credit card debt jacking up the interest to 23%

Otto,

It all depends upon your convincing ability and the negotiation that you will do with your creditors. They will be willing to reduce the financial charges, late fees after you have assured them that you will be making regular payments to your debt.

Your account will be brought current and you will be paying the reduced amount to your creditors. Make sure that once you start up the payment plan, you don't miss any of your payments after it. If you miss it, the creditors will withdraw all the benefits and it will be hurting you badly.

If you think that the consultant will be helpful in negotiating with your creditors, you can register yourself in this site. I have taken the consolidation program in this website and am offered lower monthly payments at lower rate of interest.

The creditors are willing to work with the consolidation companies because they get most assured of receiving the payments. If you enroll in the consolidation program, you will be surer of a positive negotiation for a reduced payment. You just have to pay the amount to the consolidation company in monthly installments and they will pay to your creditors. This is much easier.