Meet our Clients: Chris A.
ByAnna Baluch
UpdatedJun 28, 2025
- Chris A. shared his journey in a Q&A session with FDR.
- Maxed-out credit credits lead to unaffordable payments and unresponsive creditors.
- Chris felt like FDR helped him on the path where he put money aside, and they helped him with the rest.
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Freedom Debt Relief is passionate about helping everyday Americans move towards a better financial future. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of people have turned to our debt relief program to resolve their debt and get on a better path. As part of our Voice of Our Client series, our client, Chris A. shared his journey in a Q&A session with us. Keep reading to find out how debt relief has made a positive difference in his life and his future.
He maxed out four credit cards
Chris: I remember as soon as I turned 18, a friend of mine told me, “Hey, do you know that if you’re going to college, and you’re 18, you can get a credit card.” And that’s when I got myself into a lot of trouble.
FDR: So, when you heard you could get a credit card, I take it that excited you?
Chris: It did, yes. Eventually, I think I had four credit cards. They were all topped out, and before I knew it, I was almost $10,000 in debt, and I was scared. I was like, “Wait. This is no longer fun”…before I knew it, I couldn’t even make payments.
FDR: So, you reached out to your credit card issuers to have your APR reduced?
Chris: I said, “Is there a way we can work this out?” Most of them said, “No. This is the bed you got into yourself, and that’s it.” So, yeah, it’s scary because then you look at the whole APR, and you try to calculate when you’re going to pay this out, and before you know it, it’s impossible to pay it.
His debt limited his future
FDR: How many years passed from that moment when you felt empowered and confident to a little bit like you were getting into a bad spot?
Chris: It was around five years, and that’s when I got into a serious relationship with my wife. When you start to get serious with someone, you want to start saving. You want to maybe prepare yourself to buy a house. That’s when you start seeing the reality of everything. It was a reality check for me when we were planning our wedding, and it was really hard to get an apartment because my credit score was really bad because of the late payments. Thankfully, we were able to find a place and thanks to this program, actually, that’s how I got an apartment now. Now, I want to stay away from credit cards and not get myself into the issue again.
He discovered Freedom Debt Relief
FDR: So, you talked to us. Do you remember anything about understanding how the program worked? What made it click in your head, “Okay. This makes sense. I should do this.”
Chris: I think the way I saw the program was that it was almost like a savings account where I was going to deposit money, and you guys were going to take care of the rest. What I really liked about the program is that you guys were able to take care of everything.
FDR: At the end of this all, now that you’re on the other side, we didn’t do it for you. You did the hard work…it was a big commitment on your part, and it sounds like you were ready for that commitment.
Chris: Yeah. I think it did spark something in me. It’s kind of like going to college, and you graduate, and you’re ready for life. The way the program works, it makes you feel like you’re going through a course. You finish it, you graduate, and you’re ready for life…
You can take the journey out of debt, too
If you’re struggling with credit card debt or are just worried about falling behind on payments, it might be time to talk to Freedom Debt Relief, like Chris did. Our Certified Debt Consultants are here to help you understand your options for dealing with your debt, including our debt relief program. We can work with you to 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:
What’s Your Financial Next Normal? (Freedom Debt Relief)
Is Your Financial Stress at an All Time High? (Freedom Debt Relief)
Unemployed? Here’s How to Keep Managing Your Credit Card Debt (Freedom Debt Relief)
How Depression Might Affect Spending and Debt (Freedom Debt Relief)
Insights into debt relief demographics
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking debt relief during May 2025. The data provides insights about key characteristics of debt relief seekers.
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 May 2025, people seeking debt relief had an average of 74% 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.
Home-secured debt – average debt by selected states
According to the 2023 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) (using 2022 data) the average home-secured debt for those with a balance was $212,498. The percentage of families with mortgage debt was 42%.
In May 2025, 25% of the debt relief seekers had a mortgage. The average mortgage debt was $236504, and the average monthly payment was $1882.
Here is a quick look at the top five states by average mortgage balance.
| State | % with a mortgage balance | Average mortgage balance | Average monthly payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 20 | $391,113 | $2,710 | |
| District of Columbia | 17 | $339,911 | $2,330 | |
| Utah | 31 | $316,936 | $2,094 | |
| Nevada | 25 | $306,258 | $2,082 | |
| Massachusetts | 28 | $297,524 | $2,290 |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a mortgage loan balance over $0.
Housing is an important part of a household's expenses. Remember to consider all your debts when looking for a way to get debt relief.
Regain Financial Freedom
Seeking debt relief can be the first step toward financial freedom. Are you struggling with debt? Explore options for debt relief to regain control of your finances. It doesn't matter how old you are or what your FICO score or credit utilization is. Take the first step towards a brighter financial future today.
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Written by
Anna Baluch
Anna Baluch is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about all personal finance topics. She’s particularly interested in mortgages, retirement, insurance, and investing.