EDITORIAL STANDARDS
Clear reasoning. Sources you can inspect.
The information behind our guides, comparisons and tools.
Primary sources come first.
We use the CFPB, FTC, IRS, U.S. Courts and SBA to explain general options. Each guide links to its supporting sources. A source link is not an affiliation or endorsement.
A starting point is not approval.
The finder uses stated debt type, payment situation and available budget to organize possible next steps. Court papers take priority. Tax, medical and business debt have separate routes. No result means you qualify for a program.
Calculations show their assumptions.
Tools use the inputs and model described beside each result. A hypothetical settlement amount is not an expected outcome. We do not make up rankings, customer reviews or provider relationships.
Review status.
Sources were checked on October 15, 2026. Our educational content has not received independent financial or legal professional sign-off. It is not intended as individualized advice.
Source library
- CFPB: Credit counseling, settlement and consolidation ↗
- CFPB: If you cannot pay your credit card bills ↗
- FTC: How to get out of debt ↗
- CFPB: What to know about consolidating credit card debt ↗
- CFPB: If you cannot pay a medical bill ↗
- CFPB: Medical credit cards and payment plans ↗
- IRS: Get help with tax debt ↗
- IRS: Offer in compromise ↗
- U.S. Courts: Bankruptcy basics ↗
- CFPB: If you are sued by a collector or creditor ↗
- SBA: Close or sell your business ↗
- FTC: Protecting small businesses seeking financing ↗
- CFPB: What is credit counseling? ↗