How we compare options, and how we make money

Last updated 2026-06-18. Informational only — not financial, legal or tax advice.

You deserve to know where our information comes from and how we are paid. This page explains our methodology, our affiliate disclosure, and the limits of what any comparison can tell you.

DebtReliefScout is an informational resource, not a lender, debt-relief company, or credit counselor. Nothing here is financial, legal, or tax advice. Our aim is to inform your decision, not to push you toward the option that pays us the most.

Where our numbers come from

The ranges and estimates we publish are drawn from public sources, such as regulator guidance, industry reporting, and provider-disclosed terms. We express them as ranges because real costs vary by provider, state, and individual situation.

Market figures change, so we date our data and update it rather than presenting stale numbers as current. Where a figure would quickly go out of date, we keep it in a maintained data layer instead of hard-coding it into the copy.

Estimates are for understanding, not guarantees. Your actual rate, fee, or savings can differ from any range you see here.

Fit over payout

We frame options by how well they fit a situation, not by which provider pays us the most. We do not claim any company is the best as a matter of fact, because that depends on your circumstances and changes over time.

When we connect you with a provider, the goal is a sensible match, and we surface the lower-risk and free alternatives, like nonprofit counseling, alongside paid ones.

We also flag the risks plainly: credit damage, possible lawsuits, fees, taxable forgiven debt, and the fact that no creditor is obligated to settle.

Affiliate disclosure

Our monetization is affiliate and CPA based. When you choose to connect with a provider through us, we may earn a fee. That is how we keep this resource free.

Being paid does not change the facts, the risks, or the alternatives we present. We do not accept payment to misstate costs or hide downsides, and we will not write fabricated claims or guarantees.

If you ever feel a recommendation reads as hype, that is not our standard, and you can disregard it and go straight to a nonprofit counselor or the provider's own disclosures.

Limits and state variation

No comparison tool can predict what your specific creditors or lenders will do. Eligibility, pricing, and provider availability vary by state, and some rules around debt and collections differ by where you live.

Federal rules also shape this space. For example, the FTC bans advance fees for debt settlement before a debt is settled, and forgiven debt over $600 may be reported on a Form 1099-C and taxed as income.

For decisions with lasting consequences, especially bankruptcy or tax questions, consult a qualified attorney or tax professional. We are here to inform the conversation, not replace it.

Regulatory & consumer-protection notes

Informational only; this site is not a lender, debt-relief provider, credit counselor, or financial, legal, or tax advisor, and provides no individualized advice.
FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR Part 310): for-profit debt-relief services sold by phone may NOT charge advance fees before at least one debt has been settled/renegotiated and the consumer has made at least one payment under that settlement; fees may not be front-loaded.
Forgiven or canceled debt of $600 or more may be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-C and is generally taxable as income, with exceptions such as bankruptcy discharge and insolvency (see IRS Topic No. 431).
Eligibility and rules vary by state, and debt relief carries real risks (credit damage, lawsuits, possible tax on forgiven debt). Consider a nonprofit credit counselor (NFCC) first and, for bankruptcy, consult a qualified attorney; for tax questions consult a tax professional.

What we could not fully verify

In the interest of honesty, these figures are ranges or rules of thumb, not fixed values:

Personal loan APR ranges per tier are synthesized/rounded from publisher average-rate data (Bankrate, NerdWallet) rather than a single authoritative table; exact tier boundaries and figures vary by source and shift weekly. Re-verify before publishing precise numbers.
MCA effective-APR band (40%-350%+) is a commonly cited industry range, not a regulated or single-source figure; actual APR depends entirely on advance size, fees, and payback speed.
Debt-settlement 'minimum debt' rule of thumb (~$7,500-$10,000+) is an industry convention from settlement providers, not a CFPB/FTC threshold.
Debt-settlement typical fee range (15%-25%) is widely reported by financial publishers; the upper bound (up to ~35%) appears in some sources. The percentage is not federally capped — only fee timing is regulated.
Working-capital/term-loan rates intentionally left without numeric ranges because they vary too widely by lender and borrower to state a verified, defensible range.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How does DebtReliefScout make money?: Through affiliate and CPA fees. When you choose to connect with a provider through us, we may earn a fee, which keeps the site free. It does not change the facts, risks, or alternatives we present.
Do you recommend the highest-paying providers?: No. We frame options by fit, not payout, and we surface free, lower-risk alternatives like nonprofit credit counseling alongside paid ones. We do not claim any company is the best as a matter of fact.
Why are your figures shown as ranges?: Because real costs vary by provider, state, and situation, and market rates change over time. We draw on dated public sources and present ranges so you get honest context rather than a single number that may not apply to you.