Two credit cards
Illustrative exampleEnrolled$18,000
Settled for$9,000
Illustrative fee$3,600
Length27 mo
Debt settlement and credit card debt relief
Watch your plan work before you sign anything.
Set your debt and number of accounts. Your plan plays out month by month, with every fee on its own line, before you share a single detail.
Since 2008 · Real people in English, Spanish and Hungarian
Your plan, visualised
Month 18 of 29
Illustrative example. Your results depend on your creditors.
- Paid to creditors
- $11,250 to $20,000Typical: settle for 45 to 60%. Conservative: 20% off.
- Illustrative fee
- $5,00020% of enrolled debt
- Program length
- 29 monthsMost run 24 to 48
- Monthly deposit
- $620Into your own account
Dedicated account · in your name
$4,710
+$620 deposit each month
Paid to creditors so far $4,650
Accounts settled 2 of 4
Account balance by month
| Account | Enrolled | Settles for | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card A | $9,000 | Pending | Negotiating |
| Card B | $7,000 | $3,360 | You approved |
| Medical bill | $5,000 | $2,250 | Settled |
| Personal loan | $4,000 | $2,400 | Settled |
| Illustrative fee (20% of enrolled) | $5,000 | $1,800 | Its own line |
You approved · Card B
$3,360 is paid to Card B from your account next month, plus its $1,400 illustrative fee. Nothing was paid before your yes.
This example follows the typical range, with the illustrative fee paid from your account as each settlement is paid. It is not a quote, a client portal or a promise. Not all debts settle.
Before anything else
The four answers we give before anything else.
What it costs, how long it takes, what can go wrong and who you will talk to. You should know all four before you decide.
What it costs
20%illustrative fee
A fee on the debt you enroll, shown in dollars in your plan before you sign. We use 20% on this page until the final figure is confirmed. It is always its own line, never hidden inside your savings.
Illustrative split of an enrolled balance. Results vary; not all debts settle.
How long it takes
24 to 48months
Most programs run 24 to 48 months. Accounts settle one at a time as your dedicated account grows.
What can go wrong
- Your credit score will drop during the program.
- Creditors may keep collecting, and they can sue.
- Forgiven debt may be taxable (IRS Form 1099-C).
- Fees apply, and they are shown in dollars.
- Not all creditors agree to settle.
- Not available in all states.
Who you will talk to
A real person picks up the phone. No bots.
A small, expert team led by Edit Furth, CEO. Clear Financial has been in business since 2008, and we also help clients abroad who hold a US SSN or ITIN.
ENEnglishESEspañolHUMagyar
Month by month
How a plan works, month by month.
Five steps. The fourth is the one that matters most: nothing is paid to a creditor until you approve it.
Today
Step 1Free consultation
Talk with a real person about your debts, in English, Spanish or Hungarian. It costs nothing and you are not signing anything.
Week 1
Step 2Open your dedicated account
You open an account in your own name and make one monthly deposit. It is your account, not ours.
Every month
Step 3We negotiate with each creditor
As your account grows, we work creditor by creditor to settle each debt for less than the balance.
Each offer
Step 4You approve every settlement before it is paid.
We bring you each offer in dollars. Nothing is paid until you say yes. Say not yet, and we keep negotiating.
Until done
Step 5Accounts resolve one by one
Each approved settlement is paid from your account. Most programs run 24 to 48 months.
What we do
Three ways we help. One thing we don't sell.
For people
Consumer debt settlement
For unsecured debt you are struggling to keep up with. We negotiate each account down, and you approve every settlement.
Credit cardsMedical billsPersonal loans
Illustrative example · $25,000 enrolled
Paid to creditors$11,250 to $20,000
Illustrative fee$5,000
Program lengthabout 29 months
For businesses
Business and MCA debt relief
For business debt, including merchant cash advance (MCA) negotiation, when daily or weekly pulls are eating your cash.
Business debt reliefFor businesses
Cash-flow consulting
Help planning the money coming in and going out, so the business can meet its obligations.
Cash-flow consultingWe don't sell consolidation loans. Here's why that matters.
A consolidation loan is new debt that pays off old debt. It can work if your credit gets you a lower rate. We don't lend money, so we have no reason to push you into a loan, and we will tell you if one would suit you better.
Settlement vs consolidationYour options
Settlement is one option. Here are the others.
Every path has a cost. This is the honest version, including the ones we don't offer.
| What we compare | What we do Debt settlement |
Consolidation loan | Debt management plan | Bankruptcy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | We negotiate with each creditor so you pay less than you owe. | A new loan pays off your old debts. You repay the loan. | A nonprofit credit counseling agency sets up one payment, often at lower interest. | A court process that can erase or restructure debt. |
| Cost | Less than your balance to creditors, plus a fee shown in dollars (20% illustrative). | Your full balance plus interest on the new loan, sometimes a setup fee. | Your full balance, usually at lower interest, plus a small monthly fee. | Court and attorney fees. |
| Time | Most programs run 24 to 48 months. | The loan term, often a few years. | Often 3 to 5 years. | A few months (Chapter 7) or 3 to 5 years (Chapter 13). |
| Credit impact | Your score will drop during the program. | Can help if you pay on time; a new loan and credit check can dip it first. | Enrolled cards are usually closed; impact is usually smaller. | The largest impact, on your report for years. |
| Who it fits | You owe $7,500 or more in unsecured debt and can't keep up with minimums. | Your credit is strong enough for a lower rate than you pay now. | You can repay the full balance if interest comes down. | Debt you can't realistically repay. Talk to a bankruptcy attorney. |
If another option fits you better, we will say so. A consolidation loan, a nonprofit plan or an attorney can be the right answer, and we would rather tell you that on the first call.
Finished plans
What a finished plan can look like.
Three illustrative examples with round numbers. They are not real clients and not a promise. They show how the math is laid out: what goes to creditors, what the fee is, and what is left unpaid.
Credit cards and a medical bill
Illustrative exampleEnrolled$32,000
Settled for$16,640
Illustrative fee$6,400
Length31 mo
Business: merchant cash advance
Illustrative exampleEnrolled$60,000
Settled for$33,000
Illustrative fee$12,000
Length39 mo
Paid to creditorsIllustrative feeNot paid (may be taxable, Form 1099-C)
Edit Furth
CEO · Clear Financial Company
No bots. When you call, a real person picks up the phone.
A small, expert team, in business since 2008. We speak English, Spanish and Hungarian, and we also help clients abroad who hold a US SSN or ITIN.
ENEnglishESEspañolHUMagyar
Talk to a real person
The honest check
Is this right for you? An honest check.
Debt settlement is not for everyone. Here is how to tell in a minute.
Probably a good fit if
- You owe about $7,500 or more in unsecured debt: credit cards, medical bills or personal loans.
- You are behind, or barely keeping up with minimum payments.
- You can set aside one steady monthly deposit.
- You want to avoid bankruptcy if you can.
Probably not a fit if
- You owe less than about $7,500 in unsecured debt.
- You could pay it all off within a few years. That usually costs you less.
- Your debt is secured, like a mortgage or car loan. Secured debt is not eligible.
- You need a loan. We don't offer consolidation loans.
Not a fit? Free help is available from a nonprofit credit counselor through the NFCC.
Read first
Read first, decide later.
Plain guides for the calls and letters you are getting now.
- Debt collectorsMidland Credit ManagementWho they are and how to answer a letter or call.
- Debt collectorsLVNV FundingWhy a company you never borrowed from says you owe it.
- Debt collectorsPortfolio Recovery AssociatesWhat to check before you pay or settle.
- CreditorsSettling with your card issuerHow settlement offers from banks usually work.
- ToolsCalculatorsPayoff, settlement and debt-to-income, no sign-up.
- GuidesDebt help for veteransOptions and free resources for service members.
- En EspañolAyuda con deudas en españolGuías y atención por teléfono en español.
Hard questions
The questions people are afraid to ask.
Tap a question for a straight answer. Still unsure? Call 866-659-7966
Will my credit score drop?
Yes. Your credit score will drop during the program. Missed payments and settled accounts show on your credit report. We would rather tell you now than have you find out later.
Clear Financial teamCan creditors still sue me?
Yes. Creditors may keep collecting while you are in the program, and they can sue. If you receive court papers, call us the same day so we can talk through your options.
Clear Financial teamIs forgiven debt taxed?
It can be. When a creditor forgives part of a debt, it may send you IRS Form 1099-C, and the forgiven amount may count as income. A tax professional can tell you what applies to you.
Clear Financial teamWhat do you charge?
A fee based on the debt you enroll. You see it in dollars, as its own line, before you sign. This page uses an illustrative 20% while the final figure is confirmed. The consultation is free.
Clear Financial teamDo you offer debt consolidation loans?
No. We don't lend money. If a consolidation loan would cost you less than settlement, we will tell you so on the first call.
Clear Financial teamWhich states do you serve?
Right now this site enrolls clients in Florida, Georgia, Texas and California. If you live somewhere else, we will say so plainly and point you to free nonprofit credit counseling. We also help clients abroad who hold a US SSN or ITIN.
Clear Financial teamLast step before your numbers
Check your state, then see your numbers.
Enrolling now in Florida, Georgia, Texas and California.
Your estimate comes first. We only ask for contact details after you have seen your numbers, and you choose whether we call.
See my estimate Prefer to talk? 866-659-7966