On this page12 sections
Debt Relief Advocates LLC appears to be a real, small debt settlement company: it has an Irvine, California address, an A+ BBB rating with accreditation since March 5, 2025, no BBB or CFPB complaints, and it is listed as an accredited member of the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (formerly the American Fair Credit Council). But it is new (BBB lists its start as October 27, 2023), and its website doesn't publish its fee percentage, minimum debt, states served or any state registration number. Get those in writing before you sign, confirm it charges nothing until a debt is settled, and compare a free nonprofit credit counseling session first, because debt settlement can hurt your credit and lead to lawsuits.
Your options
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Debt Relief Advocates This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. This review People with large unsecured debts they can no longer pay who have already ruled out credit counseling and want a quote from a smaller settlement firm.
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Americor This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. Alternative People with $7,500 or more in unsecured debt who cannot keep up with minimum payments and have ruled out credit counseling.
- Company
- Debt Relief Advocates LLC, 16808 Armstrong Ave., Suite 215, Irvine, CA 92606; phone 800-575-68182
- Business started
- October 27, 2023, per BBB2
- Service
- Debt settlement: you save into a program account while it negotiates with creditors to resolve debts for less than the full balance1
- Fees
- Not published on its website; the site says fees vary by state1
- Minimum debt and states
- Not published; the site says its service isn't available in all states1
- BBB
- A+, accredited since March 5, 2025; 0 complaints and 0 reviews in the last 3 years2
- Trade group
- Listed as an accredited member of the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR), formerly the American Fair Credit Council3
- State registration
- No NMLS number or California DFPI registration shown on its website; California requires debt settlement providers to register with DFPI6
Pros
- A+ BBB rating and accreditation, with no complaints so far
- Accredited member of the industry group ACDR
- No CFPB complaints on file
- Website disclosures warn about credit damage, lawsuits and taxes
Cons
- Fee percentage, minimum debt and states served aren't published
- Young company: BBB lists its start as October 2023
- No NMLS or state registration number shown on its website
- Small review sample, all five star on Trustpilot
- Debt settlement can lower your credit score and lead to creditor lawsuits
Best for: People with large unsecured debts they can no longer pay who have already ruled out credit counseling and want a quote from a smaller settlement firm.
Skip it if: You can still afford your minimum payments, you are already being sued by a creditor, or you want a company with a long track record and published fees.
Debt Relief Advocates vs. competitors
| Company | Type | Fee | BBB | State registration shown | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt Relief Advocates | Debt settlement | Not published; varies by state | A+, accredited since March 2025, 0 complaints | Not shown on its site | Visit site |
| National Debt Relief | Debt settlement | Up to 25% of enrolled debt | A+, accredited since 2013, 545 complaints in 3 years | Visit site | |
| Pacific Debt Relief | Debt settlement | No upfront fee; percentage not published | A+, accredited since 2010, 10 complaints in 3 years | NMLS #1250953 and California DFPI | Visit site |
| Money Management International | Nonprofit debt management plan | Average $38 setup and $35 a month, varies by state | Visit site |
Debt relief companies we reviewed
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Debt Relief Advocates This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. This review BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with large unsecured debts they can no longer pay who have already ruled out credit counseling and want a quote from a smaller settlement firm. -
Americor This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with $7,500 or more in unsecured debt who cannot keep up with minimum payments and have ruled out credit counseling. -
Freedom Debt Relief This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with large unsecured balances they can't pay in full, who can make steady monthly deposits for 2 to 4 years and accept the credit damage. -
National Debt Relief This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with large unsecured balances who are already behind, cannot qualify for a lower rate, and can afford a steady monthly deposit for two to four years. -
Cambridge Credit Counseling This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with steady income and credit card debt at high rates who could repay in three to five years if interest were lower. -
Credit Associates BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with $10,000 or more in credit card or medical debt they cannot repay, who are already behind and can stick with monthly deposits for two to four years. -
Money Management International BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with steady income and credit card debt they could repay in about five years if their interest rates were lower. -
Pacific Debt Relief This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with more than $10,000 in credit card or other unsecured debt who can't keep up with minimum payments but can save a steady monthly amount for two to four years.
Debt Relief Advocates, step by step
Free consultation
You give your debt amount, state and contact details, and a debt consultant reviews your debts and offers program options.
Enrollment
If you sign up, you stop paying enrolled creditors and make one monthly deposit into a program account instead. Ask who holds that account and what its fees are.
Negotiation
Once enough money builds up, the company negotiates with each creditor to settle the account for less than the full balance.
Approve each settlement
You approve each deal, the creditor is paid from your account, and only then can a settlement fee be charged under federal rules.
Finish or cancel
The program ends when enrolled debts are settled. Under the FTC rule you can quit at any time without a penalty and get your account balance back, minus fees already earned, within seven business days.
Debt Relief Advocates legitimacy and licensing
It appears to be a real company. Debt Relief Advocates LLC lists an office at 16808 Armstrong Ave. in Irvine, California, holds an A+ BBB rating with accreditation since March 5, 2025, and shows up on the Association for Consumer Debt Relief’s list of accredited members. We found no complaints about it with the BBB or the CFPB.
Two cautions: the business is young (BBB lists its start as October 27, 2023), so there is little track record, and its website doesn’t show an NMLS number or California DFPI registration. California has required Debt settlement. Negotiating with creditors to accept less than the full balance as payment in full. Compare debt relief companies companies to register with DFPI since February 15, 2025, so ask for the registration number and look it up yourself before you enroll.
Debt Relief Advocates cost
Debt Relief Advocates doesn’t publish its fee. Its website says only that fees vary by state and that its service isn’t available everywhere. For comparison, National Debt Relief charges up to 25% of Enrolled debt. The total balance of the accounts you put into a settlement program, which most companies use to calculate their fee. Compare debt relief companies.
Under the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, a debt settlement company that sells by phone can’t charge you anything until it has settled at least one debt, you have agreed to the settlement, and you have made at least one payment on it. Ask for the exact fee percentage, how it is calculated (on enrolled debt or on savings), and any monthly account fees, in writing, before you sign.
How the program works
You stop paying the creditors you enroll and instead save a monthly amount in a Dedicated account. An account you own, held by a third party, where you save monthly deposits used to pay settlements and fees. Compare debt relief companies. When enough builds up, the company tries to settle each debt for less than you owe. The company says it doesn’t take on your debts or pay your creditors monthly, and that not all clients finish the program.
Its own disclosures warn that while you aren’t paying, interest and late fees keep adding up, your credit will likely suffer, and creditors may send you to collections or sue. Some creditors won’t negotiate with settlement companies at all.
What customers say about Debt Relief Advocates
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Patient, knowledgeable consultants who explain options
- Personal attention and lower stress during the program
- Customers reporting settled accounts
Common complaints
- No negative public reviews found, but the sample is small: 44 Trustpilot reviews and no BBB reviews
- Fees and program terms aren't published, so you can't compare cost before a sales call
Risks to know before you sign
- Credit damage: missed payments are reported to the credit bureaus while you save.
- Lawsuits: a creditor can sue before your account is settled. If you are sued, talk to a lawyer right away.
- Taxes: forgiven debt of $600 or more can be reported on a 1099-C and may count as income, per the IRS.
- Dropping out: if you can’t keep up deposits, you may pay fees on some settled debts and still owe the rest.
The CFPB suggests trying nonprofit credit counseling first, since a Debt management plan (DMP). A repayment plan set up by a credit counseling agency that consolidates payments and often lowers interest, while you repay the full balance. Compare debt relief companies doesn’t require you to stop paying creditors.
Rules that protect you
The FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule bans advance fees for debt relief sold by phone. The money you save must sit in an account at an insured financial institution that you own and control, and you can stop working with the company at any time without a penalty; it must return your account balance, minus fees already earned, within seven business days.
In California, the Fair Debt Settlement Practices Act (in effect since January 1, 2022) bans deceptive practices, requires the company to give you its disclosures and an unsigned copy of the contract at least three calendar days before you sign, and lets you cancel at any time without penalty. If a company asks for money before settling anything, report it to the FTC or your state attorney general.
Debt Relief Advocates complaints and reviews
As of October 12, 2026, the BBB lists no complaints and no customer reviews, and the CFPB database has no complaints under its name. Trustpilot shows 4.8 out of 5 from 44 reviews, all five star, praising patient consultants. That is a small sample for a debt settlement firm, so weigh it lightly. If something goes wrong, you can file with the BBB, the CFPB, the California DFPI or the ACDR, which accepts complaints about its members.
Alternatives to Debt Relief Advocates
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A nonprofit debt management plan repays the full balance at lower interest without stopping payments, so it does far less damage to your credit.
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A settlement company with a much longer record (since 2002) that publishes its NMLS and California DFPI registration.
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Publishes its fee cap (up to 25% of enrolled debt) and its average results, so you can compare cost up front.
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Call your creditors yourself
Free: many card issuers offer hardship programs or will settle directly, with no settlement fee on top.
Next steps
Debt Relief Advocates reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used Debt Relief Advocates, yours will be the first.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Debt Relief Advocates a real company?
It appears to be a real company: Debt Relief Advocates LLC in Irvine, California has an A+ BBB rating, BBB accreditation since March 2025 and ACDR membership. It is young and doesn't publish fees or licensing, so verify those before signing.
What does Debt Relief Advocates charge for its services?
It doesn't publish its fee and says fees vary by state. Federal rules bar it from charging until a debt is settled and you've made a payment, so get the exact percentage in writing.
Is Debt Relief Advocates BBB accredited?
Yes. The BBB rates Debt Relief Advocates LLC A+ and lists it as accredited since March 5, 2025, with no complaints filed.
Where is Debt Relief Advocates located?
16808 Armstrong Ave., Suite 215, Irvine, CA 92606. Its phone number is 800-575-6818, with hours Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Is Debt Relief Advocates an AFCC member?
The American Fair Credit Council is now the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR), and Debt Relief Advocates is on ACDR's accredited member list.
Does Debt Relief Advocates hurt your credit?
Debt settlement usually does. The company's own disclosures say the program will likely hurt your creditworthiness because you stop paying enrolled creditors while you save.
Can creditors sue me during the program?
Yes. The company's disclosures say you may be sent to collections or sued. If you are served, contact a lawyer or legal aid quickly.
Is forgiven debt taxable?
It can be. The IRS generally treats canceled debt as income, and creditors may send a 1099-C. Ask a tax professional, especially if you might qualify for the insolvency exclusion.
Is Debt Relief Advocates the same as Advocate Debt Relief?
People search both names, but we only verified the company Debt Relief Advocates LLC at debtreliefadvocates.com. Check the website and phone number match before you share information.
What are free alternatives to debt settlement?
Call your creditors about hardship programs, or book a free session with a nonprofit credit counselor. A debt management plan repays the full balance at lower interest without stopping payments.
Sources (12)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Debt Relief Advocates: Home page and disclosures (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Debt Relief Advocates LLC profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Association for Consumer Debt Relief: Accredited member list (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Debt Relief Advocates reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFPB Consumer Complaint Database: search for Debt Relief Advocates (accessed October 12, 2026)
- California DFPI: CCFPL registration for debt settlement providers (accessed October 12, 2026)
- FTC: Debt relief services and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, a guide for business (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFPB: What are debt settlement/debt relief services and should I use them? (accessed October 12, 2026)
- IRS: Topic 431, Canceled debt, is it taxable or not? (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Debt Relief Advocates: Terms of Use (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Money Management International: Debt management plans (accessed October 12, 2026)
- California Civil Code section 1788.302 (Fair Debt Settlement Practices Act) (accessed October 12, 2026)
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