Americans who take action on their debt tend to follow a pattern: They research their options, cut back on spending, work extra hours and pay what they can. Yet there\u2019s one step most of them never take, and it\u2019s one that could make a major impact on how and if they achieve their goal: a conversation with a real person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A 2026 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults with debt found that 45% wait a year or more before getting any help, according to Accredited Debt Relief<\/a> and independent research firm, Drive Research. What holds people back has little to do with awareness or effort. Most are convinced they should handle the debt on their own \u2014 but that conviction doesn\u2019t always make the most financial sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n