InCharge Debt Solutions Review: Fees, Ratings, and How Its Debt Management Plan Works

InCharge Debt Solutions: Top features

InCharge's core service is a debt management plan (DMP). It negotiates lower interest rates and waived fees with a client's creditors, then combines the payments into one monthly bill.

Program length and eligible debts

A DMP usually runs three to five years, based on the amount enrolled and what a client can pay monthly. It covers credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills; mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and tax bills aren't included. There's no minimum debt required—InCharge says it reviews a budget “at any debt level.”

Free consultation and fees

The initial session is free, roughly 20 to 40 minutes, with no obligation to enroll. That's standard across the industry, not unique to InCharge. The monthly fee averages about $34, plus a one-time setup fee averaging about $52. Both vary by state and debt size. Fees are disclosed prior to enrollment. 

Key features

• NFCC member and COA-accredited. Also a HUD-approved housing counseling agency.
• Free counseling session: a 20- to 40-minute call, no cost, no obligation.
• Below-typical negotiated rate: average DMP rate around 8.4%, down from the 20% to 30% range common on troubled cards.
• One consolidated payment to InCharge, which distributes funds to enrolled creditors.
• Broader in-house services: housing counseling, foreclosure-prevention counseling, and pre-bankruptcy credit counseling under one roof.
• Online client portal and live chat (9,526 chat interactions in 2025); Android app hasn't been updated since February 2020.

Is InCharge Debt Solutions legit?

Yes. InCharge holds solid credentials: NFCC membership, COA accreditation, and HUD approval. It's confirmed to serve all 50 states, per its own site. It holds licenses in at least California, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia. A search of CFPB and FTC enforcement records turned up no action naming InCharge.

Note that some sites claim InCharge requires a $1,000 minimum debt. InCharge's own page says otherwise—a counselor reviews a budget at any debt level.

InCharge's customer ratings are strong on both platforms Bills.com tracks:

How much does InCharge Debt Solutions cost?

InCharge's core DMP charges a modest, disclosed fee. It's about $34 a month plus a setup fee averaging around $52, both varying by state and debt size. State law sets the ceiling. Michigan, for example, caps the total DMP fee at up to 15% of debt paid off under the plan. It also limits the setup fee to $50.

Example: enrolling $15,000 in credit card debt might mean roughly $52 to set up, then about $34 a month for three to five years. That commonly totals $1,224 to $2,040 in fees on top of the $15,000 principal. A standard DMP doesn't forgive principal. 

InCharge's website says it negotiates an average interest rate of 8.4% for its clients. That's much lower than most credit card interest rates, which have averaged over 20% in recent years. Debt management plans generally run from three to five years, and InCharge claims its clients typically complete theirs in 24 to 42 months.

Important considerations when choosing a debt management plan

Affordability

A DMP payment is sized to pay off enrolled debt in five years or less. That can mean a bigger monthly payment than a struggling consumer's current minimums. Not every creditor agrees to take part, and fees add up over a multi-year term. Missing payments can get a consumer dropped, and creditors are usually free to restore the original rates.

Credit impact

A DMP usually causes a lesser credit impact than debt settlement. Clients keep paying every dollar owed at a lower rate rather than falling behind. Card issuers require enrolled cards to be closed, which can cause a real dip in two ways: it raises utilization, and it can shorten your average account age. Neither reverses quickly. Utilization drops only after your enrolled balances are paid down, tracking the plan's three-to-five-year timeline rather than a fast turnaround. The account-age effect fades on its own, separate timeline. 

DMP vs. debt settlement, at a glance

A DMP repays 100% of principal. Debt settlement repays less, which creates possible tax and lawsuit exposure. Debt settlement also does more damage to credit scores for people starting with good credit. Neither is universally better. A DMP fits people who can afford full repayment at a lower rate, while debt settlement fits people who genuinely can't. See how a DMP is set up, debt settlement's tax rules, or the history of credit counseling for more.

Choose InCharge if you carry credit card or other unsecured debt and can afford full repayment at a lower rate. It's a good fit if you also want free counseling from a known nonprofit. 

Look elsewhere if you can't afford full repayment even at a reduced rate—debt settlement or bankruptcy may fit better.

InCharge Debt Solutions customer service and satisfaction

InCharge holds 4.42/5 from 52 BBB reviews and a 4.5/5 TrustScore from about 2,270 Trustpilot reviews (see the ratings table above). Positive reviews commonly mention patient counselors and lower rates. The main negative theme is spotty early follow-up from individual reps, which InCharge's team has replied to directly.

Where is InCharge Debt Solutions available?

InCharge's own site says it provides free counseling to residents in all 50 states. It's also confirmed licensed or registered in California, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia. Coverage in DC or U.S. territories isn't addressed.

How do I contact InCharge Debt Solutions?

• New clients: (800) 565-8953, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
• Current clients: (888) 734-6229, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
• Housing counseling: (877) 712-6040, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
• Bankruptcy counseling: (866) 729-0049, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
• Address: 5750 Major Blvd, Suite 300, Orlando, FL 32819
• Online: client portal and live chat; Android app on Google Play, last updated February 2020
• Email: contact-us@incharge.org (per Trustpilot business listing)