Disclosure: Not affiliated with or endorsed by InCharge Debt Solutions; trademarks belong to their owners. This is our own research and opinion, not a statement of fact. CuraDebt may be compensated by companies referred to.

Reviewed by the CuraDebt Team

Independent review · Not affiliated with InCharge Debt Solutions

Last updated: June 25, 2026

InCharge Debt Solutions Reviews: Is It Legit? (2026)

Is InCharge Debt Solutions legit? Yes. InCharge is a legitimate nonprofit credit counseling agency, founded in 1997, accredited by the NFCC and COA with an A+ BBB rating. Important to understand: it offers a debt management plan, not debt settlement, which means it repays your debt in full at a lower interest rate, a different approach from settling for less than you owe. Fees are modest, around a $50 setup and roughly $25 to $40 a month. You typically close your cards to enroll. Here is the full picture.

Comparing Your Debt Relief Options? A debt management plan is one path. Compare it against others before you commit. Free, no obligation. or call 1-877-850-3328

On this page Is InCharge Debt Solutions legit? What is InCharge Debt Solutions? How a debt management plan works Fees and what it costs Credit counseling vs debt settlement Ratings and complaints Pros and cons What to ask before you enroll Frequently asked questions

Is InCharge Debt Solutions Legit?

Yes, InCharge Debt Solutions is a legitimate organization, and a well-credentialed one. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit credit counseling agency that has operated since 1997, is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, is accredited by the Council on Accreditation, and holds an A+ BBB rating. It reports having helped more than a million people. It is not a scam.

The most important thing to understand about InCharge is not whether it is legitimate, but what kind of help it offers, because it is genuinely different from the debt settlement companies many people are comparing. Knowing that difference is the key to deciding whether it fits your situation.

What Is InCharge Debt Solutions?

InCharge is a nonprofit credit counseling agency. Its main service is a debt management plan, often called a DMP, for unsecured debts like credit cards. It also offers free credit counseling sessions, housing counseling, and financial education, including programs for military families. The free initial counseling session is a real, no-cost way to get an honest look at your options.

InCharge Debt Solutions	At a glance
Type	Nonprofit credit counseling agency
Founded	1997
Based	Orlando, Florida
Program	Debt management plan (repays balances in full at lower interest)
Fees	About $50 setup, roughly $25 to $40 per month
Accreditation	NFCC member, COA accredited, BBB A+

How a Debt Management Plan Works

A debt management plan is different from settlement, and the difference matters:

You start with a free counseling session that reviews your budget and debts.
If a DMP fits, InCharge works with your creditors to lower your interest rates, often to single digits.
You make one monthly payment to InCharge, which distributes it to your creditors.
You repay your debt in full, just faster and cheaper, typically over three to five years.
You usually close the enrolled credit cards as part of the plan.

Because a DMP repays your balances in full at a lower rate, the credit impact tends to be different from settlement, though closing cards can dip your score temporarily. It is a different tool with a different profile, which one fits depends on your situation.

Want to See Every Option First? Compare credit counseling, settlement, and more before choosing. Free and no obligation. or call 1-877-850-3328

Fees and What It Costs

One of the advantages here is cost. As a nonprofit, InCharge charges modest, state-regulated fees: a one-time setup fee that averages around $50, and a monthly maintenance fee of roughly $25 to $40, depending on your state. The initial counseling session is free.

Nonprofit does not mean free, but these fees are far lower than the percentage-of-debt fees charged by for-profit settlement companies. For many people with high-interest credit card debt, the interest savings alone can outweigh the modest fees. Always confirm your exact setup and monthly fee in writing before enrolling.

Credit Counseling vs Debt Settlement

These are two different tools that do different jobs, and both are legitimate. A debt management plan through InCharge repays your full balance at a reduced interest rate, and works well if you can afford the monthly payment. Debt settlement negotiates to resolve your debt for less than the full balance, which can lower the total you pay, and involves building up settlement funds while accounts are delinquent. Each has its own effect on your credit and its own tax and timing considerations.

Neither is universally better, they fit different situations. If you can handle the payments and want to repay in full while saving on interest, a DMP is a strong fit. If you need the balance itself reduced, settlement is a strong fit. The right choice depends on your budget, your debt load, and your goals, which is exactly what a free comparison helps you sort out.

Ratings and Complaints

InCharge rates well. It holds an A+ BBB rating, strong credentials through the NFCC and COA, and tens of thousands of reviews, with many clients crediting it for lower interest rates, a manageable single payment, and helpful counselors. For a nonprofit, the reputation is solid.

The cautions are mild. Because enrollment can move quickly, some reviewers note a fast intake that left them little time to compare alternatives, so it is fair to take a second session or compare other options before committing. A DMP also requires closing your cards and sticking to the plan, missing a payment can cancel it, and that discipline is not right for everyone. None of this is a red flag, just the normal trade-offs of the model.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Legitimate, well-credentialed nonprofit (NFCC, COA, A+ BBB)
Lowers interest rates, often to single digits
Repays your balances in full at a lower interest rate
Low, regulated fees and a free counseling session
Decades of track record and strong reviews

Cons

You usually must close enrolled credit cards
Requires steady payments; a miss can cancel the plan
Does not reduce your principal balance
Fast intake can leave little time to compare options
Only covers unsecured debt

What to Ask Before You Enroll

Before enrolling in a DMP, get clear answers to these:

What interest rates will my creditors actually agree to? Ask for the expected reduced rates in writing, since the savings depend on them.
What are the exact setup and monthly fees? Confirm the one-time and monthly amounts for your state.
Which of my debts qualify? A DMP covers unsecured debt; confirm which of your accounts are included.
What happens if I miss a payment? Understand the consequences, since a missed payment can cancel the plan.
Is a DMP or another option the better fit for my situation? Take a second session if needed and compare before committing.

A debt management plan is one good tool, but it is worth comparing against the alternatives for your situation. You can compare your debt relief options, learn how a debt settlement program works, or read about debt negotiation to see how the paths differ.

Compare Before You Commit See your debt relief options in one place, with no pressure and no obligation. or call 1-877-850-3328

Frequently Asked Questions

Is InCharge Debt Solutions legit?

Yes. InCharge Debt Solutions is a legitimate 501(c)(3) nonprofit credit counseling agency founded in 1997, a member of the NFCC, accredited by the COA, and BBB A+ rated, having helped over a million people. It is not a scam. The key thing to understand is that it offers debt management plans, which repay your debt in full at lower interest, rather than debt settlement.

Is InCharge Debt Solutions debt settlement?

No. This is the most important distinction. InCharge offers a debt management plan, which repays your full balance at a reduced interest rate over three to five years, not debt settlement, which negotiates to pay less than you owe. A DMP keeps you repaying the full balance at a lower rate, while settlement works to reduce the balance itself, so the two have different effects on what you pay and on your credit.

How much does InCharge Debt Solutions cost?

As a nonprofit, InCharge charges modest, state-regulated fees: a one-time setup fee averaging around $50 and a monthly maintenance fee of roughly $25 to $40, depending on your state. The initial credit counseling session is free. These fees are much lower than the percentage-of-debt fees that for-profit settlement companies charge.

Will InCharge Debt Solutions hurt my credit?

The impact is generally milder than debt settlement. Enrolling usually requires closing your credit cards, which can temporarily lower your score by reducing available credit. But because you keep making on-time payments and repay in full, your credit typically recovers and often improves over the life of the plan. Settlement works differently, building up funds while accounts are delinquent, so the two paths affect credit in different ways.

How long does the InCharge debt management plan take?

Most InCharge debt management plans run three to five years. That is typically much faster than making minimum payments on high-interest cards, because the lower negotiated interest rate means more of each payment goes to principal. Staying on track matters, missing a payment can cancel the plan and undo the negotiated rates.

Disclosure: CuraDebt is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by InCharge Debt Solutions, and all trademarks belong to their respective owners. This page reflects our own research and opinions for informational purposes and is not a statement of fact about InCharge Debt Solutions' business. CuraDebt operates a matching service and is paid when we connect consumers with independent partner firms, so we have a financial interest in you requesting a free consultation. Always do your own research before choosing any provider.