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The Truth About Clear One Advantage – Why Jorge Chose a Different Path

Joe Mahlow avatar

by Joe Mahlow •  Updated on Mar. 23, 2025

The Truth About Clear One Advantage – Why Jorge Chose a Different Path
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Thought about using Clear One Advantage? Jorge thought he was doing the right thing.

Like many people, he had fallen behind on some credit cards and loans. The bills kept piling up, and the calls from debt collectors never stopped. One day, he came across Clear One Advantage, a company that promised to help him settle his debts and lower his monthly payments.

It sounded like a lifeline, so Jorge signed up.

For over two years, he sent them money every month—money that could’ve gone toward groceries or savings. But even after all that time, Jorge still had debt, and his credit score was destroyed.

His accounts were still in collections, and now they were showing up as settled for less than the full amount—a major red flag to future lenders.

Feeling stuck and discouraged, Jorge reached out to us at ASAP Credit Repair.

What is Clear One Advantage

Alright, so before we dive into how Jorge turned things around, let's talk about Clear One Advantage. You might've seen their ads, or maybe a friend mentioned them. Basically, they're a company that helps people deal with debt. You know, those credit card bills and loans that just seem to pile up?

Here's the gist of how they work: They try to bundle all your unsecured debts—like credit cards or personal loans—into one payment. Next is they go to bat for you, trying to get those debts settled for less than what you actually owe.

So, you'd send them money every month, and they'd hold onto it in a special account. Then, they use that money to pay off the debts they've negotiated. They also keep you in the loop, letting you know what's happening.

Recommended Story: What's The Best Alternative to Bad Credit Loans in Irvine

Clear One Advantage Reviews

Now, here's the thing: People's experiences with Clear One Advantage are all over the map. Some folks say they had a good experience, got their debts settled, and saw their payments go down. But, like with any debt settlement thing, there are some downsides you should know about.

A lot of people worry about their credit score. See, when you settle a debt for less, it shows up on your credit report, and not in a good way. It's like saying, "Yeah, I paid it, but not the whole thing." Lenders don't really like that.

Plus, these programs can take years. Imagine, years! And, of course, there are fees involved, which can eat into any savings you might get.

Bottom line? It’s always a good idea to do your homework and understand the pros and cons of clear one advantage. And this goes before signing up with any debt settlement company. Just something to keep in mind.

settled for less trap

How ASAP Credit Repair Helped Jorge Bounce Back

We took a close look at Jorge’s credit report and saw multiple collection accounts that still hadn’t been removed—even after two years with Clear One.

So we got to work.

✅ We sent advanced dispute letters to all three credit bureaus
✅ We challenged the legality and accuracy of the debt reporting
✅ We demanded documentation that collectors often can’t provide

And guess what?

Multiple accounts were deleted from Jorge’s credit report. His score jumped, and more importantly, he felt free for the first time in years.

Here’s a screenshot of the proof:


Clear One Advantage: What Debt Relief Companies Won’t Tell You

Debt relief, debt management, and debt consolidation might sound like a good fix, but they come with some serious problems most companies don’t tell you upfront. Let’s break down why these options can actually make things worse for your credit and your future:

1. They Don’t Fix Your Credit – They Hurt It

When a debt is settled for less than what you owe, it doesn’t disappear. Instead, the account stays on your credit report with a note that says something like “Settled for less than the full balance.” That’s a red flag to lenders. It tells them you didn’t pay your full obligation.

📌 Example: If you owe $5,000 and settle for $2,500, your credit report will show that the account was settled—not paid in full. That can drop your score and stay on your report for up to 7 years.

And if you miss payments while in a debt settlement program (which most programs require), your score drops even more.

2. Your Credit is Frozen for 3-5 Years

When you sign up for a debt relief program, they usually ask you to stop paying your creditors. Why? Because they want your accounts to fall behind or be in delinquent status, so creditors will be more likely to settle.

That means your credit score plummets early in the process, and for years you can’t qualify for a mortgage, auto loan, or even some jobs. You’re stuck with bad credit during the entire program—and often, for years after it ends.

📌 Real-world impact: Jorge tried to get a car loan during his program and was denied multiple times because his credit score was too low—even though he’d been making payments to Clear One Advantage for over a year.

3. You Might Still Get Sued

Debt relief companies aren’t legal protection services. While they negotiate your debts, they can’t stop creditors from suing you if you’ve stopped paying.

📌 Example: We’ve seen cases where people were halfway through their program and suddenly got hit with court papers. Now they had legal fees on top of their already difficult financial situation.

And if you lose the lawsuit? You could have your wages garnished or bank account frozen.

4. The Savings Aren’t What They Promise

Debt settlement companies often advertise that you’ll save “up to 50% or more.” But what they don’t mention is:

  • Their fees are taken first—before your creditors see a dime
  • You may still owe taxes on the forgiven debt amount
  • Interest and penalties often continue to grow while you wait

📌 Let’s do the math: Say you owe $10,000. They settle it for $5,000, but charge a $2,000 fee and you owe $1,000 in taxes. You didn’t really save much. You paid $8,000 and your credit is still damaged.

5. It’s Emotionally Draining and Takes Forever

Debt relief programs usually last between 36 and 60 months—that’s 3 to 5 years. That’s a long time to feel like you’re not making progress.

You may start to feel like you’ll never escape the debt, especially when your credit doesn’t improve and the collections keep showing up on your report.

📌 Jorge’s experience: After two years of payments, he was still getting calls from collectors, and his credit was no better. That emotional toll was what finally pushed him to find a better solution.

Related Story: What Tom Learned the Hard Way About Accredited Debt Relief

fix poor credit score

Is Clear One Advantage Legit?

Yes, Clear One Advantage is a legitimate company, in the sense that they are a registered business offering debt settlement services. They operate within the legal framework of debt settlement.

However, while they promise to help you manage your debt and often emphasize the potential for reduced payments, they don't always fully disclose the potential negative consequences.

They highlight the "good" – the possibility of settling debts for less – but often downplay or gloss over the "bad," such as the significant and long-lasting damage to your credit score, the extended duration of their programs, and the potential for legal action from creditors.

Debt relief, debt management, and debt consolidation might sound good at first, but here’s the truth:

1. They Don’t Fix Your Credit – They Hurt It

When you settle your debts, your accounts are usually marked as "settled for less than full balance" or stay in collections for years. Both hurt your score—sometimes worse than if you had done nothing.

2. Your Credit is Frozen for 3-5 Years

During a debt relief program, you’re asked to stop making payments so accounts can go delinquent. This tanks your credit score and keeps you from getting approved for new credit, cars, homes, or even jobs.

3. You Might Still Get Sued

Debt relief companies don’t protect you from lawsuits. While you’re trying to save enough to settle, creditors can still take legal action against you.

4. The Savings Aren’t What They Promise

Many people end up paying just as much—if not more—in fees and interest, especially when the program stretches over 3-5 years.

5. It’s Emotionally Exhausting

You keep making payments and seeing no results. Your credit is in the tank. You feel stuck.


Why Credit Repair Might Be a Smarter First Step

Before giving up your credit for years, consider this:

Credit repair can remove inaccurate or unverifiable accounts
✅ You may not need to pay the debt at all if it's invalid or unverified
✅ Removing negative items often leads to faster score improvement
✅ You stay in control of your credit while cleaning it up

Just like we did for Jorge, we can help you get back on track—without destroying your credit in the process.


Stuck with Bad Credit? Clear One Advantage Might Not Be The Solution

Debt relief might not be the answer. Let us show you another way.

🔹 Start a chat with us now → [Click Here]
🔹 Call us at 📞 888-656-0803
🔹 Text us at 📲 281-545-5001

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