InCharge Debt Solutions is an accredited nonprofit organization that offers free credit counseling, educational workshops, and resources for anyone who wants to reduce their debt. It also offers debt management plans (DMPs), which can make it easier to pay off unsecured debt.

In this InCharge Debt Solutions review, we’ll talk about how this nonprofit organization works, its pros and cons, the types of services it offers, its costs, and how it compares to other debt relief companies that offer DMPs and counseling services.  

How Does InCharge Debt Solutions Work?

InCharge Debt Solutions is a credit counseling agency that offers low-cost or free services, debt management plans, and resources to help those struggling with debt.

You’ll get a free consultation with a certified credit counselor when you first contact the agency. Your counselor will review your debt, income, and other financial details. You can enroll in the program if you’re a good candidate for a DMP.

InCharge Debt Solutions charges a monthly fee and enrollment fee for DMPs. The fees are governed by state laws, but they average $33 a month. The enrollment fees can be $50 to $75, which is a one-time cost.

The agency will negotiate with your lenders to waive your late fees and/or reduce your interest rate(s). You’ll then make a single monthly payment to InCharge Debt Solutions, which will then be distributed to your lenders until your debts are paid off.

The agency also offers several educational resources, such as articles, loan calculators, worksheets, eBooks, and videos.

Pros and Cons of InCharge Debt Solutions

If you’re thinking about enrolling in a debt management plan, consider these pros and cons to determine if InCharge Debt Solutions is right for you.

Pros of InCharge Debt Solutions

  • Free credit counseling
  • Free access to educational resources on their website
  • Responsive customer service
  • No minimum debt amount required
  • An A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  • Multiple accreditations and certifications

Cons of InCharge Debt Solutions

  • In-person service is only available in Florida
  • The website doesn’t list prices for all services
  • No money-back guarantee

Services Offered by InCharge Debt Solutions 

InCharge Debt Solutions offers a wide range of services, such as debt management, homebuyer counseling, eviction prevention counseling, and more.

  • Debt Management: The credit counseling agency offers debt management plans (DMPs) that can make it easier for you to repay unsecured debts, such as medical bills, unsecured personal loans, and credit cards. Your credit counselor will review your finances and suggest if DMP is right for you.
  • Credit Counseling: InCharge Debt Solutions has certified credit counselors. If you’re struggling to keep up with debt, a free credit counseling session can be a good way to determine your best option.
  • Bankruptcy Counseling: InCharge Debt Solutions offers pre-filing and pre-discharge bankruptcy counseling, which is mandatory when you file for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
  • Foreclosure Prevention Counseling: If you’re at risk of losing your home, InCharge Debt Solutions is a HUD-approved foreclosure prevention counseling agency. The agency can help you get financial assistance or refinance your mortgage to avoid foreclosure.
  • Eviction Prevention Counseling: The agency also helps you prevent eviction by negotiating with your landlord and identifying programs to help make rent more affordable.
  • Homebuyer Counseling: InCharge Debt Solutions also offers housing counseling to help you establish a sensible budget, review your finances, and determine how much mortgage you can afford. If you’re planning to apply for a down payment assistance program, you may need a certificate of completion for a homebuyer education course.

Costs and Fees

While credit counseling is free at InCharge Debt Solutions, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee and a one-time enrollment fee if you sign up for a DMP.

The enrollment fee or setup fee ranges from $50 to $75. Monthly fees cost an average of $33, but they can vary in each state.

Time To Complete the Program

The timeframe to successfully complete a debt management program depends on a number of factors, such as how much debt you have, if your lenders are willing to negotiate, and how much you can pay each month. Generally, it takes three to five years' worth of repayments to complete a DMP with InCharge Debt Solutions.

Expected Relief Amount

The average credit card interest rate for those entering InCharge Debt Solutions’ DMP was 8.4% in 2022, which is much lower than the current average credit card interest rate of 24.62%. While this is a considerable reduction in interest rate, it’s important to note that the amount you can save will depend on how willing your lenders are to negotiate.

When compared to debt settlement, which allows you to save up to 50% of the debt you owe when successfully negotiating with your creditors, a DMP will only reduce the late fees and interest you owe, which in turn will typically reduce your monthly payments. You’ll still need to pay off the entire principal amount you owe.

InCharge Customer Service Options

Once you’re an InCharge client, you’ll have access to an online portal. You can view your balances, make payments for your DMP, and view your payment history online.

While the agency offers services in 50 states, there’s limited in-person customer support available. If you live in Florida, you can get in-person help through appointments at their office:

InCharge Debt Solutions.5750 Major Blvd, Suite 300Orlando, FL 32819

For all other states, customer service is available through phone. Here’s a list of phone numbers for different services:

  • General Help: 800-565-8953. Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 10 PM ET. Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM ET.
  • Questions About Accounts: 888-734-6229. Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM ET. You can also get help by logging into your account on the online portal.
  • Housing Counseling: 877-712-6040. Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM ET.
  • Bankruptcy Counseling: 866-729-0049. Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM ET.   

Areas Served by InCharge Debt Solutions 

Here’s the list of the states served by InCharge Debt Solutions:

InCharge Debt Solutions Reviews and Feedback

InCharge Debt Solutions is a member of the Financial Counseling Association of America and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). It’s also certified or accredited by the HUD, Executive Office for United States Trustees, and the Better Business Bureau.

InCharge Debt Solutions Reviews on Google

The credit counseling agency has 3.8 stars on its Google Business profile from 52 reviews. The one-star reviews are for reasons ranging from closing credit card accounts without the knowledge of clients to the inability to get an interest rate reduction.

The company also has several positive five-star reviews from clients who are happy with the interest rate reduction they were able to get, seamless service, and the ability to track payments online.

InCharge Debt Solutions Reviews on Better Business Bureau

InCharge Debt Solutions has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). As of June 2024, it also has 3.46 stars from 13 customer reviews on the platform and nine complaints in the last three years (2021-2024). Three reviews out of the 13 are one-star reviews, while seven are five-star reviews.

Positive reviews are from clients who are happy with the interest rate reduction they negotiated and the help they received from the agency to pay off their debt. The negative reviews mention payments taken out of clients’ accounts earlier than the agreed date and clients being unaware that their accounts will be closed.

InCharge Debt Solutions Reviews on Trustpilot

The agency has 4.8 stars from 2,170 reviews from clients on the platform. 88% of these reviews are five stars, while 2% are 1-star reviews.

Clients like the reduced monthly fees and affordable monthly debt payments they were able to negotiate for them. One-star reviews were for reasons such as payments not being disbursed to creditors on time and credit score drop on DMP.

InCharge Debt Solutions Reviews on Reddit

We took a look at what people are saying about InCharge Debt Solutions on Reddit and found mixed reviews. While some users mentioned that the agency was able to bring down interest rates to as low as 2%-3%, other comments pointed to difficulty exiting the program, hidden fees, and communication issues.

How InCharge Debt Solutions Compare To Other Credit Counseling Agencies 

InCharge Debt Solutions offers services similar to those of other credit counseling agencies, such as financial education, bankruptcy counseling, and enrollment in DMPs. Here’s how they compare to other agencies when it comes to ratings, fees, and availability.

InCharge Debt SolutionsAmerican Consumer Credit CounselingMoney Management InternationalCredit.org
FeesUp to $75 enrollment fee, $33 monthly fee$39 enrollment fee and $7-$70 monthly fee$33 enrollment fee and $25 monthly feeUp to $50 enrollment fee and up to $75 monthly fee
BBB RatingA+A+A+A+
AvailabilityAll 50 statesAll 50 states and Washington D.C.All states and territoriesAll 50 states and Washington D.C.

Is InCharge Debt Solutions Worth It?

If you have a lot of unsecured debt, such as personal loans and credit card debt, InCharge Debt Solutions DMPs may make it easier for you to repay debt with lower interest rates. However, it won’t help you save as much in principal as a debt settlement or help you resolve any of your secured debt, like mortgages and auto loans.

“According to InCharge Debt Solutions’ own internal statistics, the most common reason or cause of accumulating debt is job loss or other cause related to reduced income,” says Brad Reichert, a debt expert and the founder and managing director of Reichert Asset Management LLC. “The most common goal that the firm’s clients have is saving for a down payment on a home,” he adds. 

We recommend weighing the pros and cons, reading InCharge Debt Solutions’ reviews, and comparing DMPs against other debt-relief solutions like debt consolidation, debt settlement, and bankruptcy to determine if it’s the right choice for you.