7,500, NDR's published figures do not admit you, while Accredited says it reviews eligibility case by case and that its typical client owes $5,000 or more. Between $7,500 and $10,000, it depends on which NDR page is current. Below $5,000, calling each issuer about a hardship plan or a lump-sum settlement is usually the better first step.

How each describes results

The two companies lead with different measures, which makes their headline numbers harder to compare than they look.

Accredited leads with monthly payment relief: clients "typically reduce their eligible monthly debt payments by 40% or more," and "$608* a month," footnoted "Based on median client savings. Individual results vary." A second footnote on the same page calls $608 an average. NAD found an earlier Accredited claim of halved monthly payments was not typical. A lower monthly deposit than your current card minimums is not the same as owing less in total.
NDR leads with total savings on enrolled debt: its homepage says "Pay Up to 45% Less Than You Owe in as little as 24-48 months*," and the footnote on How It Works narrows that to clients "who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled," at "45% before fees, or 20% including our fees." NDR's disclaimer page shows that footnote and a second one, "46% before fees, or 25% including our fees." These are NDR's figures for clients who finished the program, and the National Advertising Division found that an earlier version of that claim did not represent the typical customer (details below). NDR adds that it does not guarantee any specific reduction or timeline.
Both publish a completer figure. Accredited's footnote says "Clients pursuing other debt consolidation options who make all monthly deposits, on average, pay back approximately 55% of their enrolled debt before fees." NDR's "45% before fees" saved means about 55% paid. Before fees, the two completer figures are about the same, but they describe completers, not typical clients, and an industry advertising review found earlier savings claims by both companies did not reflect typical results. After fees, both depend on the 15% to 25% fee in your contract.

The CFPB's warning applies to both: "debt settlement may well leave you deeper in debt than you were when you started." Run your own numbers with National Debt Relief fees, which works a $25,000 example to the cent.

Complaints and enforcement

BBB. NDR shows 544 complaints in the last three years and 133 in the last 12 months. Accredited shows 104 in three years and 18 in the last 12 months. NDR claims a somewhat larger client base, but neither company publishes active client counts, so the complaint rate per client cannot be calculated.

CFPB complaint database. National Debt Relief LLC has 414 complaints on file, 410 of them received since October 1, 2023. No complaints are filed under the names "Accredited Debt Relief" or "Beyond Finance." The database does list 418 complaints under Consumer Financial Services Solutions, Inc., which a Mississippi business filing names as the managing member of Beyond Finance, LLC, the company that does business as Accredited Debt Relief. The database does not say which brand each complaint is about. Counting debt settlement complaints received since October 1, 2023: NDR 312, answered 33 late, none closed with monetary relief; Consumer Financial Services Solutions 323, answered 74 late, 1 closed with monetary relief.

Enforcement. On October 28, 2026, the CFPB's enforcement actions list returned no results for "National Debt Relief" or "Accredited," and FTC.gov searches found no case brought against either company. For NDR, in September 2023 the Minnesota Attorney General announced investigations into 52 student-loan debt-relief companies "suspected of violating Minnesota law," and National Debt Relief LLC was on the list. The office's letter to NDR, dated August 29, 2023, asked for information about its student-loan services. We found no later published outcome naming NDR. The full NDR record is in is National Debt Relief legit.

Advertising review. BBB National Programs' National Advertising Division (NAD), an industry self-regulatory body and not a government agency, has reviewed both companies' ads. In November 2022 it recommended that Beyond Finance, doing business as Accredited, stop claims including "debt relief can cut your monthly payments in half," "reduce your total debt by up to 50%" and "debt free in as little as 12 months," finding them not typical, and Beyond Finance said it would comply. In October 2025 it reviewed NDR's website and commercials. It found that NDR's "24-48 months" claims suggested all of a client's debt, not only enrolled unsecured debt, would be gone in that time, that the limits appeared only in footers, and that NDR's then-current claim of 30% savings including fees did not reflect the typical customer. NAD recommended changes, and NDR said it would comply with NAD's reasonable recommendations. NDR's footers now give 20% or 25% including fees, depending on the page.

Which one fits which situation

Accredited may suit you better if: you owe less than $10,000 and NDR will not take you, or you want the account fees in writing before the first call.

NDR may suit you better if: you owe $10,000 or more and its written fee and account-fee quote comes in lower than Accredited's.

Neither fits if: you can still afford a reduced monthly payment, in which case a nonprofit debt management plan repays your debt without missed payments; your debts are secured or federal student loans; or you are already being sued, in which case see sued by a debt collector first.

If you sign up by phone, the federal protections are the same at either company: no fee before a settlement and a payment under it, and the right to cancel at any time and receive your account balance, minus earned fees, within seven business days (16 CFR 310.4(a)(5)(ii)(E)). The rule is quoted in debt settlement fees: what the FTC rule allows, and the general timeline is in debt settlement month by month.

Loans Generator is paid by National Debt Relief, a debt settlement company, when a reader we refer enrolls in its program. This does not change what we report.

See debt relief program optionsOpens National Debt Relief's site.

Credit and tax effects at either company

Settlement through either company typically relies on months of missed payments, which can stay on your credit report for up to seven years. Forgiven debt is generally taxable income unless you were insolvent when it was canceled; estimate the bill with the Form 1099-C guide.

More on NDR: the National Debt Relief review, how National Debt Relief works and National Debt Relief vs Freedom Debt Relief. All options are on the debt relief hub.

Common questions

Is Accredited Debt Relief cheaper than National Debt Relief?

Both publish fees of 15% to 25% of enrolled debt. Accredited publishes its account fees ($9.00 setup, $9.75 a month); NDR does not, so compare written quotes.

Which has the lower minimum debt?

Accredited does not state a minimum; it says typical clients owe $5,000 or more. NDR's qualifications page says you typically need $10,000 or more in unsecured debt; an NDR blog article, updated in August 2026, says $7,500.

Does Accredited's "40%" mean I owe 40% less?

No. Accredited's figure refers to reduced monthly payments on eligible debts, not to the total you owe.

Are both companies accredited?

Both are BBB accredited with A+ ratings and both appear on the Association for Consumer Debt Relief member list, an industry association, as of October 28, 2026.

Sources

National Debt Relief, homepage, "How It Works," "Debt Relief FAQs," qualifications page, "How Do You Qualify for Debt Relief?" and "Disclaimer," accessed October 28, 2026.
Accredited Debt Relief, homepage, "Frequently Asked Debt Relief Questions" and "Terms of Service," accessed October 28, 2026; "How We Help," accessed October 1, 2026.
Beyond Finance, newsroom release of May 19, 2025, accessed October 28, 2026.
Mississippi Secretary of State, business filing for Accredited Debt Relief, LLC (amended name Beyond Finance, LLC), accessed October 28, 2026.
Minnesota Attorney General, "Attorney General Ellison opens investigation into 52 student-loan debt-relief companies" and letter to National Debt Relief LLC dated August 29, 2023, accessed October 28, 2026.
BBB National Programs, National Advertising Division decisions on National Debt Relief, LLC (October 28, 2025) and Beyond Finance, LLC d/b/a Accredited Debt Relief (November 2, 2022, as republished by Lexology), accessed October 28, 2026.
Better Business Bureau, National Debt Relief and Accredited Debt Relief complaint pages, accessed October 28, 2026.
Association for Consumer Debt Relief, "Member List," accessed October 28, 2026.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Consumer Complaint Database and "Enforcement actions," queried October 28, 2026.
Federal Trade Commission, site search of ftc.gov for National Debt Relief LLC, Beyond Finance and Accredited Debt Relief, October 28, 2026.
16 CFR 310.4, Telemarketing Sales Rule, via eCFR, accessed October 28, 2026.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "What is a debt relief program and how do I know if I should use one?", accessed October 28, 2026.

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Disclosure: Loans Generator has a direct business relationship with National Debt Relief and is paid when a reader we refer enrolls in its program. Company terms cited here were checked on October 28, 2026 and change without notice. Results of any debt relief program are not guaranteed; programs that rely on missed payments can damage your credit and lead to collection suits, and forgiven debt may be taxable. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.