Common questions about loans and debt relief, explained clearly.

Our loan marketplace is powered by Engine by MoneyLion, a technology platform that matches consumers with personalized offers from its network of 1,300+ lending and financial partners. You complete one short request, your information is compared against each participating lender’s qualification criteria, and you can review the offers you match with in one place instead of applying lender by lender.

Engine by MoneyLion (ML Enterprise Inc., formerly Even Financial, NMLS #1475872) is a search and comparison platform for financial products such as personal loans. Engine maintains the licenses required for the activities conducted on its platform. Like Arvexa, Engine is not a lender: it does not accept loan applications, make credit decisions, or guarantee a particular result.

No. Arvexa Financial is a marketing affiliate and lead generator, and neither Arvexa nor Engine by MoneyLion is a lender. Loan offers come from independent third-party lenders. Each lender reviews your application, makes its own credit decision, and sets the final rate, fees, and terms of any loan it offers.

1) Request your review: answer a few questions about your goals, income, and finances in about two minutes. 2) Complete a verification call: because options are income-based, a specialist confirms your income and walks you through next steps. Plan for around 20 minutes, though call length varies based on your situation, verification needs, and questions. 3) Review your offers: compare rates, terms, and monthly payments from lenders you matched with. 4) Apply with the lender you choose: you finish the application on the lender’s website, the lender verifies your information, and if you are approved and accept, the lender funds the loan directly.

Our options are income-based, so offers are not instant. A phone consultation lets a specialist verify your income and employment details and answer your questions before any offer can be finalized. Plan for around 20 minutes, though call length varies based on your situation, verification needs, and questions. The call has no obligation and does not affect your credit score.

No. You are not charged to request a review or to receive offers. Arvexa and Engine by MoneyLion are compensated by the lenders and financial partners whose offers appear, and that compensation may influence which offers are shown and the order in which they appear. The offers shown do not include every lender or loan product available in the market.

No. Checking your options uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. A hard inquiry, which can affect your score, typically happens only if you choose an offer and submit a full application with that lender.

Loan amounts through our lending network range up to $100,000, with APRs starting at 5.99% for well-qualified borrowers and repayment terms of up to 10 years. Your actual amount, rate, and term depend on the lender and on factors such as your credit, income, debt-to-income ratio, loan amount, and state of residence. Not everyone will qualify for the lowest rate or the maximum amount.

The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the measure of the cost of credit, expressed as a yearly rate. It is based on the amount of the loan, the cost of the loan, the term of the loan, repayment amounts, timing of payments, and payoff. Rates vary based on creditworthiness, loan size, and other variables, and minimum and maximum loan amounts and APRs may vary by state law and lender.

Possibly. Because our review is income-based, lenders in the network look at your income and employment alongside your credit history, so steady income can help offset past credit challenges. Each lender sets its own eligibility criteria, and approval is never guaranteed.

Yes. Debt consolidation is one of the most common reasons people use our marketplace. A consolidation loan combines balances such as credit cards into one fixed monthly payment, ideally at a lower rate. You still repay the full principal, so compare the total cost of the loan, including any fees, with what you pay today.

If you did not receive an offer, or did not receive one from a particular lender, that lender may have been unable to determine whether you qualify based on the information provided. No credit decision has been made, and you may still qualify for financial products from one of our lending partners. A specialist can also walk you through alternatives, including debt relief options.

Expect to share your name, contact details, date of birth, home address, Social Security number, employment, income, desired loan amount, and loan purpose. Lenders use this to verify your identity, check eligibility with a soft credit inquiry, and determine which offers you may qualify for.

Your information is shared with Engine by MoneyLion so it can be compared with lender qualification criteria, and then passed only to the lenders whose criteria you meet. When you click through to a lender to apply, that lender’s own terms and privacy policy apply. See our Privacy Policy for details on how Arvexa collects, uses, and protects your information.

Funding timelines are set by the lender you choose and depend on how quickly your application, identity, and income are verified and on your bank’s processing times. Your lender will confirm the expected funding date before you accept the loan. No specific funding time is guaranteed.

Not always. Rates, fees, terms, and loan products are set at each lender’s discretion and may not be available in all states or for all types of loans. The offers you see reflect the lenders that serve your state and profile.

No. Requesting a review and viewing offers carries no obligation. You decide whether to apply with any lender, and you can take time to compare offers or ask a specialist questions before deciding.

Debt relief can negatively impact your credit in the short term. Programs like debt settlement often require you to stop paying creditors to build a lump sum, which can result in missed payments, late fees, and account charge-offs. Over time, once debts are resolved and good habits are rebuilt, your credit can recover and improve, but recovery timing varies by individual profile and creditor reporting.

Debt relief programs commonly run over multiple years, often in a range such as 24 to 60 months depending on the total amount of eligible debt enrolled, the number of creditors involved, the timing of negotiations, and how quickly settlement agreements are finalized. Debt management plans are different: they generally focus on repaying the full balance through a structured payment plan rather than negotiating reduced settlements, and they also usually take several years to complete. Timelines vary significantly based on individual circumstances, creditor response, and program terms.

No program can guarantee that all creditor calls or lawsuits will stop immediately. Reputable advisors can negotiate with creditors and coach you on handling collections, but creditors still have the right to pursue legal action for unpaid debts until agreements are finalized. Once accounts are formally entered into a program, many creditors will reduce collection activity, though this is not guaranteed.

Debt relief typically focuses on unsecured debts, such as credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, and private student loans. Secured debts like mortgages and auto loans are usually not eligible for most debt relief programs because they are backed by collateral (your home or car).

Fees vary by method: debt settlement companies often charge 15% to 25% of enrolled debt and should only collect after a successful settlement has been negotiated and accepted. Non-profit credit counseling and debt management plans may charge a one-time setup fee (typically $0-300) and smaller monthly maintenance fees ($25-50). Always ask providers for their complete fee structure in writing before enrolling.

Debt consolidation combines multiple debts into one loan or payment, but you still repay the full principal balance plus interest. Debt settlement negotiates with creditors to accept a reduced amount, often as a lump sum, which can lower the total owed significantly but may impact your credit more immediately than consolidation.

Avoid companies that demand upfront fees, promise debt-free results overnight, or tell you to stop communicating with creditors entirely. Reputable providers are transparent about timelines, costs, and the realistic effects on your credit. Look for ACDR-accredited providers or non-profit credit counseling agencies.

Most credit card companies will close your accounts once they are enrolled in a debt relief program, especially if the account is delinquent or in settlement negotiations. Some may close accounts automatically when they detect a third-party advisor managing the account. This is one reason why credit score impact is inevitable during programs—account closures and status changes are reported to credit bureaus.

Keeping active credit cards while in a debt settlement program is generally not recommended by advisors because: (1) creditors may be more willing to settle if they see you're not actively using other credit, (2) creditors may freeze or close accounts if they detect you're in a program, and (3) new debt during the program complicates negotiations. Most advisors recommend closing or not using other cards. However, you can discuss your specific situation with your advisor.

Unused credit limits remain available until the creditor closes the account (which often happens when enrolled in a program). Rewards points belong to you, and most credit card companies allow you to redeem accumulated points even after account closure. However, some companies may forfeit points in their terms and conditions. Check your card's terms or contact your card issuer to understand what happens to your specific rewards.

Yes. A debt relief program can negatively impact your credit score, especially if accounts become delinquent, are charged off, or are reported as settled. The amount of impact varies by person and depends on factors such as your starting credit profile, payment history, creditor reporting, total debt, utilization, and how quickly accounts are resolved. Because these factors differ for every consumer, no specific score drop or recovery outcome can be guaranteed.

During a program, your accounts will show statuses like "30 days late," "charge-off," or "settled" depending on their stage in negotiations. Once debts are successfully settled, the accounts will show "settled" on your credit report. The settlement history remains on your credit report for 7 years from the original delinquency date (not from settlement), but its impact on your score decreases over time.

No. Employers cannot see your credit report unless you work in specific industries (finance, government) and agree to a background check. Landlords typically check credit but see account status (settled, delinquent) rather than the specific program you used. Future lenders will see settled accounts and delinquencies but won't see a notation of "debt relief program"—they'll interpret it based on the account status shown.

Debt management plans typically have a less severe credit impact than debt settlement because you're still making monthly payments (which shows responsibility). With a debt management plan, your credit score will still decline initially due to account consolidation and lower limits, but typically not as sharply as with settlement, which involves delinquencies and charge-offs. Recovery timeline is also usually faster with management plans.

No. Your credit is not permanently ruined. While debt relief programs do impact your score in the short term, credit scores can recover over time as delinquencies age and positive payment history is rebuilt. Recovery pace and outcomes vary based on each consumer's credit profile, behavior, and lender reporting practices.

Negative information (late payments, charge-offs, settled accounts) typically stays on your credit report for 7 years from the original delinquency date. After 7 years, this information falls off your report automatically. However, the impact of negative items decreases significantly after 2-3 years, so a 5-year-old settled account affects your score much less than a recent one.

Yes, but timing and terms matter. Some consumers may qualify for secured credit cards (requiring a cash deposit) sooner than unsecured cards after completing a program. Unsecured card approval can take longer and may come with higher rates at first. Eligibility, timing, and pricing vary by lender underwriting and your overall credit profile.

There is no universal timeline. Mortgage and auto loan eligibility depends on each lender's underwriting criteria and your overall financial profile, including payment history, current debt obligations, income, credit report details, and down payment (if applicable). Some consumers may qualify sooner than others, and loan terms can vary widely. Approval and rates are never guaranteed.

After completing a program: (1) Get a secured credit card and use it responsibly for small purchases, paying in full each month; (2) Become an authorized user on someone else's good credit account; (3) Pay all bills on time going forward; (4) Keep credit utilization below 30% (only use 30% of available credit); (5) Avoid applying for multiple new credit accounts at once; (6) Check your credit report annually for errors and dispute inaccuracies. Credit building is a marathon, not a sprint—consistency over 3-5 years shows lenders you've changed your habits.

Debt forgiveness can create tax consequences in some situations. Because tax treatment depends on your specific facts and current law, Arvexa does not provide tax advice. Before enrolling, review possible tax impacts with a licensed CPA or other qualified tax professional. Legitimate providers should disclose this risk upfront.

Yes. Creditors retain the legal right to sue you for unpaid debts even while you're in a program, especially if you stop making payments. However, once accounts are officially entered into settlement negotiations and payment plans are established, many creditors reduce legal action. Litigation risk is one reason why programs involve delinquencies—creditors need incentive to negotiate. Your advisor can help you understand which accounts face higher litigation risk.

Fees vary by provider, program structure, and state requirements. Legitimate providers should clearly disclose all fees in writing before enrollment and explain when each fee is earned and collected. In settlement-based programs, fees are generally tied to resolved accounts rather than charged as large upfront payments before results. Debt management programs may include administrative fees. Always request a complete written fee schedule and review all program terms before signing.

Technically yes, but it's difficult. Credit card companies employ professional negotiators trained to resist settlement offers. Without leverage or professional experience, most people achieve less favorable settlements than companies can negotiate. However, professional services aren't free—you're paying for expertise and proven results. Many people find the fee worth the savings achieved, though this varies case-by-case.

Non-profit credit counseling focuses on budget advice and negotiating debt management plans (full repayment through structured payments). Debt settlement negotiates reduced payoff amounts with creditors, which may reduce balances but can involve significant credit impact. Bankruptcy is a legal process that can discharge certain debts, often with substantial credit impact and public-record consequences. Costs, outcomes, and suitability vary based on your financial situation and goals.