At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About DebtBlue
DebtBlue's client retention rate is high because they assign account managers by creditor expertise -- your manager has negotiation history with the specific credit card companies in your portfolio, which means they know the creditor's settlement floor before the first call. This is a meaningful structural advantage over companies that assign managers based on availability or geography. Founded in 2016 in Dallas, Texas, DebtBlue grew quickly by focusing narrowly on credit card and medical debt settlement rather than trying to be a generalist firm. They maintain an internal database of settlement outcomes by creditor and account age, which their negotiators reference before every call. If a particular creditor historically settles at 42 cents on the dollar after 5 months of delinquency, DebtBlue's team knows to push past the initial 60-cent offer. One often-overlooked detail: DebtBlue's fee percentage (15-25% of enrolled debt) is calculated on the original enrolled balance, not the settled amount. This is standard in the industry, but clients sometimes assume the fee applies to the settlement amount. On a $30,000 enrollment, you should budget $4,500-$7,500 in fees on top of whatever the settlements themselves cost.
Key Features
Creditor-Specific Account Managers
Your manager has settled with your specific banks before. They know what Chase will accept at month 4 versus month 8. Generic assignment does not give you that.
Internal Settlement Database
They log every settlement outcome by creditor, account age, and balance size. When your negotiator calls Discover, they already know the floor.
No Upfront Fees
You pay nothing until a debt settles and you sign off on the deal. If they do not produce results, they do not get paid.
Focused Debt Specialization
They do credit cards and medical bills. That is it. No student loans, no business debt, no distractions. The focus shows in their settlement percentages.
How It Works
Debt Portfolio Review
A specialist looks at your specific creditors and how old each account is. They estimate which debts will settle and roughly when.
Manager Matching
You get paired with a negotiator who has directly dealt with your banks before. Not random — matched by creditor experience.
Escrow Funding
Monthly deposits go into an FDIC-insured account in your name. DebtBlue cannot touch it without your say-so.
Targeted Negotiation
Once enough money accumulates, your manager starts calling creditors. They hit the easiest wins first to build momentum.
Settlement Approval
Every settlement offer lands in front of you before a dime moves. You approve it or you do not. Your call.
What They Do
- Debt Settlement
- Debt Negotiation
- Credit Card Debt Relief
- Medical Debt Relief
Debt Types They Take On
- Credit Cards
- Medical Bills
- Personal Loans
- Store Cards
- Collections
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Capital One and Chase Portfolio
Someone with $38,000 across 4 Capital One and 2 Chase cards. DebtBlue put their Capital One specialist on it and landed the first settlement in 4 months.
Medical Debt After Surgery
Someone stuck with $22,000 in hospital and surgeon bills after an insurance dispute. DebtBlue went straight to the hospital billing departments.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Account managers are matched to your specific creditors, not randomly assigned
- Internal settlement database gives negotiators data-driven leverage
- Narrow specialization in credit card and medical debt leads to deeper creditor relationships
- client satisfaction with low complaint volume relative to client base
- Strong client retention rate suggests consistent communication quality
Cons
- Minimum $10,000 in debt required -- excludes smaller balances where counseling might be better
- Founded in 2016 means less track record than firms with 15+ years of creditor history
- Not available in all states -- check eligibility before investing time in consultation
- Fee percentage is based on enrolled balance, not the lower settled amount
User Reviews (8)
shoutout to Rachel
Rachel knew Chase inside and out. She rejected the first offer and waited for a better one she said was coming. It came. Saved me a bunch on two accounts.
cards and medical ONLY
They wouldn't take my personal loan. Only credit cards and medical. Had to go somewhere else for the personal loan which was annoying. But I guess they stick to what they know.
good
They use a database to know what creditors settled for recently. My Discover account came in below the average they showed me. Worked out.
fees on enrolled balance heads up
Fee is on what you enrolled not what they settled for. Big difference. Ask about this before you sign. Industry standard apparently but still.
medical debt settled way cheaper
Hospital bills from a surgery my insurance fought over. DebtBlue went to the hospital directly. Medical stuff settles better than credit cards apparently. Saved a ton on the medical and the cards settled decent too.
meh
They started in 2016. Not that long ago. The creditor matching thing is interesting but I keep wondering if a company with 20 years of relationships would have gotten me a better deal. No way to know I guess.
would recommend
Didn't pay anything until month 5 when the first debt actually settled. Escrow was in my name the whole time.
CHECK YOUR STATE FIRST
My coworker in Maine couldn't use them!! They only cover about 40 states and don't tell you that on the website. I had to ASK. Like why not just put the state list on the homepage instead of wasting people's time with consultations they can't even use.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Related Companies
Important Debt Settlement Disclaimers
- Debt settlement involves negotiating with creditors to accept less than the full balance owed. This can result in tax liability on forgiven amounts exceeding $600. You may receive a Form 1099-C from creditors for canceled debt.
- Debt settlement may negatively affect your credit score and can remain on your credit report for up to 7 years. During the program, you will typically stop making payments to creditors, which causes late payment marks and potential collection activity.
- Not all creditors will agree to settle. Some may pursue legal action, wage garnishment, or bank levies during the settlement process. A debt settlement company cannot guarantee protection from lawsuits.
- Results vary based on individual circumstances including the types of creditors, account age, and your ability to fund the escrow account on schedule. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
- Debt settlement fees are typically 15%-25% of the enrolled debt amount. The FTC prohibits debt settlement companies from charging upfront fees before settling at least one debt. Confirm that your chosen company complies with this rule.
- Alternatives to debt settlement include debt consolidation loans, nonprofit credit counseling and debt management plans, balance transfer credit cards, and bankruptcy. Consult with a licensed financial advisor or attorney before enrolling.
- Zogby is an independent comparison service and does not provide debt settlement services. We do not negotiate with creditors on your behalf or manage settlement accounts.
This page is informational, not financial or legal advice. Talk to a qualified professional before making any big money decisions.
Editorial Independence
We make money from some companies on this page. That doesn't change our rankings -- the editorial team scores every product independently, and the business side has no say in what we recommend.