At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
About Debt Management Group
Debt Management Group is a small debt management company based in Phoenix, Arizona, founded in 2015. They focus on creating structured repayment plans for consumers with $5,000 to $40,000 in unsecured debt. The company occupies the budget end of the debt relief market, charging lower fees than most competitors while providing a simpler, more stripped-down service. The reality of working with a company this size is straightforward: you get lower fees and potentially more personal attention from a small team, but you sacrifice the creditor influence and operational infrastructure that comes with larger firms. Debt Management Group does not have pre-negotiated settlement bands with major banks. Their negotiators call creditors individually and negotiate case by case, which means outcomes are more dependent on individual skill and creditor mood than institutional relationships. The company holds a BBB B rating and is registered in approximately 30 states. Their fee structure runs 15-20% of enrolled debt, which is on the lower end of the industry range. Reviews are mixed — clients who value low fees and personal attention rate them well, while clients expecting Fortune 500-level service infrastructure and optimal settlement percentages tend to be disappointed.
Key Features
Lower Fee Structure
15-20% of enrolled debt is below the industry average of 18-25%. On $20,000 in debt, that saves you $600-$1,000 in fees compared to a company charging 22-25%.
Small Team, Personal Service
With 30-60 employees, you are dealing with a small operation. Your account manager probably handles 40-60 clients instead of 200+. That means faster callbacks and someone who actually remembers your situation.
Low Minimum Enrollment
$5,000 minimum makes them accessible to consumers with smaller debt loads.
No Upfront Fees
Performance-based model — you do not pay until debts are resolved.
Flexible Payment Terms
They work with very tight budgets and can structure deposits as low as $150/month for smaller debt loads.
How It Works
Free Consultation
Talk to someone about your debt situation. They will tell you whether their program fits or if you should look elsewhere.
Plan Setup
Enroll your debts and agree on a monthly payment amount. Plans are designed around what you can actually afford.
Monthly Deposits
Deposits go into an escrow account. The team begins working with your creditors as funds accumulate.
Creditor Resolution
Debts are negotiated one at a time. You approve all terms before payments are made.
Program Completion
Once all enrolled debts are resolved, you are done. Typical timeline is 24-48 months.
What They Do
- Debt Management
- Debt Settlement
- Creditor Negotiation
- Budget Planning
Debt Types They Take On
- Credit Cards
- Medical Bills
- Personal Loans
- Store Cards
- Collections
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Medical Debt on a Fixed Income
Retired client on Social Security with $11,000 in medical collections and $5,000 in credit card debt. Monthly income of $2,100 left no room for the combined $520/month in minimum payments and collection demands. Larger companies quoted fees of 22-25% which would have been prohibitive.
Young Professional with Starter Debt
Client in mid-20s with $8,500 across 2 credit cards accumulated during college and early career. Income of $3,000/month was sufficient but minimum payments of $340 at 25% interest meant payoff would take 7+ years.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lower fee structure (15-20%) compared to industry average of 18-25%, saving hundreds to thousands on total program cost
- Small team provides more personal, accessible service — shorter hold times and account managers who know your case
- $5,000 minimum enrollment opens the door for consumers with smaller debt loads
- Flexible deposit amounts accommodate very tight budgets
Cons
- BBB B rating and no AFCC/IAPDA accreditation suggests the company is still maturing operationally
- Available in only about 30 states — limited geographic coverage
- Small negotiating volume means less creditor influence — settlement percentages may run higher than what larger firms achieve
- Company founded in 2015 with only $50M+ total resolved — limited track record
- Technology and reporting appear basic compared to larger competitors with client portals and mobile apps
User Reviews (10)
low fees saved me money
The 16% fee was lower than any other company I talked to. On my $13k in debt that saved me about $800 compared to the next cheapest quote. Service was fine too. Not fancy but it worked.
small and personal
I liked that it was a small company. Every time I called I talked to my account manager directly. He picked up or called back within an hour. Try getting that from Freedom Debt Relief.
you get what you pay for
Low fees, low polish. That is the trade off. If you are ok with phone calls and email statements and dont need a fancy dashboard, save some money here. If you want the full experience pay more and go elsewhere.
got the job done
Got the job done.
B rating on BBB is not great
I went with them because of the low fees. But the B BBB rating, no accreditations beyond BBB, and the general lack of polish made me nervous the whole time. The settlements got done eventually but I spent 2 years worried about whether this company was going to be around tomorrow. For peace of mind pay a bit more and go with an A+ rated firm.
fine
fine
settlements were ok not great
Settled 3 accounts at 49%, 52%, and 54%. Not terrible but not the numbers I was hoping for. When I asked if they could do better the answer was basically no the creditors are what they are. Maybe a bigger company would have gotten lower percentages. Hard to know.
affordable for fixed income
Im on Social Security. $2k a month. Other companies wanted $400+ in monthly deposits. DMG let me do $200. Took longer but I could still eat and pay rent. Not everyone has $400/month to spare and these guys get that.
no app no portal
In 2024 every company has an app. Except this one apparently. If you want to know your account status you call or email. Monthly statement comes by email. Thats it. For some people thats fine. For me it was frustrating not being able to check things on my own time.
NOT AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE
Cannot operate in my state (Vermont). Would have been nice to know that from their website BEFORE I filled out the form and gave them my phone number. Now I get calls from their "partners" who they apparently shared my info with. Thanks for nothing.
Write a Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Embed This Badge on Your Website
Debt Management Group has earned a Budget Debt Management designation from Zogby. Display this badge on your website to showcase your rating.
Paste this code anywhere in your website's HTML. The badge links back to your full Zogby review.
Related Companies
Important Debt Relief Disclaimers
- Debt settlement programs may negatively affect your credit score. When you enroll, you typically stop making payments to creditors, which results in late payments, collections, and potential charge-offs on your credit report.
- There is no guarantee that a debt settlement company can settle all of your debts or reduce them by a specific amount. Creditors are not required to negotiate or accept settlement offers.
- Debt settlement fees are typically 15%-25% of the enrolled debt amount. You should not pay fees before a debt has been successfully settled. The FTC prohibits debt settlement companies from charging upfront fees before settling at least one debt.
- Forgiven debt of $600 or more may be considered taxable income by the IRS. You may receive a Form 1099-C from creditors for canceled debt. Consult a tax professional about potential tax consequences.
- Creditors may continue collection efforts, including lawsuits, wage garnishment, and bank levies, while you are enrolled in a debt settlement program. A debt settlement company cannot guarantee protection from legal action.
- Alternatives to debt settlement include debt consolidation loans, credit counseling through nonprofit agencies, debt management plans, and bankruptcy. Consider all options and consult with a licensed financial advisor or attorney before enrolling in any debt relief program.
- Zogby does not provide debt relief services. We are an independent comparison service. We do not negotiate with creditors on your behalf or manage debt settlement accounts.
This page is informational, not financial or legal advice. Talk to a qualified professional before making any big money decisions.
Editorial Independence
We make money from some companies on this page. That doesn't change our rankings -- the editorial team scores every product independently, and the business side has no say in what we recommend.