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SoFi Review

Tuesday, March 19th

2024 Debt Consolidation Company Reviews

SoFi Review 4 Star Rating

SoFi

4 Star Rating
  • Fixed-rate loans from $5,000 to $100,000
  • Competitive APRs (with AutoPay discount)
  • Repayment terms from 2-7 years
  • No origination fees
  • Available in all states except MS
  • "A+" rated by the BBB

SoFi wants you to get your money right, reaching financial independence so you can make your ambitions a reality. And, with over two million members and $50 billion in funded loans, this service is absolutely helping people like you accomplish that. While you can definitely use SoFi just for a consolidation loan and nothing else, you may want to take advantage of their additional products and tools that can give you guidance for attacking your debt with a plan, building and maintaining a safety net, putting your money to work, and even saving for retirement or other goals.

A few unique questions in application process

To apply for a consolidation loan from SoFi, enter your name, state of residence and email address to create an account on their site. Next, you put in the desired loan amount (from $5,000 to $100,000) and click on the category that matches your intended use of the funds. We like the next question: "What monthly payment amount works with your budget?" You can enter any number between $150 and $500, or skip it altogether. The remaining questions help SoFi to verify your identity; otherwise, you'll be asked for your Social Security Number if they can't match your credit history to the details you provided.

Big perks you won't find elsewhere

SoFi has some huge perks compared with many financial institutions offering consolidation loans. Their interest rates are generally lower than what you'll find elsewhere, with an added deduction if you set your repayments to automatically come out of your bank account each month. Better yet, the APRs on SoFi personal loans have zero origination fees - good luck finding that with other lenders!

Look for sign-up bonus promotions

There was even a promotion in place at the time of our most recent visit to SoFi: a $10 credit for simply checking our offered rate on a loan, and a $300 cash bonus if our loan was funded. Hey, if credit cards can offer sign-up bonuses, why not providers of loans too?

Best Debt Consolidation Companies

Disappointing downturn in overall customer satisfaction

However, we were disappointed to find out that in the time that has passed since our last evaluation, several of SoFi's rivals have done a better job of keeping clients happy. In fact, even though the BBB gives them an "A+" rating, Sofi's listing there says "this business receives a high volume of complaints" . That's not good. Looking at nearly 2,500 independently-verified reviews elsewhere, SoFi comes in with a disappointing 3.2 out of 5-star average, and less than 80% of their reviewers would give the service a perfect score. Ouch!

Customer service needs improvement

The biggest complaints we found described frustrating challenges getting ahold of anyone in SoFi's customer service department - and the resulting long timeframes for resolving issues. If you need funds quickly, or if you have any problems with your personal loan, you want to know you'll get a prompt, professional response. Unfortunately, SoFi has some work to do in that regard.

Still worth considering

SoFi has a lot to offer: you'll find low interest rates on your loan. But, there's more to the story, and customer complaints tell a tale that leaves us feeling more than a little disappointed. We really hope to see an upswing in customer satisfaction in the near future, because SoFi has previously been a great option for loans.

Who is the Best Debt Consolidation Company?

Maybe you've gotten overwhelmed by credit card payments and overdue bills, and now you're wondering if there's any light at the end of the tunnel. Or, perhaps you're a financially-savvy consumer who wants to take advantage of lower interest rates, in order to pay off your mounting credit cards bills. Debt consolidation can be a smart strategy either way.

What, exactly, is debt consolidation? It's important to understand that companies offering it may mean different things. For some, debt consolidation is offered as a personal loan: you borrow funds that you use to pay off all of your outstanding debts. Your interest rate should be much lower than your credit cards, and now you've got a simplified, single payment to make each month. This can be a great way to boost your credit score by reducing the likelihood of making late payments (or none at all) and get on your feet again financially. On the other hand, you're in charge of using your loan money responsibly - and not to buy things you don't need!

The Best Debt Consolidation Companies Compare Debt Consolidation Companies Compare Debt Consolidation Company Reviews What are the best Debt Consolidation Companies Best Debt Consolidation Company Reviews

Debt Consolidation Company FAQ

Debt consolidation is a strategy used to help consumers get control over high-interest debt and simplify their monthly payments. Instead of having multiple credit card bills and other accounts to pay, often with extremely high interest rates, debt consolidation reduces those individual debts into a single payment each month.
You may need to have a certain amount of unsecured debt to be accepted into a debt consolidation program (for example, $7,500 or more). If you're struggling to keep up with the minimum payments on your credit cards and loans, you could be a great candidate for debt consolidation.
That depends on the service, but yes: most debt consolidation programs give you a loan to pay off all of your outstanding debts. These loans usually have much lower interest rates and can help you get on top of your financial situation again.
Sure! You could try getting a traditional loan from your bank or credit union, borrow money from friends or family to pay off debts, or work on your side hustle to make extra cash to pay down what you owe. But, chances are good that you've tried that already and still find yourself struggling financially. Debt consolidation could help you handle it once and for all.
It should. One of the biggest black marks on your credit score is having late or missed payments, and consolidating all of your debt into one monthly payment makes it more likely you'll pay on time.
That varies. Some providers don't charge anything for their services, offering counseling and other tools to teach you how to manage your money and pay down your debts. Or, if you're taking out a loan to pay off higher-interest accounts, your fees will include your interest and any other charges associated with your application. Be sure to get your plan in writing before you make a commitment, so that you'll know what to expect.
Most of the time, no. If you take out a debt consolidation loan, it's on you to understand all of the terms and conditions before you sign off. However, there are a few fee-based services that do offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee that allows you to cancel without penalty.
Absolutely. Thousands of people use debt consolidation programs every year to tackle their toughest credit problems. It's a good idea to check out the reputation of any program you're considering: find out what other clients say about their experiences, see if the BBB has rated the company, and determine for yourself if their debt consolidation services are worth your time and (possibly) money.
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Continued from above...

Other providers of debt consolidation take a more hands-on approach, giving you credit counseling and even going to bat for you with your creditors. The services they provide may include negotiating a lower debt amount or getting your debt forgiven altogether! You might pay a monthly fee for this kind of debt consolidation, or it might be a flat fee based on how much money they saved you overall.

Either route you choose, there are a lot of options out there. How can you decide which one is right for you? Keep these points in mind as you weigh out the possibilities:

  • Approach. Is the debt consolidation accomplished by a personal loan that you have to pass along to your creditors, or is it a more involved strategy? Which one is more likely to leave you better off financially?
  • Education. What does the company offer to teach you how to make good financial decisions? Does the service make sure you understand what you're getting into with their approach?
  • Eligibility Requirements. Do you qualify for debt consolidation? Some programs require you to have $5,000 or more in unsecured debts. For consolidation via personal loans, you'll pay more in interest if you don't have a decent credit history already, or you may not be approved for a loan.
  • Fees. How much will you pay for your debt consolidation? If it's a loan, what's the interest rate and are there any origination fees? If it's a debt settlement strategy, what will your fees be and when will you have to pay them?
  • Reputation. What do clients say about the debt consolidation company? Did they get help that was appropriate for their situation from knowledgeable, friendly representatives? Has the Better Business Bureau rated the service? Do people report a significant improvement in their finances after (or preferably while) using the debt consolidation program?

TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the best debt consolidation options available today. We're confident that this information will help you choose a strategy to pay down your debts and get your finances in order!

Compare Debt Consolidation Companies

Select any 2 Debt Consolidation Companies to compare them head to head

best-debt-consolidation-companies
  • National Debt Relief
  • Credit.org
  • Upstart
  • Curadebt
  • Reach Financial
  • LendingTree
  • SoFi
  • SuperMoney
  • LendingClub
  • Payoff
  • American Debt Enders
  • Debt Consolidation Care
National Debt Relief vs Credit.org National Debt Relief vs Upstart National Debt Relief vs Curadebt National Debt Relief vs Reach Financial National Debt Relief vs LendingTree National Debt Relief vs SoFi National Debt Relief vs SuperMoney National Debt Relief vs LendingClub National Debt Relief vs Payoff National Debt Relief vs American Debt Enders National Debt Relief vs Debt Consolidation Care Credit.org vs Upstart Credit.org vs Curadebt Credit.org vs Reach Financial Credit.org vs LendingTree Credit.org vs SoFi Credit.org vs SuperMoney Credit.org vs LendingClub Credit.org vs Payoff Credit.org vs American Debt Enders Credit.org vs Debt Consolidation Care Upstart vs Curadebt Upstart vs Reach Financial Upstart vs LendingTree Upstart vs SoFi Upstart vs SuperMoney Upstart vs LendingClub Upstart vs Payoff Upstart vs American Debt Enders Upstart vs Debt Consolidation Care Curadebt vs Reach Financial Curadebt vs LendingTree Curadebt vs SoFi Curadebt vs SuperMoney Curadebt vs LendingClub Curadebt vs Payoff Curadebt vs American Debt Enders Curadebt vs Debt Consolidation Care Reach Financial vs LendingTree Reach Financial vs SoFi Reach Financial vs SuperMoney Reach Financial vs LendingClub Reach Financial vs Payoff Reach Financial vs American Debt Enders Reach Financial vs Debt Consolidation Care LendingTree vs SoFi LendingTree vs SuperMoney LendingTree vs LendingClub LendingTree vs Payoff LendingTree vs American Debt Enders LendingTree vs Debt Consolidation Care SoFi vs SuperMoney SoFi vs LendingClub SoFi vs Payoff SoFi vs American Debt Enders SoFi vs Debt Consolidation Care SuperMoney vs LendingClub SuperMoney vs Payoff SuperMoney vs American Debt Enders SuperMoney vs Debt Consolidation Care LendingClub vs Payoff LendingClub vs American Debt Enders LendingClub vs Debt Consolidation Care Payoff vs American Debt Enders Payoff vs Debt Consolidation Care American Debt Enders vs Debt Consolidation Care
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