At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About Take Charge America
Take Charge America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit credit counseling agency founded in 1987 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. They have helped consumers resolve over $500 million in debt through credit counseling, debt management plans, and financial education programs. Take Charge America earns the "Best for Low Fees" distinction for a specific and verifiable reason: their fee structure is consistently at or near the bottom of the NFCC range. Setup fees are capped at $50, monthly fees rarely exceed $35, and they have a documented history of granting fee waivers and reductions more liberally than most agencies. For a consumer enrolling in a 48-month DMP, the fee difference between Take Charge America and a higher-fee agency like InCharge can exceed $700 over the life of the plan. Their particular strength lies in credit card debt management. Take Charge America's negotiators have a documented settlement record of securing 0% interest rates from major credit card issuers — which is the best possible outcome on a DMP. While all NFCC agencies have access to the same creditor concession rate schedules, the speed and consistency with which Take Charge America processes enrollment proposals means their clients often see rate reductions take effect one billing cycle sooner than at agencies with slower administrative processes. The free calculators and educational resources on their website are useful and not gated behind enrollment. Their debt payoff calculator allows you to model DMP scenarios before ever talking to a counselor, which gives consumers a starting point for comparison.
Key Features
Consistently Low Fee Structure
Setup fees capped at $50 with monthly fees typically $25-$35, making Take Charge America one of the most affordable NFCC agencies. They also grant hardship waivers more frequently than industry norms — particularly for single-income households and retirees on fixed incomes.
Credit Card 0% Rate Specialization
Take Charge America has a documented settlement record of securing 0% interest rates from major card issuers on DMPs. Not all creditors offer 0%, but major banks like Chase, Citi, and Bank of America frequently do — and TCA's efficient enrollment processing means the reduced rate takes effect quickly.
$500M+ in Resolved Debt
Over 35 years, Take Charge America has helped consumers eliminate more than half a billion dollars in debt. This volume, accumulated by a mid-sized agency, indicates high client retention and program completion rates rather than just high enrollment numbers.
Free Calculators and Resources
Their website offers debt payoff calculators, budget worksheets, and educational guides that are useful and available without creating an account or providing contact information — a refreshing contrast to agencies that gate content behind lead capture forms.
How It Works
Free Evaluation
A certified counselor pulls apart your debts, income, and monthly expenses. No cost, no enrollment pressure.
Plan Development
They map out whether a DMP, self-pay, or something else entirely makes the most sense for your numbers.
Creditor Contact
TCA calls each creditor and negotiates rate reductions. They routinely get 0% from Chase, Citi, and Bank of America on DMPs.
Monthly Payment
One payment per month to TCA. They split it across your creditors so you never have to juggle multiple due dates.
Debt Eliminated
Finish the plan in 3-5 years. Every dollar of principal gets paid off, but at a fraction of the interest you were racking up.
What They Do
- Debt Management Plans
- Credit Counseling
- Financial Education
- Bankruptcy Counseling
Debt Types They Take On
- Credit Cards
- Medical Bills
- Personal Loans
- Store Cards
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Retiree on Fixed Income With Card Debt
Retired client with $32,000 across 5 credit cards at an average 22% APR, living on Social Security and a small pension. Take Charge America waived the setup fee, reduced the monthly fee to $20, and negotiated rates down to 0-4% across all accounts.
Young Couple Consolidating Before Home Purchase
Couple with $17,000 in credit card debt at 24% APR wanted to improve their debt-to-income ratio before applying for a mortgage. Take Charge America secured 0% rates on 3 of 4 accounts and structured an accelerated 30-month payoff.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 35+ year track record with $500M+ in resolved debt
- Lowest fee structure among major NFCC agencies ($25-$35/month)
- Often secures 0% interest rates from major card issuers
- Free, ungated calculators and educational resources
- NFCC member with verified client reputation
Cons
- No debt settlement services — DMP requires full repayment
- In-person offices only in Arizona
- No housing counseling — focused primarily on credit card debt management
- Smaller agency with less brand recognition nationally
User Reviews (9)
cheapest major agency
Max $35/mo. InCharge can hit $50. Over 48 months that's a $745 difference for the same creditor rates. Same Chase 2% same Discover 0%. Only real variables between NFCC agencies are fees and service. TCA wins on fees.
free calculator is actually useful
No email required no lead capture. Just a calculator that showed me how much a DMP would save in interest. Made the decision before talking to anyone. More agencies should do this.
got 0% from Chase Citi and BofA
Three of four cards went to 0%. Interest went from $520/mo to $18/mo. The rates are creditor-determined but TCA processes fast enough that the rate kicks in one billing cycle sooner.
Arizona only for in-person
Phoenix headquarters no other offices. Phone counseling was thorough but if you want to sit across from someone you need to be in Phoenix metro.
waived fees for me as a retiree
Living on Social Security. TCA waived setup and reduced monthly to $20. Nobody else offered that without begging. Retirees on fixed income qualify automatically. Total fees over 48 months: $960.
no housing counseling
If you have card debt AND mortgage stress you need two separate agencies. Clearpoint and Navicore handle both. For card-only debt TCA is excellent and cheap.
fine
fine
nobody knows who they are
Asked 5 friends. Zero had heard of them. Brand recognition matters when you're handing over financial control. Track record is verifiable but you have to do the research yourself.
lean staffing = delays
Called twice waited 20+ minutes for callback. Lean fee structure means lean staffing. Once I got through the counselor was excellent. But in a crisis 20 minutes feels like forever.
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Important Credit Counseling Disclaimers
- Credit counseling agencies help you create a plan to repay your debts in full, typically over 3-5 years through a Debt Management Plan (DMP). Unlike debt settlement, a DMP does not reduce your principal balance.
- Nonprofit status does not mean free. Most nonprofit credit counseling agencies charge setup fees ($25-$75) and monthly maintenance fees ($25-$50). These fees are regulated and capped in most states.
- Enrolling in a DMP may require you to close enrolled credit card accounts, which can temporarily lower your credit score. However, consistent on-time payments through the DMP typically improve your score over time.
- A DMP is not a loan. You still owe each creditor individually; the agency distributes your single monthly payment to each creditor on your behalf.
- Credit counseling agencies negotiate reduced interest rates (often 0-9%) and waived fees with creditors, but not all creditors participate in every agency's program.
- Zogby does not provide credit counseling or debt relief services. We are an independent comparison service.
This page is informational, not financial or legal advice. Talk to a qualified professional before making any big money decisions.
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