Should I know how much exactly I owe to consolidate

Mario,

It is always suggested that arrange all the documents neatly before you talk to the counselor. I understand that sometimes it is really tough to remember how much I owe and who do I owe? There is an easy method to figure it out. As most of the creditors report consumer accounts to credit bureaus, if you pull a copy of your recent credit report, you can understand what your debt amount is.

Visit this thread also:

http://forums.debtcc.com/forums/howtostart.html

I would also suggest you to undergo the free counseling session offered by this site. The counselor might have some more suggestions for you. Fill out the free registration form to get a call from the counselor.