[FireBeyond]

> I imagine debt relief agencies don't fight because I think many are funded by the credit industry. So they direct debtors into payment plans rather than trying to shut down the predators.

Or they require money up front to help you. They already know you are (likely) a default risk, so “cash in advance, please”. And as you allude to, a lot of times the “real” value in services like this is relief from the stress of the calls and letters. They’re not passionately involved or connected, they just have the calls directed to them and put up with it and give you a settlement offer that you could have reached in the first place.