Largest-ever analysis of the debt settlement industry, commissioned by the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR), finds 8.1 million clients have realized $29.3 billion in debt reduction since 2016 and, on average, reached their first settlement within four months.
WASHINGTON, October 05, 2026–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR) today announced the release of a new study by EY, Debt Settlement Program Outcomes, 2016–2025, the largest analysis ever conducted of the debt settlement industry (also known as “debt relief”). The study examines outcomes for approximately 8.1 million clients across 54.1 million accounts enrolled in debt settlement programs between 2016 and 2025, drawing on…