How the Site Works: Ascend's mission is to take the pain out of personal finance for everyone. Not everyone who comes to our site is currently best fit for the Ascend product, so we spend a great deal of time and effort finding partners that we hope will be beneficial to you.
How We Make Money: Our partners sometimes compensate us in the way of advertising. Some partners we recommend pay us referral fees for sending them new customers. If you click through an application link on our site and end up receiving the service, we may receive compensation when your application is approved, and you move forward with this product. Each partner is vetted based on the following criteria:
We prioritize lower interest rate providers.
We prioritize those who do not penalize checking your rate or have prepayment penalties.
We prioritize those that are customer experience focused. We measure this by the reviews on more unbiased review sites.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or financial advice.
Have you recently gotten a mailer from Lendvia offering a $96,000 personal loan with 5.99% APR, and were curious what their reviews say? Is their marketing misleading? In this article, we'll take a look at their customer experience, along with an alternate debt relief option to consider.
Who is Lendvia?
Lendvia is a financial services company that offers personal loan options including:
Consolidation
Home improvement
Travel
Educational
Weddings
Their loan amounts range from $1,000-$50,000 with interest rates ranging from 6.99%-35.99% APR - notice that these numbers greatly differ from what's advertised in the mailer above.
It's also worth noting that Lendvia operates as a d/b/a of Range View Management LLC, which has faced multiple lawsuits as recent as 2024. Find more details here. Just something to consider.
Source: https://lendvia.com/about/
But what do the reviews say?
Lendvia Reviews
Let's take a look at their customer reviews from Better Business Bureau, Google, and Yelp!
Better Business Bureau Reviews
On Better Business Bureau, they have a 4.2 rating out of 5-stars based on over 150 reviews.
You'll notice that the positive reviews are very complimentary of the customer service reps, but were the customers actually able to get the loans they're looking for?
As the first review mentions, often the overwhelming amount of positive reviews are left in the very beginning of the process, and aren't a good indicator to go off of for the program and services itself. The reviews also note condescending customer service reps when the customers began asking clarifying questions regarding the program they were being pitched. Notice, there isn't any mention of getting a loan.
Google Reviews
On Google they have a 3.9 out of 5-stars based on 100 reviews.
The positive reviews highlight a smooth and efficient experience, with many customers mentioning they were approved for their loans quickly.
While the negative reviews mention receiving frequent daily calls from Lendvia. Another reviewer also advise others to carefully read the fine print to fully understand what’s actually being offered, and expresses some doubt that the positive reviews are real.
One review mentions that Lendvia is associated with Guardian Litigation Group. Feel free to check out our article about them here.
Yelp Reviews
On Yelp, they have a 1 out of 5-stars based on 5 reviews that all appear to be negative.
The Yelp reviews mention being called repeatedly, despite being asked to be removed from their call-list, and that a classic 'bait-and-switch' was pulled. For those unfamiliar, this is in reference to being offered a loan initially, only to be persuaded into a debt settlement program instead. (Also known as debt consolidation.)
Debt settlement can be a completely legitimate option for some people. However, problems arise when folks get roped into these programs without fully understanding how they work, or what they really mean for their financial future. In many cases, people are simply looking for a personal loan to manage their debt. But if they don’t qualify for said loan, they’re instead pitched debt settlement, often without a clear explanation of the consequences.
A major part of a debt settlement program is intentionally falling behind on your payments, which is what gets creditors to the negotiating table. BUT, it also means your credit score will likely take a significant hit.
Again, this approach can be helpful in the right situation - but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, and it’s important to understand the risks and tradeoffs before enrolling.
One reviewer mentioned being transferred to Better Debt Solutions, which begs the question: who is Better Debt Solutions, and what is their part in this?
Who is Better Debt Solutions?
Better Debt Solutions (BDS) is a company that claims to "offer expert guidance to manage and alleviate financial burdens with tailored solutions for financial independence."
Source: https://betterdebtsolutions.com/
If you read the fine print at the bottom of their site, it mentions that they do not actually provide any debt relief services, and solely act as a middle man, referring their customers to other companies.
Better Debt Solutions Reviews
With that in mind, this may mean that these reviews are actually more-so about their partners, rather than Better Debt Solutions themselves. But let's check out their reviews on Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot!
Better Business Bureau Reviews
On BBB, they have a 4.87 out of 5-star rating, based on over 500 reviews.
As we saw with Lendvia's reviews, the positive reviews only seem to mention how great the customer service was.
However, many reviews mention receiving excessive unsolicited calls. One also mentions how they were looking for a loan, but were offered a debt relief program instead. Sound familiar?
TrustPilot Reviews
On TrustPilot they have a 5/5 rating based on over 3,500 reviews. But will we find more of the same with positive reviews mainly about their customer service?
The answer is yes: the majority of positive reviews are brand new customers that are pleased with the customer service they received, with no additional insight on their experience on completing the program, or receiving a loan.
One of the customers below claims this was "the worst decision", mentioning that their credit took a hit for the worse. Another mentions that they specifically didn't want to explore debt consolidation/reduction, again, only to be offered exactly that.
Explaining Debt Consolidation Loans vs. Programs
As we've seen in the negative reviews above - some debt relief companies send unsolicited loan offers in the mail that sometimes lead to debt settlement programs, rather than actual loans. Before you sign onto anything, make sure that the offer actually aligns with your expectations and that there aren't any hidden fees or terms.
Debt consolidation loans and debt consolidation programs couldn't be more different. We'll include a video below with a detailed breakdown, to help you better understand the main differences between them:
Still Looking for a Loan?
If you'd still like a loan to better manage your debt, check out our free calculator below! Using this calculator, you'll find three loan options, along with estimated costs for other debt relief options, such as Non-Profit Credit Counseling.
No personal information is required, unless you choose to share.
Explore your options below:
Have You Heard of Non-Profit Credit Counseling?
If you don't qualify for a loan and aren't interested in bankruptcy or debt settlement, you may want to consider Non-Profit Credit Counseling. With this low-cost/free option, you'll be connected with a credit counselor to help you understand your debt and create a plan to lower your interest rates and payments. (This option is also mentioned in the calculator above!)
Watch this video for all the details to learn more about it:
Final Thoughts
The truth is, many people do not qualify for debt consolidation loans - but if you're exploring an alternate route, it's important to fully understand your options before committing to anything.
Finding the right company to work with can be challenging, especially with mixed reviews out there. Absolutely take the time to read both the positive and negative experiences to see what aligns best with your financial needs and goals.
We know dealing with debt can feel overwhelming and is a deeply personal journey, but you don’t have to go through it alone. If you have any questions or just want to talk through your options, give us a call at 833-272-3631. We’re here to help and happy to chat anytime, at absolutely no cost to you.
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