ClearOne Advantage review
Debt settlement company that presents each settlement and its fee for your approval. People who want to sign off on every settlement and fee as the program goes. We rank it #5 of 8 in our debt relief comparison, with an editorial score of 8.0 out of 10.
ClearOne Advantage scores well on Consumer protections & disclosures because it presents every settlement and its fee for your approval and lists its ACDR membership. It scores lower on Fee transparency and Program terms & eligibility because the pages we reviewed explain how fees work but do not publish a fee range or program length.
Visit site (ClearOne Advantage, opens in a new tab)Quick facts
Overview
ClearOne Advantage is a debt settlement company with offices in Tempe, Arizona and Baltimore, Maryland. You make monthly deposits into your own FDIC-insured savings account while it negotiates with your creditors.
Its site says fees are a percentage of the enrolled debt, that it charges no upfront fees, and that its fee is earned only after you approve a settlement and at least one payment is made. Each settlement offer and its fee are presented to you for approval. The pages we reviewed did not publish a fee range or typical program length, so ask for both in writing before you enroll.
ClearOne Advantage lists itself as an accredited member of the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR). Its disclosures say entering a settlement program could hurt your credit score and that the program is not available in all states.
Pros and cons
Pros
- You approve every settlement before a fee is earned
- Clear explanation of when fees are charged
- Industry association membership listed
Cons
- No fee range published on the pages we reviewed
- No typical program length published on the pages we reviewed
- Not available in all states
Key features
- Each settlement and fee presented for your approval
- Deposits held in your own FDIC-insured account
- No upfront fees
- ACDR accredited member (per its site)
Who ClearOne Advantage is for
A good fit if
People who want to sign off on every settlement and fee as the program goes.
Look elsewhere if
Anyone who wants to compare a published fee range before talking to a consultant.
How we scored ClearOne Advantage
ClearOne Advantage scores well on Consumer protections & disclosures because it presents every settlement and its fee for your approval and lists its ACDR membership. It scores lower on Fee transparency and Program terms & eligibility because the pages we reviewed explain how fees work but do not publish a fee range or program length.
Our debt relief score weighs fee transparency (25%), program terms & eligibility (20%), consumer protections & disclosures (25%), client support & tools (15%), availability (15%). See the methodology.
ClearOne Advantage alternatives
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#1
Freedom Debt Relief
Best overallLarge debt settlement company with a published fee range, a Program Guarantee and no upfront fees.
- Fee is a published percentage of enrolled debt
- No upfront fees; fee collected after a settlement is authorized and paid
- Program Guarantee (read the terms)
- Founding member of the ACDR; IAPDA platinum member (per its site)
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#2

National Debt Relief
Best for a published fee capNew York-based debt settlement company that caps its fee as a share of enrolled debt.
- Fee capped as a share of enrolled debt
- No fees until a debt is settled
- ACDR member and IAPDA accredited (per its site)
- Free savings estimate before you enroll
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#3
JG Wentworth Debt Relief
Best for a single stated feeDebt resolution program from the J.G. Wentworth family of companies, with a stated program fee and state list.
- Program fee stated as a single percentage of enrolled debt
- No upfront fees
- Published list of states served directly
- Prequalification that does not affect your credit score (per its site)
ClearOne Advantage FAQ
How does ClearOne Advantage charge fees?
Its site says fees are a percentage of the enrolled debt and are earned only after you approve a settlement and at least one payment is made. It did not publish a fee range on the pages we reviewed, so ask for it in writing.
Where is my money held with ClearOne Advantage?
ClearOne Advantage says your monthly payments go into your own FDIC-insured savings account, which is used to pay settlements as they are reached.
Will ClearOne Advantage hurt my credit?
Its own disclosures say entering a debt settlement program could adversely affect your credit score, mainly because enrolled accounts go unpaid while you save.
Sources and fact check
We checked the facts on this page against ClearOne Advantage's own website on .