Debt consolidation companies help people in debt by combining all of their outstanding payments (credit cards, student loans, medical debt) into one payment. Often, the debtor takes out a new, lower-interest loan to cover this payment. The consolidation company may also offer credit counseling and may negotiate with the credit companies to reduce the amount of debt owed. So how do they do it? Non-profit debt consolidation companies can offer their services for little to no cost through funding from donations, creditors and government grants.