I have 4 credit cards with approx. $25,000.00 worth of debt on them. I want to get ahold of a non-profit debt counseling service in order to get rid of the high interest rates and pay them off alot sooner instead of only paying the interest and the over the limit fees. I have not used these cards for the past 5-6 years and the accounts are clogged except for me building payments on them. I am not even touching the actual principal that I owe, although, I have probably paid enough on these cards to have in fact paid off the actual principal. How is the best way to do this and what are some reputalbe non-profit agencies that will help achieve this? I have also heard that some credit cards will take a settlement on some accounts. Is this a excellent thought and how much of the amount owed do they usually want? I realize that this may hurt my credit rating but to be honest with you it isn’t worth sit on your heels now, so what is the difference? Does the debt consolidation hurt your credit as well?