If your credit card payments aren’t making enough progress, it’s time to look at the numbers. Compare what repayment could cost and whether debt settlement is worth a closer look. Debt settlement is not a debt consolidation loan; this process does not give you a new loan.
*Savings shown are a first-month budget difference, not guaranteed ongoing savings. The new monthly payment is a deposit toward future settlements, not a creditor payment. Debt settlement seeks negotiated resolutions with existing creditors. It is not a debt consolidation loan and does not provide a new loan. A settlement set-aside does not make monthly payments to your creditors or change what they require you to pay. Missed payments can damage credit, increase balances, and lead to collections or lawsuits. Actual savings depend on completed settlements and all costs.
If you do not take a stand against your high-rate credit cards, this is what it could look like:
We cannot show a settlement plan for debt below $10,000. You can still review the credit-card repayment estimate and call 855-817-3738 to discuss your options.
Assumes all enrolled debt settles for 50% of the starting balance, plus a 25% service fee. This is an example, not a quote or a prediction.
Estimated cost difference versus the repayment approach shown. Actual savings may be lower or zero.
Before you compare: A settlement set-aside is not a payment to your creditors. Debt settlement can damage credit; interest and fees can accrue, and creditors may pursue collections or lawsuits. Settlements and completion dates are not guaranteed. Forgiven debt may be taxable.
Credit cards: Default APR is 22.15%, the Federal Reserve’s Q2 2026 average for accounts assessed interest, published September 8, 2026. It is a benchmark, not your personal rate. Monthly interest is approximated as balance × APR ÷ 12. The minimum is the greater of $40 or 1% of the balance after interest plus that month’s interest, capped at the amount owed. This models a common issuer formula, not a universal or verified “most popular” rule.
All debt is modeled as one account. Multiple cards have separate minimums, which may shorten payoff time and increase the combined monthly minimum. No new charges, late fees, past-due amounts, promotional rates, or APR changes are assumed. “Keep first payment fixed” pays the initial estimated minimum every month instead of reducing it as the balance falls.
Settlement: The example uses National Debt Reset’s supplied calculator assumptions: 50% of starting debt for creditor settlements plus 25% of enrolled debt as the service fee, spread across the displayed program length. It assumes successful settlement of every enrolled account. Additional account charges, taxes, and any effect of balance growth on settlement amounts are excluded and could increase costs. The example is not an assessment of eligibility, affordability, or creditor acceptance.
Sources: Federal Reserve G.19 · Chase minimum payment explanation · CFPB debt settlement guidance. Assumptions reviewed September 24, 2026.
Start by understanding what you owe, what you can afford, and what each option involves.
Use the calculator to see how interest affects your repayment and compare an example debt settlement scenario. No new loan is involved.
Call with your questions. Discuss your accounts, budget, eligibility, fees, and the risks before considering enrollment.
If a program fits, review the actual terms. You decide whether to move forward. Calling is not enrolling.
For people struggling with unsecured debt, negotiating a reduced balance may lower the amount needed to resolve it. A workable savings plan can help fund those settlements over time.
Creditors do not have to agree. Missed payments can harm credit and increase debt. Compare creditor hardship plans, nonprofit credit counseling, and, where appropriate, advice from a bankruptcy attorney.
We care about helping people make progress. That starts with listening, explaining the options clearly, and respecting the decision that is right for you.
Financial strain can affect far more than a monthly statement. It can change how you plan, what you put off, and how much attention you have left for everything else. Our team is committed to making a difference by helping people understand what they can do next.
We want you to feel comfortable asking direct questions and getting direct answers. What could a program cost? What are the risks? Does the payment fit your budget? What happens if your circumstances change? Those questions belong at the beginning of the conversation.
Our approach is practical: understand the situation, review the numbers, explain the options, and give you room to decide. We want the conversation to be useful, whether or not you move forward with us.
National Debt Reset helps you understand your debt, review preliminary estimates and prepare for the next step. If you decide to explore a debt settlement program, we refer you to an attorney group.
The attorney group completes the compliance review, handles enrollment and manages the program, including communication with you and negotiations with your creditors.
Read our guides based on federal consumer information, or start with a free worksheet. You can use both right here.
How a negotiated balance reduction could help, what makes a plan workable, and the questions to ask first.
Read the guide →A practical comparison of how the main options work and where each may fit.
Read the guide →Build a clear picture of your income, deadlines, and debts before committing to a payment plan.
Read the guide →Understand the options, organize your finances, and prepare better questions. Read and use these resources without leaving our site.
Plain-language articles based on guidance from the CFPB, FTC, IRS, and U.S. Courts. Sources are identified in each guide.
How a negotiated balance reduction could help, what makes a plan workable, and the questions to ask first.
Read the guide →A practical comparison of how the main options work and where each may fit.
Read the guide →Build a clear picture of your income, deadlines, and debts before committing to a payment plan.
Read the guide →Our reading guides summarize official guidance; they are not articles written by the agencies. The agencies do not endorse National Debt Reset or any provider.
Original federal worksheets, available to read here and download as fillable PDFs. No email address required.
FTC · Consumer.gov. Fill it out here and save your completed budget.
Start my budget →Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Organize balances, rates, and payment dates.
Open the worksheet →Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. See when cash comes in and when bills are due.
Open the worksheet →Budget entries stay in this open page and are not submitted or saved by National Debt Reset. Download your work before refreshing or closing the page.
Your estimate is a starting point. A conversation can help you understand whether debt settlement makes sense for your actual accounts and budget. It does not involve taking out a consolidation loan.
Ask about the costs. Ask about the risks. Ask what happens next. You don’t have to enroll to ask questions.
855-817-3738Prefer to speak now? Call and mention your calculator estimate.
Use the calculator, then enter your email and consent in the popup to see your preliminary estimate.
Start my estimateA phone conversation does not enroll you in a program.
No. A conversation is a chance to ask questions and understand your options. Enrollment requires a separate decision and review of the program terms.
No. National Debt Reset presents a debt settlement process, not a debt consolidation loan. It involves trying to negotiate with existing creditors to accept less than the amount owed. No new loan is issued. Funds are generally set aside for agreed settlements; they are not regular monthly payments to your creditors.
No. It uses simplified assumptions. Your accounts, creditors, state, financial situation, fees, and ability to fund settlements affect your options. The figures do not guarantee acceptance, savings, or a completion date.
Debt settlement can negatively affect your credit, especially if you stop making required payments. Late fees and interest may accumulate, and collections or lawsuits remain possible. Discuss these consequences before enrolling.
A rough list of your credit card balances, interest rates, and current payments is a useful start. Think about the monthly amount you can afford after essential expenses. You do not need to enter account numbers or your Social Security number on this page.
National Debt Reset reading guide · Based on federal consumer guidance
A lower monthly payment, a lower interest rate, and a lower balance solve different problems. Understanding the difference helps you ask for the kind of help you actually need.
Settlement seeks creditor agreement to resolve a debt for a reduced amount. It is not a debt consolidation loan, and this process does not issue a new loan. Funds often need to be accumulated before an agreement can be paid. A provider cannot promise a particular reduction or completion date. For someone who cannot repay the full balance, the possibility of a negotiated reduction is the central benefit to examine. Consider it alongside the uncertainty, costs, and consequences. [1]
Credit counselors generally help with budgets and repayment planning. A debt management plan may combine payments and seek lower interest or more manageable terms, rather than reduce principal. Counseling organizations are often nonprofits, but may charge fees. This approach is worth comparing if repayment could work with changes to interest or payment terms. [1]
A consolidation loan pays off several balances and leaves one loan payment. A lower rate can help, but a smaller payment can also result from extending repayment. Compare total costs, fees, and the full term. Promotional balance-transfer rates expire; an attractive starting rate is not the whole calculation. Using home equity adds the risk of losing your home if you cannot repay. If your spending still exceeds income, consolidation alone does not fix that gap. [2]
| Option | Primary change | Key question |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement | Amount accepted to resolve debt | Can I fund an accepted agreement? |
| Debt management | Payment structure and possibly interest | Can I repay with adjusted terms? |
| Consolidation | One new loan replaces several balances | Is the overall cost actually lower? |
If even a reduced payment is unaffordable, a bankruptcy attorney can explain whether a legal process may fit. Chapter 7 can involve selling nonexempt assets and discharging eligible debts; it has qualification requirements and does not discharge every obligation. Chapter 13 generally provides a court-supervised repayment plan for people with regular income, commonly lasting three to five years. Neither should be dismissed without understanding how your assets, income, and debts would be treated. [3, 4]
Make one account list and one budget. Use the same balances and affordable payment amount when reviewing each proposal. Ask for the total amount you would pay, what is included, what could change, and what happens if the plan does not work. A comparison is only useful when you are comparing complete costs.
Our role in the conversation is to help you understand whether settlement deserves a closer look. The decision should reflect your situation, not just the lowest number on a page.
This is an original National Debt Reset guide summarizing the sources below. These agencies do not endorse National Debt Reset or any debt settlement provider. Reviewed September 24, 2026.
General education only. Results and eligibility vary.
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Original federal resource. National Debt Reset is not affiliated with or endorsed by the issuing agency. The original PDF retains its source attribution. The budget web form is provided by National Debt Reset.
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