Sometimes, when I audit observations made by my quality specialists (we are auditing calls for a telecoms customer financial service), I would often hear payment arrangement done in a month because they have to pay their credit card dues first. One time, I heard a customer telling our representative that debt consolidation hurt her credit standing instead of helping her. She has to painstakingly set aside a big chunk of his monthly income in order to settle her bills. I do manage 4 credit cards and so far, I have been a responsible credit card holder so getting into a debt consolidation if definitely far from the picture.