Take Charge America Review August 2026

Take Charge America is a nonprofit credit counseling agency. It's helped people manage credit card and medical debt since 1987.

Its main product is a debt management plan, or DMP. A DMP often lowers your interest rate and combines your unsecured debts into one monthly payment. Programs run three to five years in most cases. There's no minimum credit score requirement.

Take Charge America also offers housing counseling and student loan counseling. That's a wider range than many single-purpose credit counselors provide. It holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and holds accreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA).

Take Charge America: Top features

Take Charge America built its reputation on nonprofit credit counseling. That shows in how many services sit alongside its core debt management plan.

Established company. Take Charge America has operated since 1987, nearly 40 years. It's a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

Program length. Most clients pay off their enrolled debt in three to five years. Some finish sooner by making extra payments.

Eligible debts. The plan covers unsecured debt: primarily credit cards and medical bills. It doesn't cover secured debt, student loans, payday loans, or IRS payments. There's no minimum credit score requirement.

Accreditation. Take Charge America holds an A+ rating with the BBB. It's also COA-accredited. It belongs to two trade groups as well: the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the Financial Counseling Association of America.

How enrollment works. You start with a free credit counseling session, by phone or online, with no obligation to enroll. It typically takes 20 to 40 minutes. Your counselor reviews your income, expenses, and debts, then builds a budget around what you can afford. If a debt management plan fits, you'll get a written agreement. It lists your enrolled accounts, monthly payment, projected interest savings, and expected payoff date. Once you sign, Take Charge America contacts your creditors. It sets up your first payment, usually by electronic transfer.

Online access. Existing clients manage payments and adjust payment dates through the MyTCA.org portal. New clients can complete credit counseling online, any time.

Is Take Charge America legit?

Take Charge America is a legitimate nonprofit that's operated since 1987. Its BBB A+ rating and COA accreditation back that up. It also holds active membership in both major nonprofit credit counseling trade groups, the NFCC and FCAA.

No CFPB, FTC, or state attorney general action against Take Charge America turned up in our research. That reflects what public regulator records show as of July 2026. It's not a guarantee.

How much does Take Charge America cost?

Take Charge America's fees vary, with caps depending on your state. Your counselor discloses the setup and monthly amount when you enroll, and it's folded into your monthly payment. Take Charge America doesn't publish a nationwide fee schedule.

One state gives a concrete number. Under Michigan's debt management law, Take Charge America's own disclosures cite a maximum initial fee of $50. That figure applies to Michigan only, not to every state.

The credit counseling session itself is always free, whether or not you enroll.

Important considerations when choosing a debt management plan

Before you enroll, it helps to see how a debt management plan fits alongside your other debt relief options. A DMP isn't without considerations for your credit and debt situation.

Your credit score could be impacted

Enrolling usually means closing the credit cards on your plan. That can dip your score since your credit utilization—a measure of how much available credit you're using—may rise dramatically. Scores commonly recover, and often improve, as your on-time payments reduce your balances. A DMP itself isn't reported to credit bureaus the way a missed payment or a settled account is.

Not all debt is eligible

A DMP generally covers unsecured debt only. For Take Charge America, that means credit cards and medical bills. It excludes secured debt like mortgages or car loans, as well as student loans, payday loans, and IRS payments. 

Not every creditor participates

Creditor participation isn't guaranteed either. Some creditors decline to lower rates or waive fees. The credit counselor can't force your creditors to participate or guarantee reduced rates on every account.

Debt management plans are administered mostly, but not always, by nonprofit agencies. Choose a debt management plan like Take Charge America's if you can afford a payment (generally at a lower interest rate) that will clear your enrolled debt within five years. 

Take Charge America customer service and satisfaction

Reviewers consistently praise the staff: knowledgeable, patient, easy to work with. The most common complaints center on slow communication and payment-processing delays. 

Take Charge America replies to most negative Trustpilot reviews, typically within 24 to 48 hours. 

Service channels include phone (numbers below), an online chatbot on takechargeamerica.org, and the MyTCA.org client portal.

Where is Take Charge America available?

Take Charge America operates in all 50 states. It holds specific licenses in at least 16 states, per its own disclosures page. 

How do I contact Take Charge America?

New clients can call 866-750-9618. Existing clients can call 866-528-0588. Hours run Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. MST, consistent across every current Take Charge America page. 

You can also reach support by email at support@tcasupport.org. 

Take Charge America runs an online chatbot and the MyTCA.org client portal. There's no dedicated mobile app, though. 

Its office sits at 20430 N 19th Avenue, Suite B155, Phoenix, AZ 85027.

Take Charge America recent milestones

Take Charge America has operated for more than 35 years. It reports helping more than 1 million families. It says it's saved clients more than $100 million overall.