WHAT I DON’T LIKE ABOUT DEBTGOAL.COM

***There is an update to this post here – DebtGoal cost***

First of all let me say that I am an affiliate for DebtGoal.com which means I make a commission if someone signs up for it if they click through my link. Secondly, let me say that if they cancel my affiliate agreement agreement with them after I write this I REALLY DON’T CARE.

DebtGoal is a relatively new site started in 2008 that is set up to help you organize all your payments in one place. It isn’t for people who need debt relief grants or loans because it was designed for people who make enough to pay off their debt but just need some help figuring out how to do it effectively. It is meant for those who need a plan that will give them the best chance of paying off their debt in a timely manner.

People now days have all sorts of loans and debt: mortgages, car loans, student loans, and of course credit card debt. With all these needing to be paid every month, some folks have trouble buckling down and paying each one off, instead opting to just pay the minimum. That is exactly what these credit card and loan companies want because you will be paying the maximum in interest which is how they make their money. DebtGoal.com is set up to help you devise a payment plan that will help you pay off these loans early and thus avoid much of that interest. So far so good, right?

Here is what I don’t like about DebtGoal. I spent over one half an hour on their website trying to find out how much it costs. There is a 7 day free trial which means after 7 days your credit card will be charged but nowhere could I find a price! I clicked every tab, every FAQ, every thing that was clickable on their site. NOWHERE DO THEY HAVE A PRICE.

Now, having just written my last post on the new FTC rules for debt relief companies, I was very dismayed to see that they are not upfront with the cost. I do understand that the new rules might not apply to DebtGoal.com because they are not in business to loan money or give out debt relief and they are there just to help you better plan your debt. However, the new rules may apply and whether they do or not, shouldn’t the costs be stated right up front?

I never went in and filled out the 7 day trial information and the cost is probably in there somewhere after you do that. But my gripe is that before I bother to fill anything out, as a potential customer I should be told how much the price is. That is basic business honesty as I don’t want to waste my valuable time filling things out only to find 5 or 10 minutes in that the monthly price is more than I want to pay.

Does DebtGoal.com work? Probably, maybe, it might, I don’t know and I won’t as long as they don’t tell me how much they are going to charge after the free trial period!

UPDATE:

Debtdude and readers of your blog,

DebtGoal is only $14.95 per month after the trial period is over – a discounted price of $11.95 is offered to members who sign up from from preferred partner sites including this blog.

We aim to put our price upfront in the registration pages clearly and in bold letters so our members know when they will be billed and how much. Clearly, we are not meeting this objective – we’ve taken your feedback and will put price info in all the right places.

Bhawna Guglani