At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About ClearOne Advantage
ClearOne Advantage is one of the few settlement companies that offers a money-back guarantee if they don't settle at least one debt within the first 6 months. Read the fine print -- the guarantee requires that you've made all your scheduled deposits on time. Miss even one deposit (which can happen during financial hardship, the very reason people enroll), and the guarantee is void. Still, the fact that they offer any guarantee at all is notable in an industry where most companies ask you to trust the process for 6-12 months before seeing results. Founded in 2007 in Baltimore, Maryland, ClearOne has nearly two decades of creditor negotiation history. Their negotiation team has settled debts with every major credit card issuer, and they maintain particularly strong relationships with the banks that dominate the mid-Atlantic region -- Capital One, Discover, and Barclays -- though they handle national creditors equally well. ClearOne's Trustpilot reviews show a pattern worth noting: their highest-rated interactions are with the enrollment team and the settlement notification team, while the lowest-rated interactions happen during the "silent middle" period. They have recently added proactive monthly check-in calls to address this gap, which is a meaningful operational improvement if they execute it consistently.
Key Features
Conditional Money-Back Guarantee
No settlement in 6 months and you made every single deposit on time? You get your money back. Miss one deposit and the guarantee disappears. Simple as that.
Nearly Two Decades of Creditor History
They have been doing this since 2007. Almost two decades of calling the same banks, knowing the same supervisors, and tracking what settles at what price.
Monthly Proactive Check-Ins
They now call you every month during the waiting period. This is new — clients used to complain about radio silence between enrollment and first settlement.
FDIC-Insured Escrow Accounts
Your money sits in an FDIC-insured account at a third-party bank with your name on it. ClearOne cannot move a dollar without your approval.
How It Works
Consultation & Guarantee Review
A specialist walks through your debts and spells out exactly what the guarantee covers — and what voids it. Pay attention here.
Program Enrollment
You pick which debts to enroll and open your FDIC-insured escrow account. The clock on the 6-month guarantee starts now.
Consistent Monthly Deposits
Hit every deposit on time. No exceptions. One missed payment kills the guarantee, even if you had a legitimate emergency.
Active Negotiation
Once your escrow hits the right threshold, ClearOne starts calling creditors. They go after the most likely wins first.
Settlement Review & Approval
Every settlement offer comes to you first. Nothing gets paid until you say yes.
What They Do
- Debt Settlement
- Debt Negotiation
- Financial Counseling
- Credit Card Debt Relief
- Medical Debt Settlement
Debt Types They Take On
- Credit Cards
- Medical Bills
- Personal Loans
- Store Cards
- Collections
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Guarantee Activated: First Settlement in 5 Months
Someone with $28,000 across 3 cards. Made every deposit on schedule. ClearOne closed the first one — a $9,200 Discover account — at month 5, before the guarantee deadline.
Medical and Credit Card Mixed Portfolio
Someone with $41,000 — $15K in hospital bills and $26K in credit cards. The medical debts settled faster because hospital billing departments are more flexible than banks.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Money-back guarantee on first settlement provides measurable accountability absent from most competitors
- Nearly two decades of creditor relationship data improves negotiation positioning
- client satisfaction with consistently strong Trustpilot scores
- Recently added proactive monthly check-in calls to address the mid-program communication gap
- Third-party FDIC-insured escrow accounts mean ClearOne never holds your funds directly
Cons
- Money-back guarantee requires perfect deposit compliance -- miss one payment and it is void
- Minimum $10,000 debt threshold excludes consumers with smaller but still burdensome balances
- Not available in all states -- roughly 10 states are excluded
- The "silent middle" period between enrollment and first settlement still frustrates some clients despite improvements
User Reviews (9)
the guarantee is legit
Money back if nothing settles in 6 months as long as you made every deposit. I set up autopay just to protect it. First settlement came at month 5. The guarantee is what made me pull the trigger.
Trustpilot reviews check out
I read like 200 reviews before enrolling. Complaints are mostly people who missed a deposit and lost the guarantee. The positive reviews are consistent enough that it's not cherry-picked. Also my cat decided to sit on my laptop while I was researching which is unrelated but whatever.
good
They helped found the AFCC which writes the industry rules. No surprises, no hidden fees.
ONE missed deposit = guarantee GONE
Car broke down month 3. Had to use my deposit for the repair. ONE missed payment. Guarantee voided. Didn't matter that I made every other deposit perfectly. When you're already in financial trouble the whole reason you're there is because emergencies happen?!?! The results were fine but the guarantee was useless for me.
shoutout to Kevin for the check-in calls
Kevin called every single month even when nothing was new. Just "hey your escrow is on track, we have your Discover flagged for next month." That kind of proactive communication is rare. Most companies go silent during the waiting period.
check if they serve your state
About 10 states excluded. Friend in Montana wasted 30 minutes on a consultation before finding out. Just put the state list on the homepage come on.
done ahead of schedule
Quoted 30-36 months and finished in 26. My advisor wasn't afraid to reject first offers which paid off. Not as well known as NDR but results are right there.
meh
Portal looks like 2015. No app. Beyond Finance has push notifications and real-time tracking and ClearOne is like... here's a balance number that updates weekly. The service is good but the tech is behind.
would recommend
My advisor understood the tax implications and how it would affect my credit timeline. She knew I wanted to buy a house in 3 years and planned around that. Still working with her on rebuilding.
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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.
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