Debt Relief You Can Count On.

Yes, you can negotiate your own debt directly with creditors or collection agencies. Many Texans take this route, especially if they have only one or two accounts in collection and feel comfortable handling the back-and-forth conversations. However, it’s important to understand that debt collectors are professionally trained to recover as much money as possible, and they often work on commission. This means their goal is to maximize what you pay, not necessarily to find the best outcome for your financial situation. If you aren’t familiar with debt laws, including the Texas Debt Collection Act and the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you might feel overwhelmed or unintentionally agree to terms that are not in your best interest.

Working with a professional negotiator can help level the playing field. Debt specialists often have established relationships with creditors and may even negotiate in bulk when working with multiple clients, which can lead to better settlement rates than an individual might secure alone. In addition, professional negotiators know how to avoid common pitfalls, such as restarting the statute of limitations on old debts, which in Texas is typically four years. By understanding both state-specific protections and creditor tactics, they can reduce stress and improve the likelihood of a favorable outcome.

That said, if you’d prefer to try handling negotiations yourself, it’s absolutely possible—and some people succeed, especially if they prepare well and stay consistent. Our Texas Debt Specialists are happy to share free resources and guidance so that you feel more confident in the process. The key is making sure you understand your rights under Texas law, have a clear plan for what you can realistically afford, and remain patient and persistent throughout the negotiations.

Yes. Once you fall behind on payments, most creditors will continue to add interest and, in many cases, late fees to your account balances. This typically happens during the first several months of delinquency, and it’s something we account for when estimating your total program costs. The good news is that these added amounts are factored into your final settlement, meaning they are included in the negotiated payoff and not treated as separate charges. You’ll also only pay performance fees based on the balances you originally enrolled, not on the extra interest and fees that creditors tack on after enrollment.

It’s important to understand that interest doesn’t disappear just because you’re making minimum payments. Even if you never fall behind, interest continues to accrue month after month—often keeping Texans stuck in a cycle where balances hardly shrink despite years of payments. When payments stop, interest and late fees compound more quickly, which can feel overwhelming. However, the purpose of a debt relief program is to negotiate a reduced settlement that typically comes out far lower than the total you’d owe if you tried to pay everything plus interest in full.

In Texas, unsecured debts such as credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations. This means creditors only have a limited time to sue for unpaid balances, though interest and fees may still accrue on their records during that period. Our Texas Debt Specialists take all of this into account when building your plan, so you can move forward knowing exactly how interest and late fees affect your debt and how they’ll be handled during negotiation.

Our Texas Debt Relief program is a specialized Debt Settlement program designed exclusively for Texans struggling with high-interest credit cards and unsecured loans. Also referred to as Debt Negotiation or Debt Resolution, this program helps you resolve your debts by negotiating directly with your creditors to reduce the total amount owed and ultimately settle each account with a zero balance. Instead of making multiple small monthly payments to creditors, your funds are set aside in a special purpose FDIC-insured account, which is used to pay off negotiated settlements. Each debt is addressed one at a time, allowing you to focus on paying off your financial obligations efficiently, often with monthly payments that can be less than half of what you’d pay on high-interest credit cards.

We understand that every Texan’s financial situation is unique. That’s why our program is tailored to your budget, helping you manage monthly payments while steadily reducing your total debt. Our consultations with a Texas Debt Specialist are completely free and carry no obligation, allowing you to explore the program and understand how it fits your needs before committing.

Our fees are performance-based, meaning you pay nothing until a debt is successfully negotiated and settled. The program charges a flat 15% of your enrolled debt, which is factored into your affordable monthly payments. By comparison, many out-of-state companies charge up to 25%, making our fees up to 40% lower than the industry standard. This ensures you retain more of your hard-earned money while still receiving full-service debt relief. Optional third-party services are separate and not included in our fees.

In our Texas Debt Relief program, each enrolled debt is negotiated one at a time as funds accumulate in your special purpose FDIC-insured account. Typically, negotiations begin around six months into the program, as most creditors will only consider offering significant reductions once the debt has been delinquent for a period of time. This allows your negotiators to approach creditors with leverage, increasing the likelihood of achieving substantial settlements on your behalf.

The exact timing of negotiations can vary based on your program structure, the total balances owed, and the specific creditors involved. Some creditors may respond more quickly, while others may require a longer period of delinquency before agreeing to a reduced settlement. Our Texas Debt Specialists carefully monitor your account and negotiate strategically to maximize your savings while protecting your interests.

After each negotiation is completed, you will receive formal documentation confirming that the debt has been settled in full, ensuring your records clearly reflect a zero balance. This process continues until all enrolled debts are successfully resolved, helping Texans regain financial control and peace of mind.

Since we only service Texans, we believe we are very efficient at it, and we do not have the high national advertising expenses of the “national” Debt Relief companies. Therefore we can provide a very high level of customer service with settlement fees that are typically up to 40% LESS compared to out-of-state companies. We also understand the specific consumer protection laws in Texas to help leverage these laws to your advantage.

A scary truth is some out-of-state companies are not licensed in Texas. Any Debt Management or Debt Relief company doing business with Texas residents and not registered with the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner is in violation of state law. It is not hard to imagine how a company that violates the law will treat its clients. Any Debt Relief company should also provide an honest and realistic estimation of your potential savings and the amount of time it will take to resolve the debt.

Federal and state law prevents Debt Relief companies from charging their fees until after a debt has been settled. When researching any company, check the Better Business Bureau report at http://bbb.org. Read how long the company has been in business, rating, and review any complaints filed against the business as this is one item companies cannot hide.

To achieve forgiveness of a large portion of debt balances, the debt must be delinquent to demonstrate a hardship. While most individual debts enrolled do not experience a lawsuit, any time you do not follow the original lending agreement, the creditor has the right to use the civil court system as a method of debt collection. However, most creditor lawsuits can be minimized by prioritizing the settlement of debt at risk of a lawsuit. Texas also has very high consumer protection laws compared to most other states, making it difficult or impossible for a creditor to collect a judgment in many situations, making this method of debt collection much less attractive to creditors. Lawsuits are not the preferred method of collecting a debt for any creditor. We have extensive experience with this method of debt collection in Texas, as we enrol many clients with pre-existing lawsuits.

Many of our clients choose a referral to who, in our opinion, is the best debt defence attorney in Texas. The advantage of having the attorney retained upfront is that creditors will understand that you will have legal representation, providing additional protection to minimize lawsuits. The attorney will also take action in an attempt to avoid a lawsuit whenever necessary. If a creditor files a lawsuit, the Texas debt defence attorney will represent you and protect your best interest.

If you retain a separate attorney, the law firm will also protect you from creditor harassment while your debts are resolved throughout our debt settlement process. This can help reduce stress during the Debt Settlement process.

Alternatively, we can provide a reactionary-only “pre-paid legal” or “legal insurance” similar to what is offered by many competitors. The low-cost plan will not provide the same harassment protection as retaining a debt defence attorney directly but will find and cover the cost of an attorney to represent you if you experience a lawsuit while enrolled.

In most cases, clients include all of their unsecured debts with balances over $1,000 in the Texas Debt Relief program. These typically include credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, or certain lines of credit. Smaller unsecured debts under $1,000 can sometimes be excluded, as long as the balance does not rise above that threshold during enrollment. Additionally, if you have a credit card that you can comfortably pay down and maintain under $1,000 within six months, you may be able to keep it out of the program. This flexibility helps some clients maintain access to a small credit line for emergencies while still getting relief on their larger obligations.

It’s important to understand, however, that creditors look closely at how you are handling all of your accounts. If they see that you are continuing to make payments on certain significant debts while trying to negotiate others, it can reduce your negotiator’s leverage and make it more challenging to secure the best possible settlement. Creditors want consistency, and showing that all major debts are being addressed in the program helps demonstrate your commitment to resolving your financial situation.

Every Texan’s financial picture is unique, and our Texas Debt Specialists take the time to review your accounts and circumstances before recommending a plan. During your consultation, we’ll talk through which debts make the most sense to include and whether any exceptions could apply to you. Our goal is to create a strategy that maximizes your potential savings while keeping your financial stability in mind.

The length of your Texas Debt Relief program depends on your budget and the amount of debt you’re enrolling. For most clients, programs typically last between 24 and 48 months, which is about two to four years. Some clients with greater financial flexibility are able to complete their programs in as little as three months, while others facing extreme hardships may need longer—sometimes up to 72 months—in order to keep their monthly payments as low as possible. Because every settlement depends on negotiations with creditors, the actual duration may be shorter or longer than the initial estimate.

It’s important to compare this with what happens if you only make minimum payments on your credit cards. Many Texans don’t realize that paying the minimum can keep them in debt for 10, 15, or even 20+ years. During that time, they could end up paying back two, three, or even four times the amount they originally borrowed once interest and fees are factored in. In fact, credit card statements are required by federal law to show how long it will take to pay off your balance with minimum payments—and those timelines are often shocking.

By enrolling in a Texas Debt Relief program, you can take back control and create a clear end date for your financial obligations. Instead of staying stuck in a decades-long cycle of minimum payments, you’ll be working toward settlements that allow you to resolve your debt in a fraction of the time. Our Texas Debt Specialists will review your budget, debts, and goals with you to build a plan that balances affordability with efficiency, so you can move forward with confidence and finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Bankruptcy is often viewed as a last resort, and many Texans prefer to explore other options before taking that step. If you qualify, Chapter 7 bankruptcy can quickly eliminate unsecured debts like credit cards and medical bills. However, it comes with long-lasting consequences: a Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for 10 years, while a Chapter 13 repayment plan stays on for 7 years. Beyond credit, bankruptcy may also affect your ability to qualify for certain jobs, licenses, insurance policies, or even a mortgage in the future. It’s also worth noting that bankruptcy filings are public record in Texas, meaning they can show up in background checks indefinitely.

Changes in bankruptcy laws over the years have made it harder for some people to qualify for Chapter 7, particularly those with higher income or valuable assets. For those individuals, Chapter 13 may be the only option, which involves a three-to-five-year repayment plan where you still pay back a portion (and sometimes all) of your debts, but continue to face the consequences of bankruptcy. By comparison, debt negotiation programs can often resolve debt without the stigma of bankruptcy and in many cases cost less than Chapter 13. Even when the costs are similar, debt negotiation avoids many of the long-term disadvantages tied to having a bankruptcy on your record.

While Affordable Debt Consolidation is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice, we do work closely with a trusted Texas bankruptcy law firm to give clients an honest comparison of bankruptcy versus non-bankruptcy solutions. Our Texas Debt Relief program is often an effective alternative to Chapter 13, offering a way to reduce and resolve debt while protecting your privacy and future opportunities. A consultation with one of our Texas Debt Specialists can help you determine whether debt relief, bankruptcy, or another approach makes the most sense for your situation.

Credit Counseling is a form of Debt Management that can lower your interest rates with credit card debt and some instalment loans while providing one monthly payment. It is a form of Debt Consolidation that does not require a new loan. Credit Counseling and Debt Negotiation are both considered hardship programs, but Credit Counseling does not negotiate the balances. Only the interest rates are reduced. Credit Counseling is a form of Debt Management designed to help individuals reduce the financial burden of high-interest credit cards and certain installment loans. Through a structured program, your interest rates can often be lowered—sometimes to as low as 6–10%—without taking out a new loan. All your enrolled debts are combined into one convenient monthly payment, which makes budgeting simpler and can accelerate your progress toward becoming debt-free. For many Texans, this approach provides immediate relief from mounting interest charges and helps create a sustainable repayment plan.

It’s important to understand the difference between Credit Counseling and Debt Negotiation (Debt Settlement). Both are considered hardship programs, but while Debt Negotiation focuses on reducing the total amount you owe by negotiating lower balances, Credit Counseling only addresses interest rates. Your principal balances remain the same, but lower interest can significantly reduce the total cost over time. This makes Credit Counseling an ideal option for those who want to avoid taking on new debt while still making steady progress toward paying off what they owe.

If you’re interested in pursuing Credit Counseling, we can arrange a consultation with a highly-rated, non-profit Credit Counselor in Texas. These counselors specialize in creating realistic repayment plans that creditors are likely to accept and can provide personalized guidance based on your financial situation. For many Texans, this option offers a manageable, structured path out of debt without the long-term consequences of bankruptcy or the need for a consolidation loan.We can help with a consultation with a highly-rated non-profit Credit Counselor if you want to pursue this option.

If you’re struggling with overwhelming debt in Texas, you’re not alone—many Texans face financial challenges due to rising living costs, medical bills, or high-interest credit cards. The good news is that there are several proven options available to help you take control of your finances. Our Texas Debt Specialists can guide you through programs like Debt Settlement, where we negotiate directly with your creditors to reduce the total amount you owe. This approach can significantly lower your balances, allowing you to become debt-free faster than simply making minimum payments.

Another path is Credit Counseling, which doesn’t require taking out a new loan. Instead, it helps lower the interest rates on your credit cards through structured repayment plans. For some Texas residents, a Debt Consolidation Loan may also be an option. Through our affiliate platform, you can compare offers from dozens of lenders and see if you qualify for a single loan that combines your debts into one monthly payment. This is especially helpful for Texans who have good credit but are overwhelmed by juggling multiple accounts.

Finally, for those who need to explore all possibilities, we can arrange a free consultation with a highly-rated Texas bankruptcy law firm. While bankruptcy is often a last resort, understanding how it compares to non-bankruptcy options can give you peace of mind in making the right choice. Whether you choose settlement, counseling, consolidation, or legal relief, the goal is the same: to simplify your payments, reduce financial stress, and put you back on the path toward financial freedom.

When you enroll in our Texas Debt Relief program, the funds you contribute for settling your debts are held in a special-purpose FDIC-insured custodial account managed by FORTH, a highly rated third-party financial institution with an A+ rating. This account is completely separate from our company’s operating funds, ensuring your money is secure and only used for its intended purpose: negotiating and settling your debts.

Funds in this account are used exclusively to pay off creditors as settlements are reached, and your contributions accumulate over time until each debt can be resolved. This structured approach allows our negotiators to handle each creditor individually and strategically, increasing the likelihood of securing lower settlement amounts while protecting your funds.

We only collect our performance-based fees after a settlement is successfully completed, and after at least one payment has been made toward the newly negotiated balance. This ensures that our fees are tied directly to results, giving you peace of mind that your money is used responsibly and effectively to resolve your debts.

No reputable company can legally guarantee that your debts will settle at a specific percentage. Federal and Texas consumer protection laws prohibit debt relief companies from making promises about exact settlement outcomes because there are too many factors outside of anyone’s control. What we can do, however, is provide you with a good-faith estimate based on historical settlement results, industry averages, and the specific creditors you owe. This gives you a realistic picture of what’s possible without setting false expectations.

Unfortunately, some companies mislead consumers with promises of guaranteed savings. These “bait-and-switch” tactics often result in complaints or even lawsuits. In fact, one of the largest national debt relief companies was sued by both the federal government and multiple state governments for making unrealistic claims. At Affordable Debt Consolidation, we believe in honesty from the start, which means you’ll never hear us make promises that cannot be kept. Instead, we work hard to create a personalized plan that balances both your financial situation and your long-term goals.

Our Texas Debt Specialists will walk you through what similar clients have experienced, how your creditors typically respond to settlement offers, and what range of results is reasonable for your case. Some clients graduate from the program sooner than estimated, while others may take longer depending on factors like income stability, creditor cooperation, or changes in financial circumstances. The bottom line is that while we can’t guarantee a set percentage, we will always fight to achieve the best possible savings for you under Texas law and industry standards.

Our Texas Debt Relief program primarily focuses on unsecured debt, which includes credit cards, unsecured installment loans, personal loans, medical bills, department store credit cards and loans, payday loans, and many other types of unsecured obligations. We also frequently assist clients who are facing lawsuits or judgments related to these debts. By addressing unsecured debt, we can help Texans significantly reduce the total amount owed and work toward becoming debt-free without risking essential property or assets.

It’s important to note that secured debt, such as mortgages or auto loans, is generally not eligible for our program unless the collateral has already been repossessed. Federal student loans backed by the U.S. Department of Education are also excluded, although Texans can access free federal student loan assistance at StudentAid.gov. However, some private student loans and certain types of business debt may qualify for resolution through our program.

Because every financial situation is unique, our Texas Debt Specialists review each client’s debts individually to determine eligibility and create a tailored strategy. They can advise you on which accounts can be included in your program, explain potential savings, and discuss alternative solutions if certain debts are ineligible. This ensures that every Texas resident receives a program designed specifically to address their personal financial challenges.

Enrolling in a Debt Settlement program does not automatically stop creditors or debt collectors from contacting you. Even if creditors are aware that a settlement is likely, many third-party collectors earn a commission based on how much they collect. As a result, they may continue calling in an attempt to collect more than what your negotiators are arranging. This is a common experience for Texans dealing with multiple high-interest credit cards or personal loans.

Texas provides strong consumer protection laws in addition to the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Under the Texas Finance Code, consumers have additional rights that can prevent harassment from both original creditors and third-party collectors. Affordable Debt Consolidation has partnered with highly-rated Texas debt defense attorneys to provide an optional, affordable legal referral. By retaining a separate attorney, Texas law is enforced, making it illegal for debt collectors to contact you directly. Instead, any communication must go through your attorney or our settlement representatives, giving you legal protection and peace of mind.

If you choose not to hire a separate attorney, our negotiation team will still work to minimize the number of calls as much as possible. However, it’s important to understand that many creditors and debt collectors will continue attempts to contact you until a settlement agreement is in place. This is a normal part of the negotiation process, and your Texas Debt Specialist can guide you on how to handle these calls while your debts are being resolved.

When a creditor forgives part of your debt through Debt Negotiation, they may issue a Form 1099-C reporting the forgiven amount to the IRS. In some cases, the IRS may consider this forgiven debt as taxable income. However, not all forgiven debt is automatically taxable. The IRS provides Form 982, Reduction of Tax Attributes Due to Discharge of Indebtedness, which can exempt forgiven debt from taxation if you qualify under certain rules, such as the insolvency exclusion. According to IRS guidelines, “A taxpayer is insolvent when his or her total liabilities exceed his or her total assets. The forgiven debt may be excluded as income under the ‘insolvency’ exclusion.” Essentially, if your debts exceed your assets at the time of forgiveness, you may not owe taxes on the forgiven amount.

It’s important to note that each taxpayer’s situation is unique. For example, in Texas, individuals with high credit card or personal loan balances may find that forgiven debts do not increase their state tax burden, since Texas does not have a state income tax. Nevertheless, federal tax obligations may still apply depending on the overall financial picture.

We strongly recommend consulting a qualified tax advisor if you receive a 1099-C or have questions about your potential tax liability. They can help you determine if you qualify for exclusions like insolvency or bankruptcy, and guide you in properly reporting any forgiven debt to the IRS, ensuring you remain in compliance while maximizing your financial relief.

No, Affordable Debt Consolidation is not a lender. Instead, we focus on helping Texans find the best path to becoming debt-free without the confusion of hidden fees or unrealistic promises. For clients who want to explore debt consolidation loans, we offer an affiliate platform that lets you shop offers from dozens of reputable lenders in one place. This tool is free to use, gives you a broader range of options than applying to a single lender, and allows you to compare loan terms side by side. Another major benefit is that reviewing these offers will not affect your credit score, which helps you make an informed decision with less risk.

If you have tried to apply for a debt consolidation loan before and were denied, you are not alone. Many Texans find that high credit card balances or low credit scores make traditional loans difficult to qualify for. That’s why our affiliate platform can be a game-changer—it increases your chances of finding a lender who matches your financial profile. But even if a loan is not the right fit, there are still effective alternatives. Our Texas Debt Relief program, for example, often cuts monthly payments by more than half compared to the minimums required on high-interest credit cards, while credit counseling programs may lower your interest rates without requiring you to take out a new loan.

Every Texan’s financial situation is unique, and the best solution depends on your income, debt balances, and long-term goals. Our Texas Debt Specialists will walk you through both loan and non-loan options so you can choose the strategy that works best for your circumstances. Whether that means consolidating with a new loan, reducing balances through negotiation, or simply lowering interest rates, the goal is the same: helping you move forward with a plan that provides real and lasting relief.

It’s a good idea to seek professional assistance as soon as your unsecured debt becomes unmanageable. Many of our clients in Texas have accumulated tens of thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of high-interest debt from credit cards, personal loans, or other unsecured sources. If you are barely able to make minimum payments, are falling behind, or have already stopped making payments, it can be overwhelming to navigate negotiations or manage creditor communications on your own. Financial hardships often stem from factors such as income loss, divorce, rising interest rates, the COVID-19 Pandemic, or general inflation, all of which have significantly affected Texans in recent years.

Even if you are keeping up with minimum payments, you may find yourself struggling to save, invest, or plan for retirement because most of your income is consumed by interest and ongoing debt. This is a clear sign that expert guidance could help you restructure your obligations and reduce long-term financial stress. Working with a trained Texas Debt Specialist ensures that you understand your options, avoid costly mistakes, and create a realistic plan tailored to your budget.

For those who have missed payments for months or are facing creditor lawsuits, professional help is even more crucial. Our Texas Debt Specialists evaluate your unique situation, identify eligible debts for negotiation or other relief programs, and discuss a variety of options—from Debt Settlement and Credit Counseling to Debt Consolidation and bankruptcy comparisons. The goal is to help you resolve debt as quickly and affordably as possible, giving you a path toward financial stability and peace of mind.

Yes, we proudly guarantee that Texas residents enrolled in our program will receive the lowest performance-based debt settlement fees compared to any licensed and reputable competitor. Most out-of-state debt relief companies charge around 25% of your enrolled debt as a performance or contingency fee. By contrast, our Texas Debt Relief program is offered at just 15%, which means clients could otherwise pay up to 40% more in settlement fees with another provider. Because our program was designed by Texans, for Texans, we keep overhead low and pass those savings directly to you.

To make this guarantee meaningful, we’ve set out straightforward requirements. The competing company must be registered with the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, be rated “A-” or higher with the Better Business Bureau, and offer verifiable written proof of their fee structure. If you qualify for our services and we cannot provide a lower performance fee than that competitor, we’ll give you a $1,000 Visa gift card. This promise applies specifically to our performance-based Texas Debt Relief service, and does not include optional third-party add-ons.

Our goal is simple: to make debt relief more affordable for Texas residents while maintaining full-service support throughout the process. By keeping fees proportionate to the actual amount of debt settled and charging only after payments are made toward settlements, we ensure clients pay only for results. If you’re comparing options, our Texas Debt Specialists are happy to review any competitor’s offer with you so you can be confident that you’re getting the best deal available in Texas.

1. Our Debt Relief services are typically 40% less than most competitors, especially out-of-state companies. This program is exclusively for Texans. Talk to one of our Texas Debt Specialists to learn about our advantages and savings over out-of-state "cookie-cutter" programs.
2. We provide an affiliate platform to shop many different lenders for credit card Debt Consolidation Loans up to $100,000.
3. We also offer an affiliate program to reduce interest rates without new loans and our Debt Relief program to negotiate significant balance reductions.
4. We can assist if you are facing creditor lawsuits.
5. Phone and office consultations are free with no obligation.
6. Affordable Debt Consolidation is Veteran-Founded, Texan-owned, state-licensed, with an A + Better Business Bureau rating.