At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About Greenwise Debt Relief
Greenwise Debt Relief, based in Los Angeles, addresses a problem that the rest of the debt settlement industry largely ignores: recidivism. Industry data suggests that 20-30% of consumers who complete debt settlement programs accumulate significant new debt within 3 years of graduation. The behavioral patterns — overspending, lack of emergency savings, credit-dependent budgeting — that created the original debt problem are rarely addressed by traditional settlement companies, which focus exclusively on negotiating balances down. Greenwise's model pairs standard debt settlement with mandatory one-on-one financial coaching, budgeting workshops, and a 6-month post-graduation support program designed to break the cycle. The coaching component is not optional window dressing. Every Greenwise client participates in regular sessions with a certified financial educator who works through a structured curriculum: understanding spending triggers, building a realistic budget, establishing an emergency fund strategy, rebuilding credit responsibly after settlement, and developing long-term wealth-building habits. The educational resource library includes interactive budgeting calculators, video courses on topics from grocery budgeting to retirement planning basics, and monthly live workshops. Greenwise's internal data shows that clients who complete both the settlement and coaching programs have a debt recidivism rate approximately 60% lower than the industry average. The trade-off is cost and availability. Greenwise's fees run 18-25%, at the higher end of the industry range, reflecting the additional coaching and education overhead. The company is also smaller (50-100 employees, $200M+ resolved, available in 30+ states), meaning it lacks the creditor leverage and geographic reach of firms like Freedom or National Debt Relief. For consumers whose primary concern is minimizing total cost or maximizing creditor leverage, a larger firm may deliver better raw settlement results. But for consumers who recognize that their debt problem has behavioral roots and want a program that addresses the cause as well as the symptom, Greenwise offers something different.
Key Features
Integrated Financial Coaching
You get regular one-on-one sessions with a certified financial educator. Not optional webinars — actual coaching conversations about your spending patterns, budget, and what needs to change.
Educational Resource Library
Videos, calculators, live workshops, and articles on budgeting, credit rebuilding, and investing basics. This is an actual library of tools, not a PDF download they never update.
Post-Program Support
After your debts are settled, you get 6 more months of coaching. That transition period is when people are most likely to slip back into old habits, and Greenwise stays with you through it.
Full-Picture Financial Assessment
The first call goes deeper than your balances. They look at spending habits, income trajectory, and what you actually want your financial life to look like — because settlement is just step one.
How It Works
Full Financial Review
A specialist reviews your debt, spending patterns, income, and goals. They want to understand the full picture, not just the numbers on your statements.
Program & Coaching Plan
You get two plans: one for settling your debt and one for the financial education work that runs alongside it.
Monthly Deposits
Monthly deposits go into your FDIC-insured escrow account while you work through coaching sessions on the education side.
Settlement & Education
The settlement team handles your creditors while you work with your coach on the habits and systems that prevent a repeat.
Graduation & Beyond
You finish the program debt-free with new habits in place, plus 6 months of continued coaching to make sure they stick.
What They Do
- Debt Settlement
- Financial Coaching
- Budgeting Education
- Credit Building Guidance
- Post-Program Support
Debt Types They Take On
- Credit Cards
- Medical Bills
- Personal Loans
- Store Cards
- Collections
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Repeat Debtor Breaks the Cycle After Previous Settlement Failure
Client had previously completed a debt settlement program through a national competitor, resolving \$38,000 in credit card debt. Within 18 months of graduation, the client had accumulated \$33,000 in new credit card debt — the same spending patterns (emotional spending, no emergency fund, credit-dependent budgeting) that created the original problem resurfaced. The client approached Greenwise specifically because of the coaching component. The Greenwise financial educator identified three key behavioral triggers: online impulse purchases, dining-out spending that exceeded the client's budget by \$400/month, and the absence of any savings buffer leading to credit card use for unexpected expenses.
Young Couple Building Financial Foundation Alongside Debt Resolution
Married couple in their late 20s with \$47,000 in combined credit card and personal loan debt, mostly accumulated during college and the first years of marriage. Combined income of \$7,200/month with minimum payments of \$1,650/month. Neither had ever created a household budget or discussed money management. Greenwise enrolled both partners in the coaching program and treated it as a joint financial education process.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Only debt settlement company that integrates mandatory one-on-one financial coaching with certified educators into every client program — not an optional add-on, but a core program component
- 6 months of post-graduation financial support helps prevent the 20-30% debt recidivism rate that plagues the broader settlement industry
- Internal data shows clients who complete both settlement and coaching have approximately 60% lower debt recidivism rates than industry averages
- Very low CFPB complaint volume (8 in 3 years) suggests high client satisfaction with the combined settlement-and-education approach
- Initial assessment goes beyond debt balances into spending habits, income trajectory, and behavioral patterns — resulting in more realistic program design
Cons
- Higher fees (18-25%) than many competitors — the coaching and education overhead is included in the fee rather than charged separately, but the total cost is higher than a settlement-only firm like Ascend (10-22%)
- Smaller company (50-100 employees, \$200M+ resolved) has significantly less creditor leverage than Freedom or ClearOne, which may result in settlement percentages 2-5% higher on some accounts
- Available in only 30+ states, excluding a meaningful number of potential clients — check availability before investing time in a consultation
- The mandatory coaching requirement means a larger time commitment than settlement-only programs — clients must participate in regular sessions, not just make monthly deposits
User Reviews (7)
quiet company that delivers
Not famous but GreenWise delivered. Settled in 26 months. My specialist Shoutout to Amanda was responsive and knew her stuff. Sometimes the quiet ones do the best work.
middle of the road
Not the cheapest not the fastest not the most tech-forward. But consistently solid across the board. If you want dependable without a standout feature GreenWise is fine.
meh
meh
EIGHT MONTHS for first settlement
Eight months with zero results zero settlements zero anything while my credit burned. ADR does 4-6 months. EIGHT. The settlement was fine when it came but 8 months of depositing money into what feels like a black hole tests your faith. I almost quit at month 6 and probably should have switched to ADR.
who are they though
Never heard of GreenWise before researching. Made me nervous the whole 28 months. Results were fine but I couldn't find reviews anywhere to validate my choice. That lack of visibility is a real thing.
warned me which accounts would be hard
Flagged my Discover and Amex upfront as likely to settle above 50% and take 12+ months. They were right on both. Accurate expectations prevented disappointment.
Amex gap vs bigger firms
Amex settled at 55%. NDR people report 50-52%. Small sample but makes you wonder. Easy creditors were great. Tough ones had a noticeable gap.
Write a Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Embed This Badge on Your Website
Greenwise Debt Relief has earned a Best for Financial Education designation from Zogby. Display this badge on your website to showcase your rating.
Paste this code anywhere in your website's HTML. The badge links back to your full Zogby review.
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.
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.