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Plain-English guides and free tools to understand and resolve your own debt, the calm way. Reviewed by a consumer-protection attorney. No hype, and no promises about outcomes.

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Guides

Start here

Your debt-relief options, compared

DIY, settlement companies, counseling, consolidation, bankruptcy - real costs, risks, and who each fits. No steering.

 Reference

Debt glossary: 37 terms, plain English

Charge-off, time-barred, validation, default judgment - every confusing term on every letter, decoded.

 Your options

What is a credit card charge-off?

"Charged off" doesn't mean forgiven - you still owe it. The 7-year rule and your three real options.

 Stay safe

Debt collector scams: 8 red flags

Arrest threats, gift-card demands, no written notice - how to spot a fake collector and verify a real one.

 Know your rights

Statute of limitations on debt

How long you can be sued over a debt, when the clock starts, and what quietly restarts it. Definitive, state-by-state.

 Consequences

Can debt collectors garnish your wages?

When garnishment can happen, the federal limit on your paycheck, and which income (Social Security, VA) is protected.

 Do it yourself

How to negotiate credit card debt yourself

How much to offer, which department to call, and how to get the deal in writing, without paying a settlement company.

 Know your rights

How to write a debt validation letter

Make a collector prove the debt is really yours before you pay. The 30-day window and what your letter must include.

 Your rights

Your rights when a debt collector calls

What collectors can and cannot do under the FDCPA, what to do when they call, and how to spot a scam.

 Your options

Do I need a debt settlement company?

An honest comparison of your options for resolving debt, including doing it yourself for free.

 Consequences

Can a credit card company actually sue you?

The real timeline from missed payment to lawsuit, garnishment, and the statute of limitations.

 Start here

Drowning in credit card debt? Start here

A calm, judgment-free first step when it all feels bottomless, plus where to find help.

 Payoff math

Debt snowball vs. avalanche

Which method clears your cards faster, the honest answer, and how to choose. Pairs with the calculator.

 Free download

The debt-collector call checklist (PDF)

A free, one-page checklist for exactly what to say and do when a collector calls.

Free tools

Calculator

Payoff calculator

See how fast you could be debt-free and what the interest is really costing you. Your numbers never leave your browser.

 Planner

Settlement & negotiation planner

Estimate a realistic offer range and what to say, for resolving a debt yourself.

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General education, not advice. Detta™ is self-help software, not a law firm, debt-settlement company, or credit-counseling agency. Nothing here is legal, financial, or tax advice, and we never hold your money or contact your creditors. Results vary depending on individual circumstances.