On this page
What's next
Earn a high-yield savings rate with JG Wentworth Debt Relief
The 11-Word Phrase to Stop Debt Collectors (2026 Guide)
by
Marco Maknown
•
August 27, 2026
•
25 min
The 11-Word Phrase to Stop Debt Collectors: Your Complete FDCPA Playbook
A single written sentence can legally stop most debt collector contact within days: “Please cease and desist all calls and contact with me, immediately.”
Americans are reaching for it in large numbers — the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s most recent annual report to Congress shows the agency fielded nearly 208,000 debt collection complaints in 2024 alone. Given the stats, this is not surprising. According to JG Wentworth survey data, the average American will take on and repay $1,786,810 in debt over their lifetime. Thankfully, the 11-word phrase works because federal law requires collectors to honor it once they receive it in writing. It will not erase what you owe, and it will not stop every form of collection activity, but it will end the phone calls, texts, and letters that make dealing with debt feel like a siege. *
What the 11-word phrase is and why it works
The phrase works because it invokes a specific right written into federal law, not because of anything magical about its wording. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you can tell a debt collector in writing to stop contacting you, and the collector must comply. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau confirms this directly: once you ask a debt collector to stop all contact, regardless of the communication channel, the collector must stop.
That legal backbone is Section 805(c) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, codified at 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c), and it does not require any particular script. “Please cease and desist all calls and contact with me, immediately” satisfies the requirement because it is unambiguous. It names the outcome you want (no more calls or contact) and it says so plainly (cease and desist), which leaves a collector no room to argue they misunderstood you.
The phrase is a tool for specific situations, not a reflexive first move for every collection call. It makes the most sense when:
- A collector is harassing you with excessive contact
- You need breathing room to investigate an unfamiliar debt
- You’re disputing a debt outright
- You’re already working with an attorney or credit counselor who should field communication instead
It makes less sense if the debt is valid, recent, and still with the original creditor, since those creditors often have more flexibility to offer hardship programs than a third-party collector does, and cutting off contact removes your ability to negotiate those terms.
Here is the part people miss most often: the phrase stops contact, not the debt. You can still be sued, reported to a credit bureau, or pursued through other lawful means, even after a collector goes silent. Think of the phrase as a volume knob, not an eraser. It turns down the noise so you can think clearly and decide your next move without a phone ringing every day. That distinction matters throughout this entire guide, so keep it in mind as you read on.
Take your next step towards being debt-free
"*" indicates required fields
How to send it the right way (in writing)
A phone call is not enough. If you say the phrase out loud during a collection call, the collector may act on it in good faith, but you will have no proof if they do not. Put your request in writing, and send it in a way that creates a paper trail.
Write a short, direct letter that cites the law by name. A strong version reads something like:
“This is formal notice that I am requesting you cease and desist all telephone calls and any other communications with me in connection with this debt. This request is made pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692c. You are only to communicate with me in writing, and only to notify me that your efforts to collect this debt are being terminated or that you or the creditor are invoking specific remedies.”
Include your name and the account number if you have one, and send it by certified mail with a return receipt so you have a dated, signed record of delivery. Keep a copy of both indefinitely. If the same debt has changed hands between multiple agencies, send a separate letter to each one — a new collector who buys the debt is not bound by a letter you sent to the last one.
If you’re not certain a debt is valid or belongs to you, consider a debt validation request instead of, or alongside, your cease-and-desist letter. You have 30 days from a collector’s first contact to demand written proof of the debt; once you dispute it in writing, the collector must pause collection until they verify it. This is often the smarter first move when you don’t recognize a debt, since it can reveal errors, expired statutes of limitations, or debts already paid or discharged — sometimes ending the matter without you spending a dollar.
Even after a valid cease-and-desist letter, a collector can still take several actions you should expect:
- Send one final letter confirming they’re stopping contact, or notifying you of a specific legal step like a lawsuit
- Continue reporting the debt to credit bureaus, since that’s governed separately by the Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Sell or transfer the debt to another collector, who can start contacting you fresh
What they cannot do is keep calling, texting, emailing, or messaging you on social media, or discuss your debt with your family, friends, or coworkers to pressure you
Your FDCPA rights: what collectors can and cannot do
Debt collectors operate under real limits, and knowing them changes how you experience every call. The FDCPA prohibits harassment, false threats, and deceptive practices outright, and it also sets specific rules around timing, frequency, and disclosure. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer guidance, the law limits how and when a debt collector can contact you, and collectors generally cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone, or contact you at work if you’ve told them your employer prohibits it.
Every legitimate collector must identify themselves as a debt collector in their first communication with you — a disclosure sometimes called the “Mini-Miranda” warning — and state that any information you provide will be used to collect the debt. Within five days of first contact, they must send written validation information, including:
- The amount owed
- The current and original creditor’s name
- Your right to dispute the debt within 30 days
Collectors cannot call repeatedly to annoy or harass, cannot use obscene or abusive language, cannot threaten violence, and cannot misrepresent the amount owed, their identity, or their legal authority. They cannot claim you’ll be arrested for an unpaid debt, since consumer debt isn’t a criminal matter, and they cannot threaten a lawsuit they don’t intend to file.
Text messages, emails, and even private social media messages are fair game under rules the CFPB updated in 2021, but only with real limits attached:
- Every electronic message must include a simple, free way to opt out — replying “STOP” to a text or clicking an unsubscribe link in an email
- A collector cannot post on a public timeline or reveal that they’re a debt collector to anyone who might see it
- If they send a social media friend request, they must identify themselves as a debt collector in it
- Voicemails can use a “limited content message” that gives only a callback number and a generic business name, so anyone else who hears it won’t learn a debt is involved
Third-party contact is tightly restricted. Collectors may contact your spouse, your attorney, or a guardian with power of attorney, but they generally cannot discuss the debt with your family, friends, neighbors, or employer beyond confirming your location or phone number, and they’re typically only allowed to make that contact once per person unless they believe the information they got was wrong. If a collector is calling your relatives repeatedly or disclosing what you owe, that alone is a reportable violation.
How to tell if a debt collector is legitimate
Do not assume every call claiming to be about a debt is real; verify first, and never volunteer information on a cold call. A useful real-world case: Portfolio Recovery Associates, one of the largest debt buyers in the country, has a documented history of collection missteps — in April 2023, the CFPB ordered the company to pay more than $24 million for violating a 2015 order by continuing to collect on unsubstantiated debt and sue consumers without proper documentation.
If a call from a company like this doesn’t match your records, don’t assume it’s a mistake you can safely ignore, and don’t assume it’s automatically fraud either — mistaken identity, resold debt with incomplete paperwork, and old debts already paid or discharged in bankruptcy are all common, ordinary explanations. In fact, the CFPB’s own annual report on debt collection found that being pursued for a debt you don’t actually owe is the single most common complaint consumers file about collectors — ahead of improper written notices, threats of legal action, and harassment via repeated calls.
Ask any caller for the collector’s name, company name, mailing address, and the original creditor’s name. A legitimate collector must send a written validation notice within five days of first contact. If a caller refuses to provide this or pressures you to pay immediately over the phone, treat that as a red flag.
Debt collectors can legally ask for:
- Your full name, address, and phone number
- Your employment information
- The last four digits of your Social Security number, for identity purposes
What you should never share:
- Your full Social Security number
- Online banking credentials
- Credit card numbers for unrelated accounts
- Details about other assets
A real collector already has some information from the original creditor; they don’t need you to hand over sensitive data to prove who you are.
This caution applies even when the account sounds unfamiliar. If you’re contacted about a debt you don’t recognize, don’t pay anything and don’t acknowledge it as yours, even verbally — in many states, a verbal acknowledgment or a small payment can restart the statute of limitations on an old debt. Request written validation, compare it against your credit reports from all three bureaus, and dispute it in writing within 30 days if it doesn’t check out.
Collector rules and myths: the 7-7-7 rule, Regulation F, and zombie vs. phantom debt
Most of what people believe about debt collection rules is half-right at best, so it pays to separate the myth from the regulation. The real rule, often nicknamed the “7-7-7” or “7-in-7,” comes from Regulation F, the CFPB’s 2021 update to the FDCPA. It creates a presumption of harassment if a collector calls more than seven times within seven consecutive days about a particular debt, or calls again within seven days of actually speaking with you about that debt.
The seven-day windows are rolling, not tied to the calendar week, which trips people up in practice. If a collector calls Tuesday through Friday, twice on Saturday, and once on Sunday, that’s seven calls in six days; a call on Monday would be the eighth and would violate the rule. The cap also applies per debt, not per person: with three accounts at the same agency, they could technically call seven times per week on each, though most agencies treat that level of contact as harassment under the FDCPA’s broader rules regardless.
Zombie debt and phantom debt sound similar but describe different problems, and the distinction matters for how you respond.
- Phantom debt is fabricated from the start — it never existed, was already paid, or was invented by scammers exploiting a data breach or a fake collection agency. The right response is to report it and pay nothing.
- Zombie debt was real debt at some point but has become effectively dead: past the statute of limitations, already settled and being pursued again for the remainder, discharged in bankruptcy, or the product of unresolved identity theft.
As Nolo explains, collectors pursuing time-barred debt cannot legally sue or threaten to sue over it, though they can still ask you to pay voluntarily.
The practical lesson is the same either way: verify before you pay, and never make a payment on old debt without first confirming your state’s statute of limitations, since even a small payment can restart that clock in many states.
When collectors escalate: lawsuits, court-ordered collections, and home visits
Sending the 11-word phrase stops contact, but it does not disarm a collector’s legal options, and lawsuits are the most common escalation. Debt collection lawsuits are far more common than most people realize — filings rose from roughly 1.7 million in 1993 to nearly 4.7 million by 2022, and research from the Pew Charitable Trusts found about half of collection cases in states with available data involve balances under $2,000 — so a lawsuit over a relatively small debt is common, not a sign the collector is bluffing.
Collectors typically sue only after an account has been charged off, which for most credit card and other open-end debt happens once a balance has gone 180 days without payment under federal banking regulators’ own guidelines, and they generally weigh whether they have solid documentation and whether the statute of limitations has expired before filing.
If you’re served with a lawsuit, you generally have 20 to 30 days to respond, and ignoring it is the single costliest mistake you can make: more than 70% of debt collection lawsuits end in a default judgment because the person sued never responds or shows up. A default judgment lets the collector garnish up to 25% of your disposable income, freeze a bank account, or place a lien on property, plus pre- and post-judgment interest that varies by state, from around 1.5% in New Jersey to 12% in Massachusetts and Washington.
Responding matters even when you’re not sure you have a strong case, because it forces the collector to prove they own the debt and that the amount is accurate — something many debt buyers, who purchase old accounts in bulk for pennies on the dollar, struggle to document. Common defenses include:
- Disputing the debt outright
- Arguing the statute of limitations has expired
- Claiming identity theft
- Challenging the amount as inaccurate
- Arguing the collector lacks standing because they can’t prove ownership
Representation makes a real difference in outcomes: a Utah court study Pew highlighted in its own research found that 53% of defendants with a lawyer won their debt collection case, compared with only 19% of those who represented themselves.
Yes, a credit card company or debt buyer can sue you, and a law firm can act as a debt collector too, subject to the same FDCPA rules — including the duty to send a validation notice and identify itself as attempting to collect a debt. Home visits are legal but rare, since most collectors rely on cheaper methods first; if one shows up, you’re never required to open the door or let them inside, and you can simply ask them to leave. The exception: process servers delivering legal documents have separate authority, and you should accept the paperwork rather than avoid it, since dodging a process server doesn’t make a lawsuit disappear.
If you offer to pay and a collector refuses, don’t assume that ends the conversation. Refusals usually come down to an offer below their minimum threshold, a payment method they won’t accept, or a procedural snag like active litigation. Document the refusal, ask for it in writing, and keep negotiating — collectors sometimes use an initial refusal to push for a higher offer, and escalating to a supervisor or approaching the original creditor directly (if the debt hasn’t been sold yet) can break the impasse.
Negotiating and settling after the calls stop
Once the calls stop, you’re in a stronger position to negotiate on your own terms rather than under pressure. Start any negotiation in writing, even if the collector prefers to talk by phone, so there’s a record of every offer and counteroffer. Open with an amount below what you’re ultimately willing to pay, since collectors expect back-and-forth and rarely accept a first offer.
Settlement amounts vary by debt age, type, and ownership, but independent reporting gives a reasonable range to plan around. According to CBS News, reporting on data from the American Fair Credit Council, successful debt settlement negotiations typically reduce the balance owed by 30% to 50%, meaning you generally end up paying somewhere between roughly half and 70% of what you originally owed; the same data puts the overall success rate for negotiated settlements at around 55% of enrolled accounts. Older debt, and debt that’s been sold to a third-party buyer for a few cents on the dollar, tends to settle on the lower end of that range, since whoever currently holds it has less invested and less urgency to recover the full amount.
Whatever number you land on, get the agreement in writing before you send a dollar, spelling out:
- The settlement amount
- The payment method and due date
- Confirmation that payment satisfies the debt in full
A verbal promise from a collector isn’t enforceable if they later claim you still owe a balance. Pay by a traceable method like a cashier’s check, and avoid authorizing recurring automatic withdrawals. If a lump sum isn’t realistic, ask about a payment plan instead, and confirm in writing what the account will say on your credit report once it’s complete.
One more detail worth knowing before you settle: forgiven debt over $600 is generally reported to the IRS as taxable income, so a $10,000 debt settled for $3,000 could leave you owing tax on the $7,000 that was forgiven. Talk to a tax professional if the numbers are significant.
Negotiating alone works well for a single, straightforward debt, but it gets harder to manage once several accounts are in collections at once. Professional debt settlement services negotiate with collectors at volume and often have established relationships with the same agencies and debt buyers you’d be calling individually, which can translate into faster settlements and terms an individual caller might not be offered on a first attempt.
JG Wentworth’s own Debt Relief Program, for example, resolves enrolled debt in as little as 24 to 60 months, with some clients saving up to 44% before program fees. That’s a tradeoff worth weighing against the cost of the service itself, particularly if you’re juggling multiple debts rather than one.
Cleaning up your credit report after collections
A settled or paid collection account does not automatically disappear from your credit report, and understanding this now prevents disappointment later. Collection accounts typically remain on your report for up to seven years from the original delinquency date, regardless of whether you eventually pay the balance in full — and that seven-year clock doesn’t reset if the debt is sold to a new collector.
Paying a collection account helps in some ways more than others, and the effect depends heavily on which credit scoring model a lender uses:
- FICO 8, still the most widely used model, treats paid and unpaid collections almost the same, though it ignores collections under $100
- FICO 9 ignores paid collections entirely
- VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0 also ignore paid collections entirely
Medical debt gets its own treatment across the board — bureaus now wait 180 days before reporting it, and paid medical collections are removed from reports entirely under current policies.
Before paying, ask whether the collector will agree to a “pay for delete,” removing the tradeline in exchange for payment — get it in writing if they agree, since many won’t. If you’ve already paid a debt and otherwise have a strong history, you can try a “goodwill deletion” letter asking the collector to remove the entry as a courtesy; it works best for a one-time hardship rather than a pattern of missed payments. You can also add a 100-word consumer statement to your report explaining any account you can’t get removed.
It’s also possible, and against consumer protection rules, for two different collection agencies to report the same underlying debt simultaneously. This usually happens when a debt is transferred without the previous agency updating its entry, and the standard — sometimes called “one debt, one report” — is that only the current owner should be reporting it. If you see duplicate entries for what should be a single debt, request proof of ownership from each agency and dispute the unverifiable one directly with the credit bureau.
Special situations: BNPL, non-dischargeable debt, and small business
Not every kind of debt behaves the same way once collectors get involved, and a few categories deserve special attention. Buy now, pay later balances can absolutely be sold to debt collectors once you default, following the same pattern as other consumer debt: the BNPL company tries to collect internally, may hand the account to a third-party agency, and eventually charges it off and sells it to a debt buyer if collection efforts fail. The CFPB notes that most BNPL lenders don’t report payment activity to credit bureaus while an account is current, which means your credit score isn’t helped or hurt by on-time BNPL payments — but if the balance goes to collections, that activity can appear on your report and damage your score even though the original purchase never showed up as a line item.
Some debts cannot be eliminated even through bankruptcy, and this matters if you’re considering that route to deal with aggressive collectors. Federal courts describe a defined list of nondischargeable debts, and the U.S. Courts’ bankruptcy basics guide confirms that child support, alimony, most tax claims, and most government-backed student loans survive a discharge. Student loans require proving “undue hardship” through a separate court proceeding, a notoriously difficult standard few borrowers meet.
Tax debt is dischargeable only in narrow circumstances — generally income tax at least three years old, filed at least two years before the bankruptcy, and assessed at least 240 days before filing — while payroll and fraud-related taxes never are. Fraud-related debts also survive bankruptcy, including luxury purchases over $900 to a single creditor made within 90 days of filing and cash advances over $1,250 taken within 70 days — figures that adjust for inflation every three years under federal law and are current for cases filed through March 2028. If a collector is pursuing one of these categories, bankruptcy alone won’t make the debt go away, and a negotiated settlement is usually the more realistic path.
Small-business debt adds another layer of complexity, since the FDCPA generally protects individual consumers, not businesses, meaning collectors pursuing a business debt aren’t bound by the rules that govern personal debt collection. Owners juggling several business debts often benefit from consolidating into a single loan rather than fielding calls from multiple collectors. According to NerdWallet’s tracking of current lending data, typical rates run:
- Business credit cards: often above 20% APR
- Bank term loans: roughly 6% to 11% APR, requiring strong credit and an established business to qualify
- SBA 7(a) loans: roughly 9.75% to 14.75%, also requiring strong credit
- Online lenders: fill the gap for businesses that don’t meet bank or SBA qualifications, typically at a meaningfully higher rate
- Merchant cash advances: effective rates as high as 60% to 99%
Filing an FTC complaint and when to hire a lawyer
If a collector ignores your written request or breaks any of the rules described above, document it and report it immediately, since a paper trail without a follow-up complaint accomplishes little on its own. You can file with the FTC:
- Online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (fastest — walks you through selecting “Debt Collection” as the category and describing what happened with specific dates and names)
- By phone at 1-877-FTC-HELP
- By mail to the FTC’s Consumer Response Center in Washington, D.C.
The FTC doesn’t resolve individual disputes directly; it uses complaint data to spot patterns and build broader enforcement cases. For a complaint that gets a direct response, file separately with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by calling 1-855-411-2372, which forwards complaints to the company and tracks their response. You can also contact your state attorney general’s consumer protection division, locatable through naag.org.
Hiring a consumer-law attorney makes sense once the stakes rise beyond a single annoying phone call. Rough thresholds worth knowing: small claims courts, where you generally don’t need a lawyer, typically handle amounts up to somewhere between a few thousand dollars and $10,000 depending on the state, according to Nolo’s guide to being sued by a debt collector — so for a small, straightforward debt with no lawsuit and a collector playing by the rules, most people can negotiate or dispute it on their own. Once you’ve been sued for a larger amount, once a collector has ignored a valid cease-and-desist letter, or once you suspect an outright FDCPA violation, legal help starts paying for itself — as the earlier lawsuit statistics illustrate, representation measurably improves outcomes. Many consumer attorneys who handle FDCPA cases work on contingency, since the law allows recovery of damages and attorney’s fees from a collector found in violation, making representation accessible even for people who can’t pay hourly rates upfront.
The bottom line
The 11-word phrase is a real, legally enforceable tool, not an urban legend: put your request in writing, send it with proof of delivery, and a legitimate debt collector must stop contacting you except in narrow, specific circumstances. It will not erase the debt itself, and it will not stop a lawsuit, a credit report entry, or other lawful collection methods, so treat it as the first step in a broader plan rather than the whole plan. Know your rights under the FDCPA, verify every collector before you say a word about your finances, and put every agreement in writing before you pay anything. Handled this way, the phrase does exactly what it promises: it turns down the noise so you can deal with the debt on your own terms.
Frequently asked questions
"Please cease and desist all calls and contact with me, immediately." Sent in writing, it invokes your FDCPA right to demand a collector stop contacting you.
No. It stops most contact, but the debt still exists and the collector may pursue other legal options, including a lawsuit. Use it as part of a broader plan.
Put it in writing and keep proof of delivery. A verbal request is far weaker and harder to enforce.
Only for limited reasons, such as telling you they are ending collection efforts or that they intend to take a specific action like filing suit.
There’s always JG Wentworth…
Do you have $10,000 or more in unsecured debt? If so, there’s a good chance you’ll qualify for the JG Wentworth Debt Relief Program.** Some of our program perks include:
- One monthly program payment
- We negotiate on your behalf
- Average debt resolution in as little as 24-60 months
- We only get paid when we settle your debt
- Some clients save up to 44% before program fees
If you think you qualify for our program, give us a call today so we can go over the best options for your specific financial needs. Why go it alone when you can have a dedicated team on your side?
* This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Such information or materials do not constitute and are not intended to provide legal, accounting, or tax advice and should not be relied on in that respect. We suggest that You consult an attorney, accountant, and/or financial advisor to answer any financial or legal questions.
SOURCES CITED
- Federal Reserve. “Uniform Retail Credit Classification and Account Management Policy.” Federalreserve.gov, 2000. https://www.federalreserve.gov/frrs/guidance/uniform-retail-credit-classification-and-account-management-policy.htm.
- Federal Trade Commission. “Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.” FTC Legal Library, March 23, 2016. https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/fair-debt-collection-practices-act-text.
- The Pew Charitable Trusts. “How Debt Collectors Are Transforming the Business of State Courts.” Pew.org, May 2020. https://www.pew.org/-/media/assets/2020/06/debt-collectors-to-consumers.pdf.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC.” Consumerfinance.gov, April 13, 2023. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/actions/portfolio-recovery-associates-llc/.
- “Debt Scavengers and Zombie Debt.” Nolo Legal Encyclopedia, May 8, 2024. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/debt-scavengers-zombie-debt-32240.html.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “How Do I Get a Debt Collector to Stop Calling or Contacting Me?” Consumerfinance.gov. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-get-a-debt-collector-to-stop-contacting-me-en-1411/.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Will a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Loan Impact My Credit Scores?” Consumerfinance.gov. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/will-a-buy-now-pay-later-bnpl-loan-impact-my-credit-scores-en-2117/.
- CBS News. “What Is the Success Rate of Debt Settlement?” Cbsnews.com, April 29, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-the-success-rate-of-debt-settlement/.
- The Pew Charitable Trusts. “Debt Collection Lawsuits Surge to Pre-Pandemic Highs.” Pew.org, September 2, 2025. https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2025/09/02/debt-collection-lawsuits-surge-to-pre-pandemic-highs.
- United States Courts. “Discharge in Bankruptcy — Bankruptcy Basics.” Uscourts.gov. https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/discharge-bankruptcy-bankruptcy-basics.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: CFPB Annual Report 2025.” Consumerfinance.gov, November 2025. https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_fdcpa-2025-annual-report_2025-11.pdf.
- Federal Trade Commission. “Debt Collection FAQs.” Consumer.ftc.gov, December 9, 2025. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/debt-collection-faqs.
- “Recent Purchases and Cash Advances Before Filing for Bankruptcy.” Nolo Legal Encyclopedia, January 16, 2026. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/recent-purchases-cash-advance-bankruptcy.html.
- “Sued by a Debt Collector? Here’s What to Do and What Will Happen.” Nolo Legal Encyclopedia, June 3, 2026. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/creditor-lawsuits-what-expect-when-the-case-is-court.html.
- “Average Business Loan Interest Rates: August 2026.” Nerdwallet.com, August 2026. https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/loans/learn/rates-fees.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Submit a Complaint.” Consumerfinance.gov. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/.
About the author
Recommended reading for you
* Program length varies depending on individual situation. Programs are between 24 and 60 months in length. Average graduated clients realize approximate savings of 44% before our program fee and 21% after program fee. This is a Debt resolution program provided by JGW Debt Settlement, LLC (“JGW” of “Us”)). JGW offers this program in the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL, ID, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NM, NV, NY, NC, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, DC, and WI. If a consumer residing in CT, GA, HI, IL, KS, ME, NH, NJ, OH, RI, SC and VT contacts Us we may connect them with a law firm that provides debt resolution services in their state. JGW is licensed/registered to provide debt resolution services in states where licensing/registration is required.
Debt resolution program results will vary by individual situation. As such, debt resolution services are not appropriate for everyone. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all individuals who enroll complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Savings resulting from successful negotiations may result in tax consequences, please consult with a tax professional regarding these consequences. The use of the debt settlement services and the failure to make payments to creditors: (1) Will likely adversely affect your creditworthiness (credit rating/credit score) and make it harder to obtain credit; (2) May result in your being subject to collections or being sued by creditors or debt collectors; and (3) May increase the amount of money you owe due to the accrual of fees and interest by creditors or debt collectors. Failure to pay your monthly bills in a timely manner will result in increased balances and will harm your credit rating. Not all creditors will agree to reduce principal balance, and they may pursue collection, including lawsuits. JGW’s fees are calculated based on a percentage of the debt enrolled in the program. Read and understand the program agreement prior to enrollment.
This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Such information or materials do not constitute and are not intended to provide legal, accounting, or tax advice and should not be relied on in that respect. We suggest that you consult an attorney, accountant, and/or financial advisor to answer any financial or legal questions.
**Not an actual customer. Example for illustrative purposes and does not take into account our program fee.
