Consumer complaint received 2025-08-05 00:00:00
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Unauthorized withdrawals or charges — 
Company: NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF LLC
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to file a formal complaint against National Debt Relief regarding their handling of my debt settlement account. Over the course of my time with this company, I have experienced numerous deceptive, unethical, and potentially unlawful practices that have caused me financial and emotional stress. 

Summary of Issues : Misrepresentation of Active Accounts : On at least two occasions, I discovered that National Debt Relief had included active credit accountswhich I was already paying down on my ownin their settlement program. These accounts were listed with inflated balances, far higher than what I actually owed. One account, for example, was listed for settlement at over {$5000.00} when the current balance was under {$3000.00}. I caught this error myself; had I not noticed, I would have unknowingly agreed to pay significantly more than necessary. 

Lack of Fee Transparency and Excessive Charges : I requested a detailed breakdown of fees related to each of my settlements after discovering that the fees National Debt Relief charges are excessively high. To date, I have not received clear or full documentation showing how much Ive paid in fees versus how much has actually gone toward settling my debts. This lack of transparency appears to be a violation of CFPB rules under the Telemarketing Sales Rule ( TSR ), which requires clear disclosure of all costs and prohibits collecting fees before a debt is settled. 

Restricted Access to Account Information : I am now locked out of my account portal and unable to view any of my payment history, settlement statuses, or account activity. This appears to be a retaliatory response after I voiced concerns and demanded documentation. This is particularly troubling, as I have the right to access my financial records under CFPB Regulation E.

Disregard for Communication Preferences : Despite multiple requests to communicate only via email ( to ensure a written paper trail ), National Debt Relief continues to contact me by phone. I have explicitly requested email communication for documentation purposes and do not consent to further phone contact. This may also violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), which grants consumers the right to request and receive communications in writing.

What Im Requesting : I am seeking the CFPBs assistance in investigating the following : Whether National Debt Relief is misrepresenting or manipulating account data to inflate settlements and collect higher fees. 

Whether they are properly disclosing all fees and costs upfront, in accordance with TSR regulations. 

Whether locking a consumer out of their own account constitutes a violation of their rights under Regulation E or other consumer protection laws.

Whether their continued disregard of my communication preferences violates FDCPA provisions.

I am deeply concerned that if I had not carefully reviewed my own records, I would have unknowingly overpaid for debts that I was already managing. I suspect this may be happening to other consumers who are less aware or unable to track their accounts as closely. 

Please advise on any next steps I need to take to formally escalate this matter, and let me know if further documentation is required. I am more than willing to provide screenshots, account records, and email communications to support my claims. 

Thank you for your time and for your commitment to protecting consumers.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation