Meet Our Clients: Maxine T.
- UpdatedDec 18, 2024
- FDR with Maxine T., who graduated from the program in early 2020, spoke with FDR in a Q&A session.
- Maxine got into debt by steadily adding charges and making minimum payments.
- She liked the fact that FDR would negotiate not just for her, but for a group of people,
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Freedom Debt Relief strives to help everyday Americans resolve their debts and create brighter financial futures and through our Voice of the Client series, we invite you to meet some of those Americans. Today we’re sharing our conversation with Maxine T., who graduated from the program in early 2020.
Read on to learn how Maxine’s relationship with debt went from powerless to powerful, and what lessons she learned through her journey in the FDR program.
Minimum payments started her slide into debt
FDR: Did you have challenges managing your credit cards in your younger years?
Maxine: No. I was single, and I didn’t buy that much. I was able to pay my credit card bills, but I was never encouraged to pay them off. You look at the minimum, and it’s like, “Oh, okay. That’s all I have to pay?”
FDR: When did you become aware that only making minimum payments was creating a problem?
Maxine: I got to the point where I had thousands upon thousands of dollars’ worth of credit card debt. I was like, “What did I buy that cost that much?” I couldn’t even say.
I had so much credit card debt that I didn’t know what I had gotten with it. It was like, “I need to get rid of this because it’s bothering me.” And then it became a chore every time I had to pay the bills. I was like “I’m paying this big chunk of money for something I don’t even have.”
It’s not like paying for a car. At least you can see your car. But when you’re paying for stuff and you don’t even know what it’s for, you feel like you’re giving money away.
She knew she had to make a change
FDR: How long did you struggle before you looked for a solution?
Maxine: Maybe a couple of years, because of the fact that my credit was good and I didn’t feel pressure. I was able to make these minimum payments. I was steadily moving, but not fast enough. I did stop charging things. I did stop that part, but I was still paying. Then, I woke up one day and started seeing the advertisements about Freedom on Facebook.
FDR: What made you think our program was a good idea?
Maxine: The ad said Freedom would negotiate with the credit companies to lower your balances. That was the key right there. I liked the fact that they would negotiate not just for me but for a group of people, whoever happened to have accounts with these specific companies.
So that gave them [FDR] more bargaining power. Instead of getting a little bit of money from me every month, these creditors would get a big chunk. That made sense to me… It was very plain, especially after I talked to the representative there. After I talked to him, and just made me feel so comfortable that I just wanted to run out and do it right then.
FDR: While you were in the program, did you feel aware about what was happening with your debts?
Maxine: The dashboard helped a lot because you could see your progress. Things would say, “In Negotiation” or “Pending.” You could see that stuff was happening, and your money is going into this fund.
She’s managing her credit cards with ease now
FDR: Now that you’re done with the program, do you use credit cards differently?
Maxine: Oh, yeah! Definitely! Right now, I have one credit card, and that’s because you need one credit card. I use it when I need a credit card to go to a hotel, leave a deposit, etc. I pay it off every month. And that’s easy for me to do because I don’t use it much.
On a better path
FDR: How would you explain how the program works to someone who says it’s too good to be true?
Maxine: I would say: I was in the program. I had the same problem as you have. I had all these different credit cards, and I went into a program where you stop making payments to your credit companies, and you make payments to this company. They, in turn, will negotiate whatever you owe to see if the companies will accept a lesser amount.
FDR: You sound like you really understood the pros and cons and had a good experience in the program!
Maxine: Yeah. I’m happy. I’m satisfied with this. Very satisfied.
Can we help you too?
If you’re struggling with debt or simply worried about falling behind on payments, it might be time to follow Maxine’s footsteps and take action. Freedom Debt Relief is here to help you understand your options for dealing with your debt, including our debt relief program. Our Certified Debt Consultants can help you find a solution that will put you on the path to a better financial future. Find out if you qualify right now.
Learn More
Balances at a Historic Low: Time to Get Credit Card Debt Under Control (Freedom Debt Relief)
Can Debt Collectors Wipe Out Your Bank Account? (Freedom Debt Relief)
Unemployed? Here’s How to Keep Managing Your Credit Card Debt (Freedom Debt Relief)
Debt relief stats and trends
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking debt relief during November 2024. The data uncovers various trends and statistics about people seeking debt help.
Credit utilization and debt relief
How are people using their credit before seeking help? Credit utilization measures how much of a credit line is being used. For example, if you have a credit line of $10,000 and your balance is $3,000, that is a credit utilization of 30%. High credit utilization often signals financial stress. We have looked at people who are seeking debt relief and their credit utilization. (Low credit utilization is 30% or less, medium is between 31% and 50%, high is between 51% and 75%, very high is between 76% to 100%, and over-utilized over 100%). In November 2024, people seeking debt relief had an average of 79% credit utilization.
Here are some interesting numbers:
| Credit utilization bucket | Percent of debt relief seekers |
|---|---|
| Over utilized | 30% |
| Very high | 32% |
| High | 19% |
| Medium | 10% |
| Low | 9% |
The statistics refer to people who had a credit card balance greater than $0.
You don't have to have high credit utilization to look for a debt relief solution. There are a number of solutions for people, whether they have maxed out their credit cards or still have a significant part available.
Credit card debt - average debt by selected states.
According to the 2023 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) the average credit card debt for those with a balance was $6,021. The percentage of families with credit card debt was 45%. (Note: It used 2022 data).
Unsurprisingly, the level of credit card debt among those seeking debt relief was much higher. According to November 2024 data, 88% of the debt relief seekers had a credit card balance. The average credit card balance was $15,618.
Here's a quick look at the top five states based on average credit card balance.
| State | Average credit card balance | Average # of open credit card tradelines | Average credit limit | Average Credit Utilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $16,967 | 7 | $24,102 | 121% |
| Arkansas | $12,989 | 9 | $28,791 | 83% |
| Tennessee | $13,822 | 9 | $27,261 | 82% |
| New Mexico | $11,860 | 8 | $25,731 | 82% |
| Kentucky | $12,834 | 8 | $26,156 | 81% |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a credit card balance over $0.
Are you starting to navigate your finances? Or planning for your retirement? These insights can help you make informed choices. They can help you work toward financial stability and security.
Support for a Brighter Future
No matter your age, FICO score, or debt level, seeking debt relief can provide the support you need. Take control of your financial future by taking the first step today.
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