Quick Answer: Settle Our Debt is a for-profit debt settlement company. To evaluate whether they’re right for you, I’d encourage you to check their complaint history with the CFPB, search for their reviews, and review their legal and enforcement history. Here’s how to do each of those.
Before You Read This: I want to be upfront about what this page is and isn’t. I’m not an investment advisor, and I’m not rendering a verdict on Settle Our Debt. This is a research guide — I’m showing you where to look so you can reach your own conclusions based on current information.
If you find something in the public record that concerns you, post it in the comments below. If you’re evaluating their contract, use my free Contract Decoder tool.
If you represent Settle Our Debt and something here is inaccurate, contact me and I’ll review it promptly.
Each weekday I send one short email: one story that caught my attention, why it might matter to you, and one manageable thing you can do with it. A couple of minutes, and a dad joke.
In the latest issue (Oct 16): The check that looks like a scam may be real
Free. I sell nothing. Unsubscribe any time.
If you have inside information you feel you need to share with me privately: don’t. Whatever you want to share should be posted in the comments — by you, with your name attached. I’m not willing to be anyone’s conduit for information they won’t stand behind themselves.
The most valuable thing on this page may not be what I’ve written — it’s the comments section below. People who’ve actually worked with Settle Our Debt share their experiences there. I’d encourage you to read them and add your own.
Who Is Settle Our Debt?
An educated consumer is our best customer.— Sy Syms
New here? My Ultimate Consumer Guide to Checking Out a Debt Relief Company walks through how to vet any debt relief company before you sign anything.
Settle Our Debt is a for-profit debt settlement company. Rather than repeat what they say about themselves here, I’d encourage you to read their own website and state business filings — that way you’re seeing it directly from primary sources, not filtered through me.
Step 1: Check Their Credentials
Before anything else, verify they have the credentials they claim. Here’s what to check:
- AFCC Membership: The American Fair Credit Council is the main industry association for debt settlement companies. Verify whether Settle Our Debt is a current member in good standing.
- State Licensing: Debt settlement companies must be licensed in states where they operate. Check NMLS Consumer Access to verify their licensing in your state before enrolling.
- BBB Profile: Search for Settle Our Debt directly on Better Business Bureau — look at any rating, years in business, and especially the complaint history and how they responded.
A Note on BBB Grades: A high BBB grade doesn’t necessarily mean a company is right for you — it means they respond to complaints filed through the BBB. Read the actual complaint text and the company’s responses. That’s the useful part. See my full guide to what BBB letter grades actually mean →
Step 2: Check Consumer Complaints
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau maintains a public database of complaints filed against financial companies. You can search for Settle Our Debt directly:
The Daily Money Brief — Free, at 10 AM
Money you may be owed, scams to dodge, and the fine print decoded — the consumer money news that affects your wallet, every weekday.
Search Settle Our Debt’s complaint history in the CFPB database →
When you’re reading complaints, look for:
- What the complaints are about — fees, program performance, communication problems?
- How the company responded — did they resolve issues or just close them?
- Whether the same issue appears repeatedly — a pattern matters more than a single complaint
- The ratio of complaints to customers — a large company will have more complaints in raw numbers
Step 3: Read Their Reviews
Search for Settle Our Debt on Trustpilot and Google Reviews. A few things to keep in mind as you read:
How to read Trustpilot like a pro: My complete guide to spotting red flags in Trustpilot reviews breaks down exactly what to look for — including how to identify review solicitation campaigns and reputation management tactics.
- Pay attention to what the 5-star reviews are actually about. If they’re praising a friendly phone call or easy signup — that’s interaction quality, not program performance. Compare those against reviews that specifically mention outcomes: debt reduced, program completed, fees as promised.
- Read the 2- and 3-star reviews carefully — these tend to be the most honest, from people who had mixed experiences and aren’t trying to tear the company apart
- Look at how the company responds to negative reviews — a defensive or dismissive response tells you something
- Check the review dates — a flood of 5-star reviews in a short period can indicate a solicitation campaign
Step 4: Check Their Legal and Enforcement History
For-profit debt settlement companies are subject to enforcement actions from federal and state regulators. Here’s where to look:
- CFPB Enforcement Actions: Search the CFPB’s enforcement action database for the company name
- FTC Actions: The FTC publishes all enforcement cases — search for the company or its principals
- State Attorney General: Search “Settle Our Debt attorney general” or “Settle Our Debt lawsuit” — many enforcement actions happen at the state level
- Federal Court Records: CourtListener searches 1.3 billion federal court documents for free — no registration required. For the official PACER system with complete case filings, see my guide to using PACER.gov.
Context Matters: A company that has faced enforcement action isn’t automatically disqualified — what matters is what the action was for, whether they resolved it, and whether the behavior continued. A company that’s never faced any scrutiny in a highly regulated industry may just not have been looked at yet.
Free Tool — I'm Being Sued for Debt Guide: Being sued by a creditor or debt collector? The free I'm Being Sued Guide gives you a personalized action plan — deadlines, defenses, and options based on your state. Most states require a response within 20–30 days. Get My Action Plan →
Step 5: Ask the Right Questions Before You Enroll
Before signing anything: Run their contract through my free Contract Decoder tool. Paste it in and get a plain-English breakdown of what you’re agreeing to.
Before you commit to any debt settlement program, get clear answers — in writing — to these questions:
- What is the total cost — the company’s fee — over the full length of the program?
- Which creditors have they successfully settled with before, and which ones tend not to participate?
- What happens to accounts that aren’t enrolled in the program — will creditors continue collection activity?
- What are the consequences if I miss a deposit or need to pause the program?
- How is my monthly deposit held — in an FDIC-insured account I control — and what happens to it if I cancel?
- What percentage of people who enroll actually complete the program and settle all their enrolled debts?
Before You Commit: Debt settlement isn’t right for everyone. Run your situation through my Find Your Path tool to see whether settlement, bankruptcy, a debt management plan, or another option fits your situation better.
Key Takeaways
- Verify AFCC membership and state licensing before anything else
- Read CFPB complaints for patterns — not just raw numbers
- On reviews, compare 5-star reviews about interactions vs. reviews about actual program outcomes
- Check CFPB and FTC enforcement history for any regulatory actions
- Get all fees, program terms, and success statistics in writing before you sign
- The comments section below contains real experiences from real clients — read them
Want the full research playbook? My Ultimate Consumer Guide to Checking Out a Debt Relief Company covers every tool and source in this guide — plus detailed walkthroughs for reading BBB profiles, spotting Trustpilot red flags, and searching federal court records on CourtListener.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Settle Our Debt a legitimate company?
Settle Our Debt is a for-profit debt settlement company. Whether they’re the right fit for your situation is a different question — I’d encourage you to check their CFPB complaint history, verify their state licensing, and read independent reviews before enrolling.
How do I file a complaint against Settle Our Debt?
You can file a complaint directly with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. You can also file with your state attorney general’s office and the BBB. Filing with the CFPB creates a public record and triggers a required company response.
Is Settle Our Debt a member of AFCC?
I’d encourage you to verify current membership directly on the AFCC website — membership status can change, and the association’s directory is the most accurate source.
What is debt settlement and how does it work?
Debt settlement involves negotiating with creditors to accept less than the full balance owed — typically after you’ve fallen behind on payments and saved up a lump sum. You deposit money into a dedicated account monthly, the company negotiates on your behalf, and when there’s enough to offer a settlement, they attempt to resolve the account. Fees are typically a percentage of the enrolled debt or the settled amount. Creditors are not required to settle, and they can continue collection activity — including lawsuits — during the program.
Should I use Settle Our Debt to get out of debt?
That depends entirely on your situation. Debt settlement works for some people and isn’t the right fit for others — it depends on your income, the types of debt you have, how far behind you are, and your goals. I’d encourage you to run your situation through my Find Your Path tool before committing to any program.
Share Your Experience with Settle Our Debt
If you’ve worked with Settle Our Debt — as a client, a former employee, or someone who looked into them and decided not to enroll — I’d encourage you to share your experience in the comments. Your perspective helps others make a more informed decision.
To share your experience: Scroll to the bottom of this page — the comments box is there.
Before You Sign Anything: Run any debt relief contract through the free Contract Decoder to spot hidden fees and unfair terms. Check the company’s complaint history with the Scam-O-Meter.
Compare Your Real Options: Most debt relief companies won’t tell you about all your options — especially the ones they can’t profit from. Credit counseling has a 21-27% completion rate. Settlement resolves about 1% of enrolled debts fully. Bankruptcy has a 95% discharge rate — and protects your retirement. Take the Find Your Path quiz for a recommendation based on your actual numbers.
Browse all Debt Settlement Companies reviews, or see the full Company Reviews directory.
