The math is brutal. At an average interest rate of 22%, all it takes is a revolving credit card balance of a few thousand dollars to find yourself in serious trouble, especially as the interest ...

Most adults in the United States (81%) have at least one credit card, and Americans' total credit card balances broke a new record—more than $1.3 trillion—in July 2025. Credit card debt can be a ...

Are debt relief programs legit? Yes. Debt relief, aka debt settlement or debt resolution, is a legitimate industry that can be helpful to people experiencing certain financial difficulties. However, ...

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Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Vikki Velasquez is a researcher and writer who has managed, coordinated, and directed ...

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. And, that uncertainty makes sense. "Debt relief" is a broad term, and it ...

Biden forgave student loans for borrowers who went to schools accused of fraud. Private borrowers are struggling to get the same relief from Navient.

The federal government just accumulated an additional $2 trillion in debt over the last 12 months. That's the kind of debt surge America usually racks up in wartime or during major national ...

Many Americans are deep in the red. In fact, household debt hit $18.59 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As people find themselves drowning in ...

Recently, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against seven companies and three individuals operating the "Accelerated Debt" program that falsely claimed to reduce consumers' debt by as ...