Consumer complaint received 2026-02-09 00:00:00
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Didn't provide services promised — 
Company: NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF LLC
State: MA

Complaint narrative:
I enrolled in XXXX XXXX XXXX program with the understanding that it would provide a structured, effective path to resolving my debts and protect me from escalating collections and legal action. Instead, my experience reflects a pattern of misleading representations, delayed or ineffective negotiation, and significant financial and legal harm. 

My account reflects a claimed savings of {$800.00} on a XXXX XXXX settlement. This figure is misleading because it excludes {$500.00} in National Debt Relief fees required to complete the settlement. When fees are included, the actual savings were approximately {$290.00}, not the amount represented. 

Additionally, the platform prominently displays projected debt reduction figures in a manner that suggests anticipated or expected outcomes. These are projections only, not guaranteed results, yet they are framed in a way that reasonably misleads consumers regarding the true benefit of the program. 

The program required mandatory delinquency of approximately XXXX months before negotiations began, during which all enrolled balances increased substantially due to interest, penalties, and fees. Rather than reducing debt, this structure left me in a worse financial position. 

Over nearly XXXX years of enrollment, only XXXX debts were successfully negotiated, despite continuous deposits and fees being assessed. During this period : I was taken to court on XXXX Capital XXXX accounts XXXX XXXX  XXXX account was removed from the program Other enrolled debts were transferred to third-party collection agencies At no point was my program reworked to improve the likelihood of success, even when I experienced additional financial hardship I paused my deposits for 3 months due to additional financial hardship due to medical issues, yet National Debt Relief did not offer any assistance, guidance, or adjustments to help me successfully complete the program going forward. Despite this, deposits resumed upon reinstatement without any plan or communication to address my financial situation. This demonstrates a failure to act in good faith and a lack of support for achieving the promised outcomes, further contributing to financial harm and program failure. 

Legal Fees, Delayed Action, and Lack of Transparency : After notice of litigation National Debt Relief charged legal-related fees, and only after I received court notices and summonses did the company attempt to renegotiate certain debts. If negotiation was possible after court action began, it raises serious concerns as to why timely negotiations were not pursued earlier to prevent litigation altogether. 
Misleading XXXX XXXX and XXXX : National Debt Relief provided me with a monthly payment plan and a XXXX of XXXX but reduced XXXX. This timeline for debt resolution was based on the debts I enrolled in the program. Despite this, I was repeatedly told that insufficient deposits had been made to successfully negotiate my accounts and would ask for additional funds to be added to additional deposits of {$370.00} If the company knew deposits were inadequate to achieve settlements, then providing a monthly payment plan and projected timeline was misleading and deceptive. These representations continued for nearly 30 months, during which time my credit balances increased, my credit reputation was harmed, and my ability to obtain credit was significantly impaired. This demonstrates a prolonged pattern of misleading information that directly caused financial harm and reduced my consumer protections. 

If National Debt Relief knew it could not meet the debts and timeline it proposed, it should have held off on assessing fees and withdrawing deposits until all settlements were successfully completed. Instead, fees and deposits continued to be collected while the program failed to resolve accounts, resulting in financial harm, increased balances, and worsening credit outcomes. 
Even if some payments were made to creditors, this does not absolve the company from refunding unearned fees, as deposits were collected for services that were never delivered or completed. 
Deposits Applied to Only Some Accounts Although I enrolled XXXX accounts, my deposits were applied toward only XXXX accounts, leaving the majority of my enrolled debts unaddressed, removed from the program, or sent to collections. Additionally, XXXX other accounts were only partially settled, I have been repeatedly told that National Debt Relief is attempting to renegotiate these settlements, with no mention of progress or resolution. 
. This constitutes unearned fees and further demonstrates ongoing failure to provide the promised services. 

After pausing my program in XX/XX/XXXX and reinstating in XX/XX/XXXX, deposits resumed, no meaningful service has been delivered during this period. Despite advising, I could only communicate via email because I was providing XXXX XXXX hour a day care for an ill parent, and dealing with my own health issues, they advised that they only communicated via phone. Which also significantly impacted my trust and faith that continuing the program would be beneficial. 
XXXX days ago, I formally requested to leave the program, yet I have received no response or acknowledgment other than to say, I would hear from someone. XXXX days is inexcusable timeline to respond to an urgent issue, such as this. This demonstrates ongoing failure to provide services, lack of communication, and disregard for consumer requests, further evidencing systemic program deficiencies and consumer harm. 
Request for Resolution Given the above, I am requesting that : National Debt Relief be reviewed for misrepresentation, deceptive billing, and systemic program failures as well as a lack of transparency with their ability to make changes to the program when additional hardships arise.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation