Quick Facts
Full Review
Take Charge America has one distinction that no other credit counseling agency can claim: they're the only one to have received the BBB Business Ethics Award. That award recognizes companies the BBB considers exemplary in ethical business practices. For a debt relief organization of any kind, that's meaningful.
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Take Charge America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with NFCC certification and a BBB A+ rating. They've helped consumers resolve over $500 million in debt through counseling, DMPs, and financial education.
How Their DMP Works
Free counseling first, followed by DMP enrollment if appropriate. Setup fees cap at $50 and monthly fees rarely exceed $35. Take Charge America has a documented history of granting fee waivers and reductions more freely than most agencies. If $35/month is too much, they're more likely than most to work with you.
Student Loan Counseling
Beyond DMPs, Take Charge America offers student loan counseling, which is increasingly relevant given that federal student loan payments have resumed. They help borrowers understand their repayment options and apply for income-driven plans. This is a free service and doesn't require you to enroll in a DMP.
What Customers Say
Reviews are generally positive, with particular praise for transparency and supportive counselors. Some clients have noted that online communication and administrative support could be better. That seems to be a technology investment issue more than a service quality problem, but it's still worth knowing.
Who Should Consider Take Charge America
If you value ethical business practices and low fees, Take Charge America is one of the top picks. The BBB Ethics Award carries weight, and the fee structure is consistently at or below the lowest tier in the NFCC network. The student loan counseling is a useful bonus if you're juggling both credit card and student debt.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Only credit counseling agency to win the BBB Business Ethics Award
- Consistently lowest-tier fees: setup capped at $50, monthly under $35
- $500 million+ in consumer debt resolved
- Free student loan counseling available
- Liberal fee waiver and reduction policy
Cons
- Some reports of weak online communication tools
- Administrative support could be stronger
- Less digital presence than larger competitors
- DMP takes 3-5 years
Where to Read More
Read reviews on: BBB, Trustpilot
What CFPB complaint data says about Take Charge America
We pulled the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's public Consumer Complaint Database on May 20, 2026. Since January 2024, consumers have filed 2 complaints against Take Charge America that the CFPB sent to the company for response.
Top reported issues
- Didn't provide services promised (50%)
- Unauthorized withdrawals or charges (50%)
How the company responded
- Closed with explanation: 50%
- Closed with monetary relief: 50%
- Closed with non-monetary relief: 50%
- Closed without relief: 0%
- Responded on time to 100.0% of complaints
Nicholas D.'s take on this data
Take Charge America is a nonprofit credit counseling agency with only 2 CFPB complaints since January 2024, a sample too small for analysis and a low count consistent with a well-run DMP. Both complaints were debt-management matters, one closed with an explanation and one with non-monetary relief, and both were answered on time. Nothing in the federal record argues against the agency. As with every DMP, the decision rests on whether the monthly payment is affordable across the full plan term and whether your creditors will grant the rate reductions the counselor proposes.
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Data pulled May 20, 2026 by the Reduce Your Balances editorial team and reviewed by Nicholas D., Debt Professional.