Heidi Rivera
Written by
Rhys Subitch
Edited by
Updated on May 9, 2023
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At a glance
| Overall Score | 4.5 |
|---|---|
| Overview | If you are on the search for last resort, New Era Debt Solutions can be a reliable option. Since its debut, New Era Debt Solutions has settled over $275 million in debt. Its team is made up of debt relief specialists, financial experts, attorneys, and support staff. |
| Minimum debt required | Not disclosed |
| Time frame | Not disclosed |
| Fees | Not disclosed |
Best for: Credit card debt settlement
New Era Debt Solutions offers debt settlement programs for consumers struggling to keep up with different types of unsecured debt. The company also has resources dedicated specifically to settling credit card debt. This alone makes it a prime choice for those struggling with multiple high-interest credit card accounts and who are looking for solutions to get out of debt in under three years.
Types of debt settled by New Era Debt Solutions
New Era Debt Solutions settles unsecured debt or debt that isn’t backed by collateral. This can include:
- Credit cards
- Department store cards
- Signature loans
- Personal lines of credit
- Old repossessions
- Other unsecured debts
- Old judgments
- Private student loans in default
New Era Debt Solutions pros and cons
Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of working with New Era Debt Solutions to address any debt issues.
PROS
Free debt analysis.
Services and resources available in Spanish.
Most clients become debt free in two to three years.
CONS
Unclear minimum debt requirements and fees.
No weekend support for existing customers.
Not available in every state.
Debt relief qualifications
New Era Debt Solutions has been in business for over 20 years and carries a professional trade association membership with the American Fair Credit Council.
In terms of customer restrictions, New Era Debt Solutions isn’t available everywhere. You can only enroll in its debt settlement program if you qualify and live in one of the states serviced. Along with that, the minimum debt requirements are unclear.
Services
To start the process, you’ll need to fill out an online contact form and schedule a free consultation. The form will ask you to share your:
- Name
- Phone number
- State
- How much unsecured debt you owe
From there, a debt specialist will get in touch with you, explain the program and answer any questions you may have.
Once the specialist learns more about your situation, they can help you figure out how much you can save and how long the debt settlement process would take. If you decide to pursue the program, you’ll make one deposit into a savings account every month.
In six to 12 months when the funds begin to add up, the debt specialists will negotiate settlements with your creditors. Once you settle and pay off all your accounts, you’ll complete the program.
Fees and penalties
New Era Debt Solutions is not transparent about its fees. While it makes it clear that there are no upfront fees and it uses a “performance-based” fee model, the company does not reveal a free range like many of its competitors do.
Credit score impacts
Working with New Era Debt Solutions can damage your credit score.
What we like and what we don’t like
With limited state availability and unclear requirements, New Era Debt Solutions may not be best for every sort of customer.
Pros
- Free debt analysis. New Era Debt Solutions offers a free consultation. You can learn more about its services and find out if you’re a good fit.
- Services and resources available in Spanish. If you’re a native Spanish speaker and prefer to receive services in Spanish rather than English, New Era Debt Solutions has you covered online and over the phone.
- Most clients finish in less than three years. While the length of your program will depend on several factors, most of New Era’s clients get out of debt in 27.73 months.
Cons
- Unclear minimum debt requirements and fees. Even though New Era Debt Solutions states it doesn’t charge monthly or upfront fees, it’s not transparent about a fee range. It also fails to disclose minimum debt requirements.
- No weekend support for existing customers. New Era Debt Solutions doesn’t serve its customers on the weekends. This can be an issue if you’re particularly busy during the week.
- Not available in every state. While New Era does have a widespread presence in the U.S., it’s not everywhere.Its services aren’t an option if you live in Iowa, Maine and Oregon.
Customer experience and reviews
New Era Debt Solutions earned an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has 4.9 out of five stars on TrustPilot. In April 2021, however, Oregon filed a claim suing New Era Debt Solutions for its debt relief practices.
According to the filing, New Era Debt Solutions didn’t register with the state, violating Oregon state law. Since the company helped clients complete applications with the CFLN rather than providing debt relief services directly, it was required to cease and desist operations in Oregon.
New Era Debt Solutions also had to pay a $50,000 penalty. Of the penalty, $40,000 was suspended, as long as the company does not violate Oregon law in the next three years and pays Oregon clients $22,265.21 in fees within 18 months. Currently, the company states that it does not serve Oregon.
How to contact New Era Debt Solutions
Customers can contact New Era Debt Solutions for support in a few different ways. Specialists are available from Monday through Saturday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. PT and current customers can gain support over the phone Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT. There is also support available over email for customers who have specific questions to be answered.
New Era Debt Solutions frequently asked questions
How Bankrate rates New Era Debt Solutions
Overall Score 4.5 Explanation Availability 3.7 Undisclosed minimum debt lowers an otherwise strong services score. Affordability 4.2 There are no upfront fees but undisclosed terms and closing fees decrease score. Customer experience 5.0 New Era Debt Solutions has an easy-navigate website and range of customer support hours. Company reputation 5.0 The company has primarily positive reviews online but legal issues lower the score. Stability 5.0 The company has been in business for 20 years and carries accreditation. Methodology
To rate debt relief services, Bankrate considers 15 factors. These factors include minimum debt allowed, what fees are charged, whether there are unresolved complaints and if the company is accredited. Categories that the services are rated on include:
- Availability: Availability is assessed based on the minimum debt balance required, types of eligible debt and whether the company provides free credit counseling.
- Affordability: Affordability is assessed based on associated fees and whether the company specifies money-back guarantee terms.
- Customer experience: Customer experience is assessed based on website usability and features, customer support options and hours of operation.
- Company reputation: Company reputation is determined by assessing complaints with regulatory agencies, like the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Stability: Stability ratings are based on how long the company has been in business and whether it maintains membership with a professional trade association.
Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.
On This Page
On This Page
- At a glance
- Pros and cons
- Qualifications
- Services
- What we like and what we don't like
- Customer experience and reviews
- How to contact
- Frequently asked questions
- Our rating
- Methodology
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