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If you're paying off debt and worried about your credit score, here's some food for thought: When the goal is getting out of debt, your score usually matters less than the debt itself. Credit scores matter most when you're trying to borrow — a mortgage, a car loan or a new credit card. When you're focused on becoming debt-free, you aren't taking on new debt, so a lower score has less day-to-day impact.
So if you're in debt, and anxious about confronting it head-on, ask yourself: "Do I have a credit score problem or a debt problem?" Accredited Debt Relief makes becoming debt-free affordable — and with our program, your journey to freedom could be complete in as little as 24 to 48 months.
Get a Free Consultation — no pressure, no obligation, won't affect your credit score.
A credit report is a detailed record of your borrowing and payment history. A credit score is a number that summarizes that report into a single measure of credit health.
Credit scoring models were originally built as tools to help lenders gauge risk. Today they're used more broadly — by landlords, insurers, lenders and sometimes employers — to assess financial trustworthiness.
The most widely used model is the base FICO Score 8. According to Experian, it ranges from 300 to 850 and falls into five categories.
| Score Range | Rating |
|---|---|
| 300–579 | Poor |
| 580–669 | Fair |
| 670–739 | Good |
| 740–799 | Very Good |
| 800–850 | Exceptional |
The average FICO Score was 713 at the end of 2025, according to Experian. About 70% of U.S. consumers had a good FICO Score (670 or higher) or better in 2025, per Experian. Roughly 15% of consumers fell in the poor range that year, Experian reported.
Your FICO Score is built from five factors, and they don't all carry equal weight.
| Factor | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Payment history | 35% | Whether you pay your bills on time |
| Amounts owed | 30% | How much you owe and your credit utilization |
| Length of credit history | 15% | How long you've held credit |
| Credit mix | 10% | The variety of credit types you manage |
| New credit | 10% | Recently opened accounts and inquiries |
These weightings come from Experian. Payment history and amounts owed together make up 65% of your score, so they have the biggest impact. On utilization specifically, Experian notes that keeping balances below 30% of your credit limits can help protect your score, while consumers with the best scores tend to stay under 10%.
The takeaway: how much you owe is one of the two largest drivers of your score. Reducing what you owe addresses that factor directly.
If you're carrying a balance, you're far from alone. Recent government data shows how widespread unsecured debt has become.
High interest is a big part of what makes balances so hard to clear. A debt relief program targets your balance, not your interest rate, which is what sets it apart from borrowing your way out of debt.
Before worrying too much about your score, it helps to step back and name your primary goal.
If you're planning to apply for a mortgage soon, improving your score could make a meaningful difference. But if high-interest credit card debt is holding you back from achieving those bigger financial goals, then ridding yourself of that burden should be your first priority. Improving a credit score over time tends to get much easier once the underlying debt is under control. In other words: A credit score problem and a debt problem are both problems, but they're not always of equal importance.
Credit scores matter most when you're trying to borrow money and least when you're already in debt and working to get out of it. This table breaks down where your score carries the most weight.
| Situation | How Much Your Score Matters | What Decision-Makers Look At |
|---|---|---|
| Getting a mortgage | High | Score drives approval, interest rate and terms |
| Taking on a new credit card or loan | High | Higher scores mean better approval odds and rates |
| Getting a car loan | Moderate to high | The vehicle is collateral, so lenders have more flexibility |
| Renting an apartment | Varies | Payment history, landlord reviews and income heavily influence rental decisions |
| Applying for most jobs | Low | Most employers don't check; some financial roles may, with permission |
| Getting out of existing debt | Low | You aren't borrowing more, so the score matters less right now |
When you're already focused on becoming debt-free, you're not in the market to take on new debt — so the score is less central to your day-to-day life. Rebuilding it is often a natural next step once you're back on solid financial footing.
If your core issue is a debt problem, our debt relief program is designed to be an affordable and accessible solution for credit card, personal loan, medical debts and more.
Our debt relief program bundles eligible balances into one lower monthly payment, with clients typically saving $480 a month on eligible enrolled debts. Because the program targets your balance rather than your interest rate, it's often the most accessible option for people whose minimum payments have already become unaffordable.
Accredited Debt Relief can also evaluate clients for debt relief or consolidation loan options as part of the same free consultation, so you can compare paths in one place.
Getting started takes four simple steps and begins with a free consultation.
1. Free Consultation — You'll speak with a certified debt specialist who reviews your debt, income and monthly obligations. This won't affect your credit score.
2. Personalized Program — Your specialist builds a customized program around what you can actually afford each month, with a target graduation date.
3. One Monthly Deposit — Instead of juggling multiple payments, you make a single payment into a dedicated account.
4. Debt-Free in 24 to 48 Months — Because the program targets your balance, not your interest rate, you can get free from debt faster and for less.
The program is best for people with significant unsecured debts, like credit card, personal loan and medical debts.
The minimum amount of debt required to enroll in the program is $5,000, and Accredited Debt Relief can evaluate people in all 50 states. Federal student loans aren't eligible — for those, start at studentaid.gov.
Accredited Debt Relief has helped people work toward becoming debt-free since 2011, with award-winning customer care at the center of the experience. The company has helped more than 1.3 million clients and resolved more than $15 billion in debt, backed by an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
CBS News MoneyWatch named Accredited Debt Relief Best for Customer Satisfaction in May 2026, noting its strong consumer ratings and low complaint volume. The company also earned two 2026 Gold Stevie Awards, including Customer Service Department of the Year for the second straight year, plus Best in Biz honors, Business Intelligence Group recognition and three ConsumerAffairs Buyer's Choice Awards. Accredited Debt Relief holds a 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot from more than 10,000 client reviews.
Every specialist is certified through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators, and all staff benefit from guidance by Association for Financial Counseling (AFC)-certified trainers. Accredited Debt Relief is also a member of the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR).
What means most is that clients leave in a better place than when they enrolled: In a survey of over 10,000 Accredited Debt Relief graduates, 92% said their program payments were affordable. Graduates also reported a 42% average improvement in their financial habits, with self-rated habits climbing from 5.7 to 8.1 out of 10 after graduation.
The right move depends on your goal, your income and the type of debt you're carrying. During your free consultation, an Accredited Debt Relief IAPDA-certified debt specialist will review your debt, income and monthly obligations and provide a personalized savings estimate. The consultation is free, no-judgment and won't affect your credit score.
Common questions about credit scores and paying off debt — answered directly and without jargon.
Do I Have a Credit Score Problem or a Debt Problem?
If you're trying to borrow soon, a low score is a credit score problem worth addressing. If you're overwhelmed by high-interest balances and struggling with minimum payments, that's a debt problem — and solving it is usually the bigger priority. Improving your score generally becomes easier once the underlying debt is under control.
Does Paying Off Debt Affect Your Credit Score?
Yes — but it can have both a positive and negative impact on your score, depending upon your credit mix, amount of debt paid off and how long that line of credit's been open. Amounts owed make up 30% of your FICO Score, according to Experian, so how much you owe compared to what you've been cleared to borrow is one of the two biggest factors in your score. So while it's true that some debt solutions can affect your credit for a time, the long-term benefits of dealing with expensive, immobilizing debts are typically worth the effort. Maintaining solid financial habits while getting debt-free can help you regain a solid standing faster than you'd think.
What Credit Score Do I Need for a Debt Relief Program?
A debt relief program isn't based on a minimum credit score. It's designed around what you can afford each month. The main requirement is having at least $5,000 in eligible unsecured debt, such as credit card, personal loan and medical debt.
Does Checking My Debt Relief Options Affect My Credit Score?
No. Checking your options with Accredited Debt Relief doesn't affect your credit. Your free consultation reviews your debt, income and monthly obligations so a specialist can build a program around what you can afford.
What Are the Credit Score Ranges?
The base FICO Score 8 runs from 300 to 850, according to Experian. The ranges are poor (300 to 579), fair (580 to 669), good (670 to 739), very good (740 to 799) and exceptional (800 to 850). About 70% of U.S. consumers had a good score or better in 2025.
What Affects Your Credit Score the Most?
The two largest factors are payment history (35%) and amounts owed (30%), according to Experian. Length of credit history (15%), credit mix (10%) and new credit (10%) make up the rest. Together, paying on time and keeping balances low drive most of your score.
Is Accredited Debt Relief Legitimate?
Accredited Debt Relief has been operating since 2011, holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has helped more than 1.3 million clients. Its specialists are IAPDA-certified, the company is a member of the Association for Consumer Debt Relief and staff benefit from guidance by Association for Financial Counseling (AFC)-certified trainers.
A free consultation with a certified debt specialist won't affect your credit score and will show you what an affordable monthly payment could look like. No pressure, no obligation — just a clear picture of what's possible. Available in all 50 states.
Get a Free ConsultationOr call 800-497-1965 · accrediteddebtrelief.com/credit-score/
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