If I were to consolidate my credit cards along with my wifes would that wipe out the credit from each company. Basically would consolidating make it so I can not use the credit cards again? I do not rely on credit cards anymore but I have built up a lot of debt on 3 cards and my wife has one large credit card balance, around 8,000 and I have about 6 to 7,000 built up in debt over the 3 cards. I do not wan to ave to cancel the cards but am just wondering if I consolidate wold that remove the cards from being used every again, for emergencies.