Pay for results. Nothing else.
Our debt relief fee is 25% of the amount we save you2 — never a percentage of what you owe. If a debt doesn’t settle, you owe nothing on it. No enrolment fee, no monthly programme fee, no cancellation fee, and federal law means we can’t take a cent before your debt actually settles1.
The arithmetic, debt by debt3
“Saved” means the balance you owed at enrolment minus what was actually paid to settle. One percentage, applied identically to every debt you enrol — it cannot vary between debts.
| Per debt | Owed at enrolment | Settled for | Saved | Our fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card 1 | $9,400 | $4,230 | $5,170 | $1,293 |
| Card 2 | $7,100 | $3,905 | $3,195 | $799 |
| Personal loan | $5,500 | $2,750 | $2,750 | $688 |
| Medical | $3,000 | $1,290 | $1,710 | $428 |
| Total | $25,000 | $12,175 | $12,825 | $3,208 |
The client pays $15,383 in total against $25,000 owed. At the industry’s typical 20% of the enrolled balance, the fee alone would have been $5,000 — ours was $3,208, because it is tied to what you saved, not what you owed.
Do you qualify?
You need at least $7,500 in unsecured debt, and you need to live in a state where we can lawfully serve you. We check the state first — before asking for anything personal.
What can be enrolled
- Credit cards
- Store cards
- Personal loans
- Medical bills
- Collections
- Private student loans
- Lines of credit
- Unsecured business debt
Debt Relief is not offered in Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio. See every state’s availability.
Estimate your savings
What we tell you before you enrol — in writing
Before you agree to pay anything, you receive a written disclosure for every creditor you enrol5. It covers:
When we'll make each offer
The time by which we will make a bona fide settlement offer to each of your creditors.
What you must save first
The amount you must accumulate in your dedicated account before we can make that offer.
The honest downside
The programme will likely damage your credit, may lead to collections or lawsuits, and balances may grow through accrued interest and fees until settled.
Your money stays yours
Dedicated-account funds are yours. You may withdraw at any time without penalty, and everything other than lawfully earned fees is returned within seven business days.
What is a dedicated account?
A dedicated account is a savings account in your name, administered by CFTPay — an independent escrow administrator — at an insured bank, where your settlement funds accumulate4. It costs $9.95 to open and $9.95/month, paid by you to CFTPay and passed through at cost — it is never McKenzie Adams revenue. Five conditions protect you:
- The account is held at an insured financial institution.
- You own the funds and any interest they earn.
- The administrator is not owned by, controlled by, or affiliated with McKenzie Adams.
- Neither we nor the administrator pays the other for referrals.
- You may withdraw at any time and receive your funds within seven business days.
After you graduate
1099-C insolvency filing — $399 per tax year
Forgiven debt can be taxable. If you were insolvent, IRS Form 982 may exclude it — we prepare the worksheet and filing14. Free for clients who complete the programme. More on 1099-C insolvency filing
Credit Health — 3 months free on graduation
Rebuild after settlement with statute-based disputes on ScoreGuard6, then $69/month. See Credit Health plans
Not sure settlement beats bankruptcy?
The free assessment compares both against doing nothing, in about 10 minutes. Start the free assessment
The reviews are in
Meet the people getting their finances back on their terms
Rated 5.0 across 32 reviews on Google. Read all 32 reviews
★★★★★
“McKenzie Adams showed all type of professionalism and they delivered as promised. This team went out of their way to ensure everything went through for me.”
Hussain B.
GOOGLE REVIEW
via Google
★★★★★
“Their professionalism was top notch, very amazing customer service. Will definitely refer clients to you guys.”
Gerald I.
GOOGLE REVIEW
via Google
★★★★★
“My only regret is that I did not come to McKenzie Adams sooner. I tried to get do PPP online by myself. It was a nightmare.”
Dan S.
GOOGLE REVIEW
via Google
★★★★★
“Excellent services received from this group of great guys, doing the best you can ask for.”
Olayinka O.
GOOGLE REVIEW
via Google
Frequently asked questions
What is debt settlement?
Debt settlement is negotiating with your creditors to accept less than the full balance as payment in full. You stop paying creditors directly and instead build funds in a dedicated account you own; as each balance is negotiated down, the settlement is paid from that account and the debt is resolved.
What does McKenzie Adams charge for debt settlement?
25% of the amount saved on each debt — the balance at enrolment minus what was actually paid to settle it. In Illinois the fee is 15% of savings, the statutory maximum. There is no enrolment fee, no monthly programme fee, no fee on any debt that doesn't settle, and no cancellation fee.
What is a dedicated account?
A dedicated account is an FDIC-insured savings account opened in your name at an independent bank to accumulate settlement funds. You own the money and any interest, you can withdraw at any time without penalty, and the administrator is not affiliated with McKenzie Adams. It costs $9.95 to set up and $9.95 per month, paid to the bank at cost.
Will debt settlement hurt my credit?
Yes, usually. Accounts typically become delinquent before creditors negotiate, which damages your credit score during the programme, and creditors may continue collection efforts or file lawsuits. Balances can also grow through interest and fees until a debt settles. We disclose this before you enrol because it is true.
How long does a debt relief programme take?
24 to 48 months for most clients, depending on how much you enrol and how quickly you can fund settlements. Debts are typically settled one at a time as funds accumulate.
Will I owe taxes on forgiven debt?
Possibly. Forgiven debt of $600 or more is generally reported to the IRS on Form 1099-C and can be taxable income — unless you were insolvent when it was forgiven, in which case IRS Form 982 may exclude it. We prepare that insolvency filing for $399 per tax year, free for clients who complete the programme.
Related: all pricing · state availability · Credit Health · Mortgage Preparation · Business Care