If you want to call it that...I've always had cc debt, and was making the minimums, but it really wasn't getting me anywhere. So I shopped around (a bit, but not too extensively) for a debt consolidation company. I'm working with Freedom Financial CCS (through CDS John Leaberry, P.A.) and have been with FFCCS since January 2006.
It's been a bit bumpy, but for the most part is working ok. I pulled my report last night (I applied for a store cc, and got turned down a few weeks back) and found that I had three negative items.