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Editorial Policy

Last updated: October 3, 2026

In plain English: We explain debt using primary sources, check every number before we publish, tell you how we make money, and fix mistakes when we find them.

Who we are

DebtRoute is an independent, free debt-education website for people in the United States. Our content is written by the DebtRoute Editorial Team. We are not a lender, a debt relief company, a law firm or a credit counseling agency, and we are not licensed financial advisors or attorneys. Our job is to explain how debt works, what your rights are and what options exist, in plain English, so you can make your own decision.

Where our facts come from

Every statistic, legal right and rule on DebtRoute must trace back to a primary source. In order of preference:

Federal law and regulation, such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Truth in Lending Act.
Federal agencies: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Reserve, FDIC, IRS, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social Security Administration and StudentAid.gov.
State regulators and attorneys general, for state-specific rules.
A company’s own published terms, for product details such as APR ranges, fees and eligibility.

We do not use other review or affiliate websites as data sources. Each number we cite is linked to its source and labeled with the period it covers.

How we research and write

Start from a real question people ask about debt.
Research the primary sources above.
Write in plain language and explain terms the first time they appear.
Check every number, date and legal claim against its source before publishing.
Re-check pages when laws, rates or company terms change, and show the last-updated date.

How we evaluate companies

When we discuss lenders, debt relief companies or other providers, we look at:

Licensing or registration where it is required
Public enforcement actions in CFPB and FTC records
Complaint patterns in the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database
Whether fees, rates and terms are clearly disclosed
Who the product realistically suits, and who it does not

Ratings on DebtRoute are our editorial opinion based on these criteria and publicly available information. Third-party details such as BBB ratings can change; check the source for the current status. We also include free and nonprofit options whenever they fit your situation, even though we earn nothing from them.

How we make money

DebtRoute is free to read. Some links may be affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you sign up for a product, at no extra cost to you. Compensation may influence which products we write about and where they appear on a page. It does not influence our evaluations: descriptions, ratings, pros and cons, and who each option is suited for are based on our research and the criteria above. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure.

Corrections

If you find an error, email contact@debtroute.com with the page link. We review every report and correct confirmed errors promptly, updating the page date.

If you are in crisis

Debt can feel overwhelming. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) at any time. For free help with debt, a nonprofit credit counselor can review your situation. For lawsuits or wage garnishment, contact your local legal aid office.

Not financial or legal advice

DebtRoute content is for general education only. It is not personalized financial, legal or tax advice. For decisions about your situation, talk to a qualified professional. See our Disclaimer.