Pacific Debt Relief: Over $500 Million in Settled Debt

Overview of Pacific Debt Relief

Pacific Debt Relief is a debt-relief company founded in 2002 in San Diego, California, focusing on debt settlement solutions. They aim to eliminate debt one household at a time while placing people first and offering an alternative to traditional debt-relief options like credit counseling services, home equity loans, and bankruptcy. They were initially named Pacific Debt Inc., but in October 2021, the company underwent rebranding and became Pacific Debt Relief.

Through debt settlement, the company serves thousands of clients across 32 states and Washington, DC. Their debt settlement process typically includes a free consultation with a certified debt counselor, who reviews your financial situation and creates a customized debt-relief plan. Their team will then negotiate with your creditors to reach a settlement.

They have an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) regarding their professional standing. Over the past several decades, the company has successfully settled over $500 million in debt, showcasing their effectiveness and commitment. They are also accredited by the Consumer Debt Relief Initiative (CDRI) and the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA).

Types of Debt Covered by Pacific Debt Relief

They primarily relieve debtors from unsecured debt, as listed by them:

• Credit cards
• Personal loans
• Lines of credit
• Medical bills
• Store cards
• Collections
• Repossessions
• Business debts

They do not, however, assist with debt from lawsuits or judgments, IRS debt, utility bills, auto or governmental loans, mortgages or home loans, or other secured debts.

You must have $10,000 or more in debt to qualify for their debt settlement program. You must also reside in one of the 32 states where they do business, including Washington, DC. If you don’t live in any of them, they state they can refer you to a reputable debt relief company in your area. 

Services Offered by Pacific Debt Relief

The type of debt-relief service the company provides is debt settlement, in addition to their initial free consultation session and educational resources. Below, we explore these services in detail:

• Debt consultation: You start by reaching out to their representatives, who connect you with a certified debt advisor to determine, cost-free, your program eligibility and provide you with potential cost estimates and what your repayment plan could look like
• Debt settlement: In this stage, their team will negotiate with your creditors to reduce the total debt you owe. You will be assigned a personal account manager who will manage creditor calls on your behalf, help you gather the necessary documentation, and update you every month about your repayment process
• Educational resources: They offer a range of educational resources designed to help you understand the intricacies of debt, personal finance, credit, bankruptcy, taxes, and more

Pricing & Fees at Pacific Debt Relief

One of the benefits of the company’s pricing structure is that they do not charge upfront fees or fees for initial consultation sessions. Instead, they charge performance-based fees, which are charged only once the debt is successfully resolved.

Fees typically range from 15% to 25% of the total enrolled debt and are deducted as part of the monthly payment plan. Note that your plan’s exact fee depends on the amount of debt you enroll in and the state from which you register.

The company states that their clients usually save up to 50% of their balances before fees or between 25% and 35% when fees are included. Furthermore, most people finish the program in full within 24 to 48 months.

Advantages of Pacific Debt Relief

• Free consultation: When contacting their team, they will immediately offer you a free consultation with specialized debt advisors. They will have your financial situation assessed and suggest to you the available debt-relief options
• No upfront fees: They do not charge any fees until your debt accounts are settled and you begin making monthly payments, which includes not paying upfront fees
• Relatively low debt settlement fees: Their fees range from 15% to 25% of the settled debt, which is below many other debt settlement services
• Dedicated account manager: You'll be assigned a dedicated account manager who will give you personal attention and support throughout the debt relief process

Possible Limitations to Pacific Debt Relief

• Limited debt-relief options: The company does not offer financial services other than their specialty of debt settlement and the aforementioned debt consultation and educational resources, which are a limited set of services compared to many in the field
• Limited state availability: They conduct business only within the borders of 32 American states, including California, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, DC. This limited availability can restrict access for potential clients who live outside of these areas
• No app or client portal: Their website lacks the modern necessity of an online client portal or a mobile app, which can make the payment process and tracking of progress more challenging

Client Experience at Pacific Debt Relief

They hold an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB, with a customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. On Google reviews, the company has a good score of 4.6 out of 5 stars; on Trustpilot, they maintain an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars. These high ratings across multiple platforms indicate generally positive experiences from current and previous clients.

Positive feedback

Clients of Pacific Debt Relief consistently praise the company for their exceptional customer service and professional, friendly, and informative representatives. The staff is noted for their thorough explanations, patience, and understanding, which help clients feel at ease and confident in their decisions. Many reviews highlight a sense of relief and optimism, with clients often feeling a weight lifted off their shoulders and looking forward to achieving financial freedom. 

The personalized and caring approach of the representatives reassures clients that their unique situations are understood and addressed appropriately. The onboarding process is quick and efficient, with all necessary information provided upfront. Clients express confidence in their choice of Pacific Debt Relief and highly recommend the company for their honesty, lack of hidden fees, and supportive nature. Overall, clients are highly satisfied with the services provided, often mentioning specific representatives for their exceptional support throughout the debt relief process.

Critical feedback

Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, some customers have reported issues that reflect areas for improvement. Common complaints were dissatisfaction with fund handling and unexpected fees, where clients felt misled about the fee structure. Others stated they did not feel fully informed about how their process could impact their credit scores and financial situation. Additionally, there were concerns about the speed and effectiveness of the program, with a few commentators pointing out slow progress and a lack of timely updates from their representatives.

The company's Account Managers reach out to reviewers about account closures following successful program completion, providing clarity on refunds and settlement details. They emphasize their commitment to high service levels and transparency, addressing misunderstandings and ensuring clients are aware of their responsibilities and remaining payments. They highlight that they are not a non-profit credit counseling organization and explain their fee structure. Pacific Debt Relief reassures clients that they are a legitimate business with a 20-year history of helping consumers and that any partnerships or state-specific enrollments are handled transparently. The company maintains open communication and provides clients with detailed settlement records and completion packages, ensuring all questions and concerns are addressed promptly.

Customer Support at Pacific Debt Relief

You can reach them by several means. If you are one of their existing clients, you can dial their phone number: 877-722-3328 or their fax number: 619-238-6709. If you prefer emails, you can email them at cs@pacificdebt.com. 

However, if you’re not an existing client, contact their support team at 833-865-2028, fax them at 619-238-6709, or email them at inquiries@pacificdebt.com. For in-person meetings and mail, you can refer to their offices at: Pacific Debt Relief, 750 B Street, Suite 1700, San Diego, CA 92101

As for their business hours, they are as follows:

• Monday–Thursday: 6 AM – 7 PM PST
• Friday: 6 AM – 4:30 PM PST
• Saturday: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM PST

Additionally, the company offers a variety of blogs that cover a wide range of personal finance topics, such as debt-relief strategies, structured settlements, and budgeting tips, providing you with the knowledge and tools that can improve your financial literacy and decision-making skills.

Final Thoughts 

This debt relief provider, which originally only served San Diego residents in 2002, has expanded to more than 30 other states, settling as much as $500 million of their customers’ debt. The company provides free initial consultation, debt settlement, varied educational resources, performance-based fees, and dedicated account managers.

One of their primary advantages is that their debt settlement fees are competitively low, ranging between 15% and 25% of the settled debt. They also score relatively highly in customer satisfaction ratings, reflected in an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and positive reviews on platforms like Trustpilot and Google Reviews.

While there are some areas for improvement, such as expanding state availability and enhancing online accessibility, the overwhelmingly positive client feedback underscores the company's effectiveness and dedication. Pacific Debt Relief's tailored approach, focusing on educating clients and providing clear communication, makes them a reliable choice for those seeking to overcome debt and achieve financial freedom.

For additional information, visit our review page, where various debt relief companies are found. You can also use our comparison tool to make it easier to compare one company to another and narrow down your options. Additionally, we suggest you browse our extensive collection of blogs to expand your financial knowledge.

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