At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About Achieve
Achieve is the corporate rebrand of Freedom Financial Network, the San Mateo-based parent company that launched Freedom Debt Relief in 2002 and subsequently built the largest debt resolution organization in the United States. The 2022 rebrand unified Freedom Debt Relief, FreedomPlus lending, and the company's digital banking platform under a single consumer-facing brand. With $18 billion+ in total consumer debt resolved across all brands and over 2,000 employees, Achieve operates at a scale that no other debt relief company approaches — the next closest competitor (National Debt Relief) has resolved approximately $10 billion. Achieve's primary competitive advantage is product breadth. During your initial consultation, the specialist evaluates whether you are best served by debt settlement (credit damage but principal reduction), a personal loan for consolidation (no credit damage if payments are maintained), or a home equity loan/HELOC (lowest rates but secured by your home). This multi-product evaluation matters because it prevents consumers from defaulting to settlement when a consolidation loan would be more cost-effective, or vice versa. Americor offers a similar dual-product model but at a fraction of Achieve's scale and without the home equity option. The 350 CFPB complaints over three years is the highest absolute number in our review, which requires context: Achieve handles orders of magnitude more clients than any competitor, so their complaint-to-client ratio is actually moderate. Their 28,000+ verified reviews confirms that complaint resolution meets standards. The brand confusion from the 2022 rebrand is a real issue — many consumers searching for "Freedom Debt Relief" or "FreedomPlus" encounter "Achieve" and are unsure if it is the same company. It is. Settlement fees are the standard 15-25%, personal loan origination fees vary, and home equity products carry their own fee structures. The company serves 44+ states with a $7,500 settlement minimum.
Key Features
Integrated Financial Platform
Combines debt resolution, personal lending, and home equity products in one platform, so you can switch between options without starting over.
Massive Scale & Experience
$18B+ in resolved debt and 20+ years of operation provide unmatched creditor relationships and negotiating leverage.
Personal Loan Option
Clients who qualify can access personal consolidation loans through Achieve's lending division as an alternative to settlement.
Home Equity Solutions
Homeowners may access home equity loans or HELOCs to pay off high-interest debt at a lower rate.
Advanced Technology
Proprietary analytics platform optimizes settlement timing and identifies the best resolution path for each client.
How It Works
Free Consultation
Full financial review to figure out whether settlement, a personal loan, or a HELOC is the best path for your situation.
Solution Matching
Matched with the most appropriate product based on debt level, credit profile, and goals.
Enrollment/Funding
Enroll in settlement program or receive loan/HELOC funding to consolidate debts.
Resolution
Debts are settled through negotiation or paid off through consolidation product.
Financial Wellness
Ongoing tools and resources to maintain financial health after completing the program.
What They Do
- Debt Settlement
- Personal Loans
- Home Equity Loans
- HELOCs
- Financial Education
Debt Types They Take On
- Credit Cards
- Medical Bills
- Personal Loans
- Private Student Loans
- Store Cards
- Collections
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Multi-Product Strategy: Settlement Plus Consolidation Loan
Client had \$65,000 in total debt: \$50,000 across 6 high-interest credit cards (22-28% APR) and \$15,000 in a personal loan at 15% APR. Achieve's consultant recommended a hybrid approach — settle the 6 credit card accounts (where savings justify credit damage) and consolidate the personal loan into a new Achieve personal loan at 11% APR (where the existing rate was manageable but could be improved without credit damage). The settlement program resolved \$50,000 in cards for \$22,000 (56% savings) over 28 months.
Homeowner Uses HELOC Instead of Settlement
Client initially inquired about settling \$40,000 in credit card debt. During consultation, Achieve identified that the client owned a home with \$85,000 in equity. Instead of settlement (which would damage credit and cost 15-25% in fees), the consultant recommended a HELOC at 7.5% APR to pay off the credit cards entirely. The client eliminated \$40,000 in 22-28% APR credit card debt and replaced it with a 7.5% HELOC — saving roughly \$8,000-\$12,000 annually in interest with zero credit damage.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- \$18B+ in resolved debt and 20+ years of operation make Achieve the largest and most experienced debt resolution organization in the United States — no competitor approaches this scale of creditor relationship data
- Multi-product platform (settlement, personal loans, HELOCs) means the consultant can actually match you with the most cost-effective solution rather than defaulting to settlement because that is all they offer
- Home equity option (HELOC/HEL) provides the lowest-cost debt resolution path for homeowners — something no other settlement company in our review offers
- verified client reputation maintained at the industry's highest volume demonstrates that their complaint resolution processes scale effectively
- Advanced analytics platform built on 20+ years of settlement data provides the deepest institutional knowledge of creditor behavior patterns in the industry
Cons
- 350 CFPB complaints over 3 years is the highest absolute count in our review — while the complaint-to-client ratio is moderate, the sheer volume indicates that some clients fall through the cracks in an operation this large
- Brand confusion from the 2022 Freedom Financial Network to Achieve rebrand causes consumer distrust — many people searching for Freedom Debt Relief are uncertain whether Achieve is the same company (it is)
- Not all products available in all states — home equity products in particular have varying state-by-state availability and licensing requirements
- The multi-product model creates cross-selling risk: some consumers report being channeled toward higher-fee products or urged to take loans they did not need, though this is not the norm based on review data
User Reviews (12)
same company as Freedom Financial Network
Let me save you 20 minutes of googling: Achieve IS Freedom Financial Network. Same company new name. Same team same track record. They have settlement, loans, AND home equity all under one roof which is rare.
the rebrand is confusing
Searched for Freedom Debt Relief. Found Achieve. Spent 30 minutes verifying it was the same company. I've seen people enroll with competitors because they couldn't figure out Achieve was legit. Once you get past the name thing it's fine.
evaluated 3 options for me
They ran actual numbers for settlement vs personal loan vs home equity and recommended a mix. Did settlement for high-interest cards and a loan for one lower-rate account. Shoutout to my consultant Andrea who spent like 90 minutes on the analysis.
enrollment took forever
Their consultation evaluates 3 product options which takes longer. 90 minute initial call plus a second call after gathering documents. Total enrollment: 2 weeks. ADR can enroll you in one call. If you need to move fast this process feels slow.
350 CFPB complaints sounds bad but
Highest complaint count in the review. But they've served 1M+ clients so the per-client rate is actually one of the lowest. My experience was professional. The number reflects scale not quality.
ok I guess
ok I guess
why change the name though
In debt settlement when companies change names it's sometimes to distance from bad press. Just saying. Everything went fine for me but that question sat with me the whole program.
HELOC option saved my credit
Had enough home equity. They offered a HELOC at 8.5% which was way cheaper than settlement and I kept my credit score intact. Monthly payment dropped a lot. If you have home equity this is worth looking at.
team-based model = repeating yourself
Different people at different stages. Had to re-explain my situation a few times. Same issue as when they were FDR. For personal attention go Pacific Debt or NDR.
they PUSHED a HELOC on me hard
Had CC debt and home equity. Achieve strongly recommended a HELOC. I ran the numbers myself and the HELOC would cost like way more than settlement. Preserves credit sure but costs thousands and thousands more. It felt like they were steering me toward whatever makes THEM more money. I went with NDR for settlement instead. Felt pushy and honestly kind of gross.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Related Companies
Important Debt Relief Disclaimers
- Debt settlement programs may negatively affect your credit score. When you enroll, you typically stop making payments to creditors, which results in late payments, collections, and potential charge-offs on your credit report.
- There is no guarantee that a debt settlement company can settle all of your debts or reduce them by a specific amount. Creditors are not required to negotiate or accept settlement offers.
- Debt settlement fees are typically 15%-25% of the enrolled debt amount. You should not pay fees before a debt has been successfully settled. The FTC prohibits debt settlement companies from charging upfront fees before settling at least one debt.
- Forgiven debt of $600 or more may be considered taxable income by the IRS. You may receive a Form 1099-C from creditors for canceled debt. Consult a tax professional about potential tax consequences.
- Creditors may continue collection efforts, including lawsuits, wage garnishment, and bank levies, while you are enrolled in a debt settlement program. A debt settlement company cannot guarantee protection from legal action.
- Alternatives to debt settlement include debt consolidation loans, credit counseling through nonprofit agencies, debt management plans, and bankruptcy. Consider all options and consult with a licensed financial advisor or attorney before enrolling in any debt relief program.
- Zogby does not provide debt relief services. We are an independent comparison service. We do not negotiate with creditors on your behalf or manage debt settlement accounts.
This page is informational, not financial or legal advice. Talk to a qualified professional before making any big money decisions.
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