will my credit score take a hit if i use a debt ma

If you're in a debt management plan, your creditors may report that to the credit bureaus. Thus, your credit report will mention that fact that you're repaying debts through a credit counseling agency. However, it doesn't hurt your score. To know all about debt management plan, take a look at: http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/debt-management.html

As a general rule, yes it will very much damage your score. How much depends on whether or not your payments are behind when you enter the program. If you are way behind,your scores would have already tanked and wouldnt have far to go. However if your payments are current, your score will tank major time as you are not paying as agreed or by your cardholder agreements