New survey shares insight about why people choose not to work with a debt settlement company to lower their debts

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/03/2015 -- BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) released a new survey about why people choose not to work with debt settlement companies to lower their overall debt. This survey provides a look at the variety of reasons people want to settle debt on their own.

"We review companies that can help people to get out of debt," PR Director Kate Ward said. "We want to better understand why people use, or in this case, don't use, settlement companies to better suit their needs."

The survey, which had 1,000 respondents, asks the question: "Why would you not want to work with a debt settlement company to reduce your debt?"

Here are the following responses with their corresponding percentages:

- I don't have enough debt to need a company-42 percent
- I don't trust debt settlement companies-29 percent
- I don't know what these companies do-13 percent
- I want to get out of debt myself-13 percent
- It takes too long to settle my debt-3 percent

The majority of respondents, 42 percent, felt that they did not have enough debt to need a debt settlement company. Most debt settlement companies require a minimum debt of $10,000 to qualify for help. It seems people feel they are on top of their finances are do not require assistance.

The next highest answer was "I don't trust debt settlement companies" with 29 percent. This response helps portray the lack of trust people have with debt settlement companies.

"Their has always been an associated with lack of trust in the debt industry," Ward said. "But our team did not expect lack of trust to be the second most popular response. This gives us an opportunity to help change peoples attitude about the debt industry as a whole."

With the second most responses, lack of trust with debt settlement companies is clearly an issue that is not going away anytime soon. The BDC team sees this as an opportunity to help show people the companies they can trust when it comes to their debt.

About BestDebtCompanies.com
BestDebtCompanies.com provides unbiased reviews of over 145 companies in the debt industry. These reviews, based on our ranking criteria, combined with real user comments, helps consumers get a better understanding of each company.

The BDC team stands behind each company they recommend and know potential customers will be able to get on the right path to settle their debts.

BestDebtCompanys.com strives to provide customers with unbiased reviews and allows users to have a voice.

For more information regarding the debt settlement criteria update, visit http://bestdebtcompanys.com/debt-settlement/.

Media Contact
Kate Ward
investigate@bestdebtcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

BestDebtCompanys.com number two recommended tax relief company is featured on the Inc. 5000 list

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/17/2015 -- BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) is happy to announce one of their top recommended tax relief companies, Optima Tax Relief, is ranked third on the Inc. 5000 2015 list.

Located in Santa Ana, CA, Optima Tax Relief has seen a 26,007 percent increase in a three-year growth period.

"It's exciting to see companies we recommend and value highlighted on a national level," BDC PR Director Kate Ward said. "This is just another platform for Optima Tax Relief to receive exposure that we always knew they were worthy of."

In addition to it's third overall ranking, Optima Tax Relief was also recognized as the number one financial services company and was the third highest ranked California company.

Optima Tax Relief specializes in tax relief agreements with the IRS and other tax related issues including reduction of tax debt, audits, wage garnishment and bank levies.

Out of the 42 tax relief companies ranked on BDC, Optima Tax Relief is the number two recommended company. Their experienced staff and variety of tax related services provides high quality assistance to their clients.

"Our ranking criteria allows the best companies to come through," Ward said. "Optima Tax Relief is a great example of how our ranking criteria showcases the best an industry has to offer."

About BestDebtCompanys.com
BestDebtCompanys.com strives to create unbiased ranking criteria to showcase the best in the debt industry. The BDC team is always looking to innovate and improve their criteria to better reflect the industry.

BestDebtCompanys.com encourages real customers to leave reviews to allow users to have a voice.

For more information about Optima Tax Relief and all the tax relief companies, check out BestDebtCompanys.com

Media Contact:
Kate Ward
investigate@bestdebtcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Survey results highlights the confusion surrounding the debt industry

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/21/2015 -- BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) released a new survey identifying what services debt settlement companies provide. It focused on clarifying what settlement companies services provide and overall how confusing the debt industry can be.

"We want to better understand the debt knowledge base of consumers," BDC PR Director Kate Ward said. "If we can better understand what they know or don't know, we can create more informative content for them."

The survey, which collected 1,000 responses, asked the question: "What does a debt settlement company do?"

Here are the following responses and their percentages:

- Negotiates with creditors to lower your debt: 41.4 percent
- None of these: 34.2 percent
- Combines debt into one monthly payment: 15.2 percent
- Works with the IRS on behalf of your debt: 5.8 percent
- Lowers your overall interest rate: 3.4 percent

The highest number of respondents, 41.4 percent, chose the correct response of "Negotiate with creditors to lower debt." Of those 41.4 percent of respondents, 53.2 percent were 65 years or older.

This is interesting because it shows that age does affect who picked the correct response. It could have something to do with the fact that they have been around longer and understand how the debt resolution process works, or have a better understanding of their finances in general.

The next highest answer response, with 34.2 percent, chose "None of these." After knowing what debt settlement companies do, the next highest response was not understanding what these companies do.

It is interesting that people seem to know exactly what settlement companies do or have no idea how settlement companies help them. This misunderstanding can cause serious confusion when it comes to looking for debt resolutions.

The BDC review team felt this survey brings up a bigger issue around the debt industry as a whole. It seems that people either know exactly what they are looking for or have no idea what they need.

"This survey sheds light on the current knowledge of our consumers of the debt industry," Ward said. "It provides insight to better help our consumers make informed decisions."

This survey is a stepping point towards helping people to understand what settlement companies do and the difference between the types of debt resolutions.

About BestDebtCompanys.com
BestDebtCompanys.com strives to provide customers with unbiased reviews and allows users to have a voice.

For more information about this survey, please visit BestDebtCompanys.com

Media Contact:
Kate Ward
investigate@bestdebtcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

BestDebtCompanys.com’s survey highlights high debt amounts

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/27/2015 -- BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) released a new survey concerning the amount of debt people accumulate before seeking professional help. This is first survey released this year for BestDebtCompanys.com.

The BDC team wanted to gain insight regarding the amount of debt people had and whether or not they were seeking professional help. BestDebtCompanys.com wanted to better gage consumers' thoughts about debt.

"Debt can be a scary thing to face alone," BDC PR Director Kate Ward said. "It is important to see where consumers' heads are regarding these issues."

The survey asked the following question to 1,000 participants: "How much debt would you have to accumulate before you reached out to a professional for help?"

These are the responses with their percentages:

- Over $25,000-37.6 percent
- $20,000-$25,000-20.3 percent
- $10,000-$15,000-11.9 percent
- $5,000-$10,000 – 12.4percent
- Under $5,000 – 17.9 percent

The majority response that consumers chose was that they needed to accumulate over $25,000 in debt before they sought out a professional for help. It had 37.6 percent of the responses. The next closest was for those who had between $20,000-$25,000 in debt with 20.3 percent.

This survey sheds some light on the debt industry as whole and the types of clients they deal daily. It shows how the majority of customers only seek help with a large sum of unsecured debt. This type of debt include credit cards bills, medical bills or other expenses without collateral.

In other words, student loans, mortgages and auto loans are not included in the debt amount. People are seeking for professional help if they have over $25,000 in unsecured debt.

"We assumed that the majority of people seeking professional help would have high debt amounts," Ward said. "But we didn't expect almost half to have over $25,000 in debt."

This survey provides insight into what kinds of debt people are willing to have, but also provides valuable information to the debt industry as a whole.

The high amount of debt combined with the large majority of responses indicates that the debt industry is here to stay.

About BestDebtCompanys.com
BestDebtCompanys.com provide unbiased reviews of debt consolidation, debt settlement, tax relief and student debt companies. The BDC team believes in the customer's voices. The more real reviews, the more informed potential customers are about debt services.

For more information about this survey, visit BestDebtCompanys.com.

Media Contact
Kate Ward
investigate@thebestcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Debt consolidation is the latest BestDebtCompanys.com vertical to upgrade it’s criteria

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/20/2015 -- BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) updated the criteria and scoring for its debt consolidation companies. This criteria overhaul is the third one completed this year.

Each of the 26 companies were re-scored and updated according to the new criteria created by the BDC team.

"This new criteria reflects the extensive research conducted about the consolidation industry," BDC PR Director Kate Ward said. "We are always looking stay on top of the industry and improve our criteria."

The new updated criteria includes:

-Up-Front Fees
-Price
-Interest Rates
-Time in Business
-Account Management
-Credit Counseling
-Accreditations
-BBB Score
-User Score

Each criteria point is weighted differently depending on the value it represents in the industry. Like the other industries reviewed on BestDebtCompanys.com, the user score received a major update. The user score now accounts for 25 percent of the overall score.

The BDC team wanted real customers to have a bigger voice in ranking companies. Since they are the ones actually using the service, their opinion should have more weight.

"Real user reviews helps potential customers better understand consolidation companies," Ward said. "They have experienced firsthand how these companies operate and can help steer others in the right direction."

Other heavily weighted criteria points include interest rates, account management and credit counseling.

The top three debt consolidation companies to date are DebtWave Credit Counseling, Inc., Consolidated Credit and Family Credit Management.

About BestDebtCompanys.com
BestDebtCompanys.com provides unbiased reviews of companies. Their unique ranking criteria, combined with real user reviews, creates honest rankings of debt consolidation companies.

The more real user reviews there are, the more potential customers can be informed about the company and its services. BestDebtCompanys.com focuses on making the consumer experience better.

For more information about debt consolidation, visit BestDebtCompanys.com/debt-consolidation

Media Contact:
Kate Ward
investigate@bestdebtcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The tax relief vertical joins debt settlement in a complete revamp of its criteria

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/06/2015 -- BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) recently finished an update to tax relief's criteria. This is the first complete update of tax relief's criteria since its initial launch in 2014 and second BDC vertical criteria update since January.

Tax relief companies provide solutions to consumers issues with the IRS. Some of these tax relief issues include back-taxes, wage garnishments and un-filed taxes. The BDC team wanted to create better criteria to represent this industry.

"Finding the right tax relief company can be stressful," BDC PR Director Kate Ward said. "We updated our criteria to help consumers find the best fit for their tax relief problems."

The updated tax relief criteria includes:

- Price
- Tax Service Specialties
- Staff Accreditations
- Professional Association Members
- Refund Policy
- Time in Business
- Better Business Bureau rating
- User Score
- Expert Score

While the BDC team overhauled the entire criteria, one of the most important updates was the increased weight of the user score. The user score now has a weighted value of 25 percent of the overall score.

"The BDC team felt the customers should have a bigger voice in this update," Ward said. "Since they are the one using these companies and spending their hard-earned money, the team thought it was important to hear what they had to say about the companies themselves."

The BDC team hopes the increase of the user score will encourage more customers to leave honest reviews of companies. The more real customer reviews, the more informed potential customers are of these tax relief companies.

The 40 tax relief companies were re-scored and re-ranked with the criteria update. The BDC team plans to continue to add more company reviews in the coming months.

Currently, the top three tax relief companies are Tax Defense Network, Optima Tax Relief, and StopIRSDebt.com.

About BestDebtCompanys.com
BestDebtCompanys.com creates unbiased reviews for debt-related companies. The unbiased company profiles, in combination with expert criteria and real customer reviews, provides consumers with a safe and honest review of a company.

For more information regarding the tax relief update, visit http://bestdebtcompanys.com/tax-relief-companies/.

Media Contact
Kate Ward
investigate@bestdebtcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Debt settlement companies received a ranking criteria overhaul with hopes to help consumers make more informed choices

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/31/2015 -- BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) recently updated the criteria for its debt settlement vertical. This is the first time the criteria has undergone a complete overhaul since its initial launch date in early 2014.

Each of the 40 debt settlement companies were re-scored and re-ranked based on the new criteria created by the BDC review team.

"This update was done with the consumers in mind," BDC PR Director Kate Ward said. "We wanted to make sure the most current and relevant information was taken into account to help consumers make informed decisions about a confusing industry."

The new criteria consists of the following points:

- Price
- Time in Business
- Set-up (Including free consultations, refund policy)
- Accreditations
- User Reviews
- Expert Score

These new criteria points were created to better rank companies on different industry factors. Each point was researched to clarify their importance for customers and to the industry in general.

"When money is involved, especially debt, there is more at stake for potential customers," Ward said. "This update of criteria was designed to help potential clients feel at ease about the companies we are recommending."

One of the more substantial criteria updates is in regards to the user reviews. The previous criteria had user scores weighted at 15 percent of the overall score. However, this update pushes the user reviews up to 25 percent.

The BDC review team felt that the customers' voice should be heard more regarding this industry. Debt settlement companies provide services to individuals who can be in dark places regarding their finances. The review team wants to allow users to share their experiences and help others who may be in similar situations.

Currently, the top settlement companies on BestDebtCompanys.com include Freedom Debt Relief, Superior Debt Relief, Pacific Debt Relief, ClearOne Advantage and Accredited Debt Relief.

BestDebtCompanys.com strives to provide customers with unbiased reviews and allows users to have a voice.

For more information regarding the debt settlement criteria update, visit http://bestdebtcompanys.com/debt-settlement/.

Media Contact
Kate Ward
investigate@bestdebtcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Debt consolidation, management and settlement company reviews undergo major updates

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/07/2014 -- BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) released updated reviews for more than 60 companies this week based on the addition of several new criteria.

The update incorporated additional ranking criteria for both debt settlement companies (reviews can be found here http://bestdebtcompanys.com/debt-settlement/) and debt management and consolidation companies (reviews can be found here http://bestdebtcompanys.com/debt-consolidation/). Each category received three additional criteria that factored into each company's overall score.

"We feel it's important to regularly step back and reevaluate our review process with the consumer in mind," BDC site manager, Mike Steele, said. "We feel this update is an exciting opportunity to provide more value to our customers."

The first criteria added to both sets of reviews, debt settlement companies and debt management and consolidation companies, regarded whether or not each site offers an online dashboard.

"Accountability is a big deal in service industries like this," Steele said. "We've been seeing dashboards pop up around the industry, and they've really improved the customer's ability to monitor what happening with their debt."

Other updates focused on employee certification, business accreditation and the total amount of debt resolved for debt settlement companies. Each of these criteria plays an important role in building credibility for debt relief companies reviewed. It is important for consumers to be able to ensure a company is dependable before entrusting them with their financial situation.

A detailed explanation of the criteria changes made can be found at http://bestdebtcompanys.com/2014/criteria-update-debt-settlement-and-consolidationdebt-management/

About BestDebtCompanys.com
BDC assists consumers in finding debt and tax relief options by reviewing companies in the debt management, consolidation, settlement and tax relief industries in plain terms. With 107 companies reviewed, BDC provides an authentic breakdown and rating for each company, in addition to hundreds of customer reviews.

Media Contact:
Mike Steele | BDC Site Manager
investigate@bestdebtcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Superior customer service, consumer education and service variety set Tax Defense Network apart in both expert and consumer reviews for tax relief companies.

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/02/2014 -- BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) named Tax Defense Network their top-rated tax relief company based on a critical review process involving 11 industry-specific criteria.

Companies in the tax relief industry offer customers assistance in navigating the complicated world of dealing with the IRS. The services these companies provide vary almost as much as the financial situations of customers they assist, including help with an Offer in Compromise, tax appeals, abatements and more.

"As no two consumers have the same financial history, it's so important that tax relief companies offer assistance for a broad range of situations and that they really understand how tax laws apply to each," BDC site manager, John Toolson, said. "We try our best to aid consumers in finding companies, like the Tax Defense Network, who can really deliver on that."

In order to best assist consumers in finding the perfect company to meet their needs, BDC assembled an 11-point rating process for the tax relief industry. Each of thirty-three companies reviewed on the site is evaluated against those criteria, including: price, time in business, the variety of services offered, whether the company has CPA's and attorneys on staff, membership in professional associations, government certifications, their refund policy, and customer reviews.

Tax Defense Network (profile found here: http://bestdebtcompanys.com/taxrelief/tax-defense-network-review/) excelled in their review, receiving a 9.6 rating out of 10 possible points. Their success is due largely to their track record after 17 years in business. They offer a broad range of services to meet their customers' needs, including assistance with: offers in compromise, installment agreements, tax liens, bank levies, payroll tax issues, and asset seizures. Their ability to deliver on these services is evidenced by their A+ Better Business Bureau rating and outstanding customer review score of 9.8 out of 10.

Tax Defense Network also excelled in criteria involving certifications and employee qualifications, which is important for companies working in highly regulated industries like tax relief assistance. They have both Attorneys and CPA's on staff, government certification as an enrolled agent and membership in a number of professional tax-related associations.

"The team [at Tax Defense Network] was very efficient and truthful from the very beginning," BDC site visitor, Ted V., said. "No miracles were promised but they correctly summed up my situation, my goals and their expectations prior to commitment. They were also very flexible on payment terms and did not require any substantial investment to begin work."

The BDC staff takes consumer education very seriously and was impressed by Tax Defense Network's expansive offering in educational materials. These are made available at no cost to any visitor of their site. In addition to online materials, they also offer free consultations, reports, and a chat feature.

Consumers may read Tax Defense Network's full review and learn more about other tax relief companies by visiting http://bestdebtcompanys.com/tax-relief-companies/.

Media Contact:
Michael Steele, BDC PR Contact
investigate@bestdebtcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Ranked against 12 critical criteria points Consolidated Credit stood out against other debt consolidation companies as the best option for most consumers

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/22/2014 -- Consolidated Credit has been named the top debt consolidation company by BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) based on the evaluation of 12 calculated criteria points.

BDC reviews debt related companies specializing in debt-settlement, debt-consolidation, debt-management and tax relief companies. 107 debt-related companies have been reviewed by BDC, including 27 specialized consolidation companies.

Consolidated Credit (profile found here: http://bestdebtcompanys.com/company/consolidated-credit-review/) excels in their review due to their reasonable upfront price, monthly costs, a helpful site, reputable business practices and length of time in business. Established in 1993, they have over 20 years in the industry and have satisfied over five million customers during that time. Their A+ Better Business Bureau rating is additional evidence of their ability to satisfy customer needs.

"Consolidated handled all of our accounts and managed to reduce our minimum payments, almost eliminate our interest, and ultimately helped me to pay off all of my debt," BDC visitor, Kasey, said. "They were professional and friendly throughout the entire experience. Three years later I am happy to announce that we are debt free and we just purchased our first home."

In addition to outstanding services, Consolidated Credit overall score was boosted by the amount of debt education material provided on their site. Customer or not, Consolidated Credit provides resources that can help consumers navigate their way through the debt landscape. They also provide free debt consultations for anyone needing help.

Consolidated Credit's key offering, debt consolidation, involves taking each of a customer's separate debts and combining them into a single debt with the lowest possible interest rate. In addition to this service, Consolidated Credit offers credit counseling, debt management programs, and other services to assist customers with their debt.

About Consolidated Credit
BDC recently updated their debt consolidation company review criteria, removing two outdated criteria and adding three additional standards. Companies are now judged according to their certifications, including ISO certification and whether or not their credit counselors are CPFCC accredited, and if they provide their customers an online dashboards to monitor their account.

"We are constantly reviewing our ranking criteria, trying to get inside the mind of our site visitors and making sure we answer the questions most important to them," site manager, John Toolson, said. "We believe it forces these organizations to compete on a level playing field. Companies like Consolidated Credit are taking note and adapting their services to better meet their customers' needs."

Consumers can read Consumer Credit's full review by visiting BestDebtCompanys.com

Media Contact:
Michael Steele, BDC PR Contact
investigate@bestdebtcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Superb customer service, debt education and an array of user-friendly tools sets Freedom Debt Relief apart

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/09/2014 -- Based on careful review, BestDebtCompanys.com (BDC) announced Freedom Debt Relief as their top-rated debt settlement company, beating out 38 other currently reviewed companies in the settlement space for the top spot.

BDC reviews each debt settlement company based on 11 carefully selected and revised criteria points. These include price, upfront fees, time in business, BBB score, user reviews posted on BestDebtCompanys.com, debt education, a mobile friendly site, and more. Freedom Debt Relief excelled in each of these categories, achieving the top rating of 9.6 out of 10 possible points.

"We read reviews all the time from upset customers who feel they have been taken advantage of by debt settlement companies," John Toolson, BestDebtCompanys.com site manager, said. "That's why we set up our 11-point ranking criteria and recommend companies like Freedom Debt Relief, we honestly believe Freedom is one of the very best options out there for those who need assistance settling their debt."

Freedom Debt Relief has operated as a debt settlement company out of San Mateo, CA since 2002. Their excellent customer service is evidenced by their A+ rating by the better business Bureau, as well as through interactions between their support representatives and the BestDebtCompanys.com review staff.

"They get you fast results with great settlement amounts," said BDC visitor, Dan S. "I could not be happier. They are a true solution in helping people get out of debt."

About Freedom Debt Relief
Throughout their site, Freedom Debt Relief (profile found here: http://bestdebtcompanys.com/settlement/freedom-debt-relief-review/ ) offers straightforward, educational information for customers and non-customers alike regarding debt settlement and other options for dealing with debt. The BDC review staff believes this educational approach is key to Freedom Debt Reliefs success with their customers.

"When Debt Settlement companies offer assistance without education, customers may achieve temporary success, but before long they may end up right back were they started. Freedom, on the other hand, does their best to help customers get out of debt and provides education so they can steer clear of their previous predicament," Toolson said.

For more detail regarding Freedom Debt Relief's review and information regarding the best debt companies, visit BestDebtCompanys.com

Media Contact:
Michael Steele, BDC PR Director
investigate@bestdebtcompanys.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm