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Are you currently in debt and you’re considering the option of applying for debt relief with California Debt Relief? If so, then this article is for you as we’ll discuss the following:
- What is California Debt Relief
- How Much California Debt Relief Org Costs
- Californiadebtrelief.org reviews
- The legitimacy of California Debt Relief
- Opinions about California Debt Relief on Reddit
- Alternative to California Debt Relief
- Pros and Cons of California Debt Relief
Now, if you are struggling with debt and wondering what to do next, we built a free, unbiased debt options comparison calculator (not even an email address is required) that provides a wide range of debt options that may be able to fit your budget. The data is personalized to your income and expenses, so you can get accurate costs, pros and cons, and options.
Now that you understand what we’ll discuss in this article, you can either skip to the section you’re interested in or read the piece to the end. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of the article:
What is California Debt Relief?
This organization helps homes and individuals indebted by connecting them to BBB accredited debt relief firms.
California Debt Relief understands that there’s no one-for-all solution for all and sundry. Thus, it tailors its recommendation to fit the debtor’s debt type and sum. It also takes time to identify each individual’s problem and refer them to a suitable company.
Although it aims to connect individuals to debt relief agencies, it also recommends that individuals seek legal and financial advice before locking in on debt settlement. Doing this helps debtors understand the long term effect of debt settlement. It also lets them know its short-term effects on their credit scores.
Additionally, the FTC has rules barring debt settlement companies from taking upfront fees. This is aimed at protecting consumers from the shady activities of some settlement firms. The only exception to this rule is debt settlement companies that are attorney-based. Those outside this scope can only get their pay after successfully negotiating an agreement.
How Much Does California Debt Relief Org Cost?
At Ascend, we believe that debt settlement may be a good option, but it’s only in the context of understanding all of your options and understanding the cost of that option. This is exactly why we built a free debt relief cost comparison calculator so that you are MOST informed.
So, what is the cost of California Debt Relief Org?
If California Debt Relief Org refers its leads to other debt relief providers or emergency debt relief in California, we can look at the other debt relief provider’s fees to understand the true cost.
We will cover this later, but California Debt Relief refers individuals out to Clear One Advantage, so it’s important to understand Clear One Advantage fees. If you look at the ClearOne Advantage’s FAQ, it states that the company only takes a fee once an account is settled, but that doesn’t explain how much.
If you look at the bottom, it has an estimate as 20% of enrolled debt: Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 50% before fees, or 30% including our fees, over 24 to 60 months. All claims are based on enrolled debts.
Finder states that the ClearOne Advantage fee is usually 25%.
Now, if you take the calculator above, you will probably get an estimate based on one of the companies that we work with that charges ~15%, and 15% is much lower than a 25% enrolled fee.
So, these fees are quite high compared to the small handful of companies that we refer folks to that are in the 15-17% range.
Just for reference, a lower fee can save you THOUSANDS of dollars and get you out of debt faster.
What Are Californiadebtrelief.org Reviews?
Only two platforms feature reviews on the company, and we’ll summarize those reviews in the first two below. However, since California Debt Relief seems to sell its leads to Clear One Advantage, we’ll give you a broader summary of reviews by looking at Clear One’s reviews on Google, BBB, and Yelp.
Finder’s Review
Source: Finder.com
California Debt Relief Org has just one review on Finder. In the review, a user claims that the company’s website provides inaccurate information in its survey. Beyond this, the reviewer also explained that the platform couldn’t offer assistance simply because its debt is $9,000, and not up to $10,000. Due to the inability of the company to help, the review left a 1-star rating.
Super Money Review
California Debt Relief has a positive review on Super Money. A reviewer by the name Smith J. detailed his experience using the website. According to him, using the platform was a rather eventful experience as he got value for his time. He claimed the site helped him find out the best debt relief option for him.
However, he faulted their online debt estimator as he said it brings out false figures. Beyond this, their services have been largely helpful, and they only connect users with the best debt settlement provider out there.
Google Reviews (of the company California Debt Relief refers to)
As California Debt Relief is not a debt settlement company itself, it’s imperative to understand the reviews of the company California Debt Relief refers you to.
ClearOne Advantage has 851 reviews on Google. It also has a rating of 3.9/5, which is fair enough if compared with its contemporaries. One such is by a certain Kelly Austin, who claimed that ClearOne was there for her family when they needed a large debt consolidation. They helped to resolve problems with lost funds, and other complexities that popped up.
However, another user described the scheme as a rip-off, simply because the company charged her double what was written off. She also claims that the program is difficult to withdraw from. As such, she advises users to negotiate themselves, as her credit is currently below 500.
BBB Reviews (of the company California Debt Relief refers to)
Clear One Advantage has a sum of 513 customer reviews on BBB. Beyond this, it also has an average review score of 3.73/5. In the review are a multitude of extreme views. Some opined that the company has been beneficial to reducing debt, while others outrightly advised others from using Clear One.
In its positive reviews, a number of consumers praised the company’s representative ethics. Some also said they were kind enough to explain each process to them, and helped them understand the complexities in each point.
In its negative reviews were complaints about the company’s fees. Some maintained that it’s sometimes as much as 25% of the enrolled debt. There were also complaints about their slow pace of negotiation, and lawsuits from creditors.
Yelp Reviews (of the company California Debt Relief refers to)
At the time of this writing, Clear One Advantage has 38 reviews on Yelp, but only one of those reviewers rated it. It was given a 1-star rating on yelp. Nearly all consumer reviews it got on Yelp feature people complaining about its exorbitant fees. A number of them also complained about poor communication, and their inability to solve debts on time.
Average Score
If my math skills still hold true, then it’s safe to believe that its average score from those platforms is 2.40/5.
Is California Debt Relief Legitimate?
Yes! California Debt Relief is a legitimate platform for getting debt relief referrals. Founded in 2005, California Debt Relief has been a funnel connecting people to debt settlement providers for 17 years.
Its workings are quite similar to TurboDebt, a company that serves as a marketing shell and a lead generation source mostly for debt settlement companies.
It currently features a number of accreditations that gives it some legitimacy. Here are some:
- It is BBB accredited and has an A+ rating with the organization
- For example, it is an AFCC member
- It is IAPDA accredited
- It is SURE compliant
What Do People Say On Reddit about California Debt Relief?
Not much on Reddit as most people are keeping it very general about debt relief as a whole. Threads on Reddit were mainly to verify the legitimacy and effectiveness of Debt Relief processes. One such is this thread, where a Reddit user wants to know if debt settlement in California is a scam. While some people believe it’s not worth it because it reduces your credit score, some users believe it’s worth it if you have no better alternative, and if your creditors are willing to negotiate.
Is California Debt Relief on BBB?
When you search for California Debt Relief’s review on BBB, chances are high that nothing will pop-up. So you might believe that the platform has no review on BBB. However, this is not true as the California Debt Relief is represented by Envoy Media Group Inc.
On BBB, California Debt Relief Org has an overall rating of 4.56/5 from the 25 customer reviews it has on the platform. The only negative review it got here was by a troll claiming that they don’t make payments, nor do they respond to calls. Other than this, its reviews are mostly 5-stars. Most reviewers commented on their great service, sending accolades to users for their ingenuity, and for being detailed with their explanations. A certain user particularly mentioned that the company has been helpful with its recommendations. Praising the company for being instrumental in ensuring that it exits debt.
What Are Alternatives to California Debt Relief Org?
There are many alternatives out there to California Debt Relief. Some highly reputable ones are:
- CuraDebt
- Oak View Law Group
- Bankruptcy
Let’s discuss these alternatives in detail:
CuraDebt
CuraDebt is a debt relief firm that helps to negotiate debt reduction to indebted consumers. Just like other organizations advertising their settlement services, it uses a method widely regarded as debt settlement to assist individuals to exit debt at an amount less than they originally owed. You can see whether you qualify here in 1 minute.
To use this method, debtors have to cease payments on what they owe. Instead, you’ll stay to set some funds aside into a dedicated account every month. The moment a significant amount is in the account (often 40% of the owed fund), the negotiation starts. The company focuses on reducing your balance, fees, and accrued interest.
Additionally, the company identifies favorable loopholes in TCPA and FDCPA and uses them to its advantage. To be more specific, the company identifies violations of those rules and uses them as a basis for settlements. In some instances, the debtor may get an outright debt dismissal.
In an instance where you’re uncertain about exiting debt, the company first holds a free consultation with you. Here you’re encouraged to ask any debt-related questions. They claim that you’ll be debt-free in 24-48 months
| Pros | Cons |
| You won’t be charged a fee before successful debt negotiation. | Users can’t monitor their debt negotiation process easily. |
| It has a free negotiation that helps you know if a debt settlement plan is great for you. | It lacks mobile app accessibility |
| Top-level experts help in debt negotiation | |
| It has a near excellent user review online |
Oak View Law Group
Oak View Law Group in collaboration with Debt Consolidation Care is primarily a legal service that offers debt solutions. Its debt service entails debt settlement, consolidation, and negotiation.
The company is a law firm and not a debt settlement company with a primary interest in debt settlement. It features a user-centric online dashboard that helps enrolled users monitor their debt settlement status. Its industry certifications entail
A major reason why this debt service provider made this list is that it doesn’t only settle debt, but also protects consumer rights. Providing full coverage for individuals at risk of lawsuits due to missed monthly scheduled payments. Here are the pros and cons of this method:
| Pros | Cons |
| It has a client satisfaction rate (over 80% client satisfaction rate according to its website) | It’s not accredited by AFCC |
| Its website has a host of features for monitoring debt status | |
| It helps to settle debt and legal support | |
| Its debt requirement is $1,500 | |
| It charges 15-25% as debt settlement fee |
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy, according to uscourts.gov, is a governmental scheme to help people neck-deep in debt to a fresh start by either liquidating their assets or creating another payment plan for them. This government program is enabled by laws mandating creditors to accept orders issued by bankruptcy courts.
This often entails accepting less than originally owed debt. So let’s say a debtor owes a credit card debt of $100,000, and the individual files for bankruptcy. Provided the debtor demonstrates that he/she can’t make monthly payments, they may be issued a discharge from their debt. Their discharge ensures that they’re free from debt, and creditors must not ask or harass them for the money again. For consumers, there are two main types of bankruptcy, and they are:
- Chapter 7 bankruptcy
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Chapter 7 is particularly regarded as liquidation bankruptcy as the debtor’s asset may be sold to repay unsecured creditors. For more information on this, then read here.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy on the other hand is regarded as repayment bankruptcy. This is because the bankruptcy court aims to restructure your payment sum and plan. However, the total debt repaid is often lower than the original debt owed. For more information on this, then read this article.
Let’s consider the pros and cons of bankruptcy:
| Pros | Cons |
| Bankruptcy can eradicate taxes older than 3 years. | It only helps with unsecured debt. |
| Once you file for bankruptcy, debtors can no longer aggressively request debt payments. | It lowers credit cards. |
| Bankruptcy gives a refresh on indebtedness. | It may take a long time before getting a discharge. Especially in the case of Chapter 13 bankruptcy. |
| State and federal exemptions prevent some of your assets from being liquidated. | Debtors lose current credit cards. |
| You can apply for bankruptcy multiple times. | The debtor’s name will exist on public records. |
In Summary
California Debt Relief is undoubtedly a legitimate sales funnel that masquerades as a debt relief settlement solution. However, several past reviewers have shown that it’s a platform that can deliver results, but often at exorbitant prices, and impacts your credit score. In this article are details on its debt settlement strategy, and its effectiveness.
