National Debt Relief does not let you skip payments on your own
National Debt Relief is a debt settlement company, not your lender or loan servicer. They do not hold your loans or manage your payment schedule. If you want to skip or defer a payment, you must contact your actual creditor or loan servicer directly — the bank, credit card company, or government agency that issued the debt. National Debt Relief cannot authorize a payment skip on your behalf, and calling them instead of your creditor will waste time you may not have.
If you are working with National Debt Relief on a settlement plan, skipping payments on unsettled debts can damage your credit score and trigger collection calls or lawsuits. The company's role is to negotiate a lump-sum settlement with your creditors, not to pause your payment obligations while that negotiation happens. You remain responsible for paying your debts according to the original terms unless your creditor agrees otherwise in writing.
Key Takeaways
- National Debt Relief cannot skip payments for you because they do not own or service your debts — only your creditor can authorize a payment pause.
- Skipping a payment without creditor permission will likely trigger late fees, interest charges, and credit score damage even if you are working with a settlement company.
- If you need to skip or defer a payment, contact your creditor directly by phone or through their online account portal and ask about hardship programs or temporary payment pauses.
- Some creditors offer forbearance, deferment, or income-driven repayment plans that may pause or reduce payments, but these must be requested from the creditor, not from National Debt Relief.
- If National Debt Relief has negotiated a settlement, skipping payments on non-settled debts can jeopardize the settlement and extend your debt timeline.
Why National Debt Relief cannot authorize payment skips
National Debt Relief is a third-party negotiator. They contact your creditors on your behalf to propose a settlement — typically paying a lump sum that is less than what you owe — but they do not become your creditor or take over your account. Your original creditor retains all authority over your payment schedule, late fees, and collection actions.
When you skip a payment, the creditor's system records it as a missed payment. The creditor then decides whether to charge a late fee, report it to credit bureaus, or escalate to collections. National Debt Relief has no power to override that decision. Even if you have an active settlement negotiation with them, your creditor will treat an unpaid bill as delinquent unless the creditor has explicitly agreed in writing to pause payments.
What happens if you skip a payment while working with National Debt Relief
Skipping a payment on a debt that National Debt Relief has not yet settled will result in standard creditor penalties. You will likely face a late fee (typically $25 to $40 per missed payment), and interest will continue to accrue on the balance. After 30 days, the missed payment will appear on your credit report as a late payment, which damages your credit score and can remain visible for seven years.
If you miss multiple payments, your creditor may close your account, accelerate the debt (demand full payment immediately), or refer the account to a collection agency. None of these outcomes help your settlement negotiation. In fact, a creditor may become less willing to settle if you stop paying, because they may decide to pursue collection or litigation instead.
If National Debt Relief has already negotiated a settlement and you skip payments on other debts, you may not have the funds available when the settlement is finalized. Many settlements require a lump-sum payment within 30 to 60 days of agreement. If you have spent that money on other obligations or penalties, you may lose the settlement offer.
How to request a payment pause from your actual creditor
Contact your creditor directly — not National Debt Relief — if you need to skip or reduce a payment. Call the customer service number on your bill or statement, or log into your online account and look for a "hardship" or "payment options" section. Explain your situation: job loss, medical emergency, temporary income reduction, or other hardship.
Many creditors offer temporary relief options without requiring a third party. These include forbearance (pausing payments for a set period, usually 3 to 6 months), deferment (postponing payments and adding them to the end of your loan term), or income-driven repayment (for federal student loans, adjusting your payment based on current income). Credit card companies may offer a hardship plan that reduces your interest rate or monthly payment temporarily.
Ask the creditor to send any agreement in writing before you stop paying. A verbal promise is not enough protection. Once you have written confirmation that your payment is paused or reduced, keep that document and continue to monitor your account to ensure the creditor honors the agreement.
Federal student loans: special rules for payment pauses
If your debt is a federal student loan, you have additional options that do not require creditor approval in the same way. You can request forbearance or deferment directly from your loan servicer (the company that manages your payments, such as Nelnet, Mohela, or Aidvantage). These pauses are available if you are experiencing financial hardship, and your servicer must grant them if you meet the criteria.
You can also switch to an income-driven repayment plan, which may lower your monthly payment to as little as $0 if your income is very low. These options are managed by your federal loan servicer, not by National Debt Relief. If National Debt Relief is negotiating a settlement on your federal loans, contact your servicer separately to explore these alternatives, as they may be better than a settlement in some cases.
What to do if you cannot pay and National Debt Relief is not helping
If you are in financial crisis and National Debt Relief's settlement timeline does not match your immediate need to skip a payment, you have options outside of the company. Contact your creditor directly and request a hardship program. Be specific: explain whether you have lost income, face medical bills, or have another documented hardship. Creditors are more likely to grant relief if you initiate contact before you miss a payment.
If you are struggling with multiple debts and National Debt Relief's fees or timeline feel unmanageable, you can also explore bankruptcy or credit counseling through a nonprofit credit counselor (not a for-profit debt settlement company). A nonprofit counselor can review your full situation and help you understand whether settlement, repayment, or another path makes sense. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Financial Counseling Association (FCA) maintain directories of accredited counselors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can National Debt Relief tell my creditor to pause my payments?
No. National Debt Relief can negotiate a settlement, but they cannot authorize payment pauses or changes to your payment schedule. Only your creditor can do that. If you need a payment pause, you must request it directly from your creditor in writing.
Will skipping a payment hurt my settlement negotiation?
Yes, likely. A creditor may become less willing to settle if you stop paying, because they may pursue collection or litigation instead. Skipping payments also damages your credit score and can result in late fees and interest charges that increase the total amount you owe.
What if my creditor refuses to pause my payment?
If your creditor denies a hardship request, ask them to explain why in writing. Some creditors have specific criteria for forbearance or deferment. If you believe you may have access to and were denied unfairly, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or your state's attorney general's office.
Can I pause payments on federal student loans while National Debt Relief negotiates?
Yes. Federal student loans have independent pause options (forbearance, deferment, income-driven repayment) managed by your loan servicer, separate from any settlement negotiation. Contact your servicer directly to explore these options.
What should I do if I cannot afford my payments right now?
Contact your creditor immediately and request a hardship program before you miss a payment. Explain your situation and ask about forbearance, deferment, payment reduction, or interest rate relief. If you are working with National Debt Relief and the settlement timeline does not match your immediate need, consider speaking with a nonprofit credit counselor to review all your options.