If you are in serious credit card debt, you may think you have few options. Most think they can either pay the bills in full, or default on those balances. But there is a third option: negotiating credit card debt. That means that you can talk with card companies and let them know your difficulty. If you can negotiate a lower interest rate or smaller monthly payments, it will be easier to make your payments and keep your debt current. If you are unsuccessful in your negotiations, you can call on credit counseling services or debt negotiators to talk with the companies for you. They are experienced in these negotiations and may not only achieve lower payments, but manage your debts for you, allowing you to make one payment per month that they will disperse to your creditors. There is a fee, but if you enlist a non-profit counseling service, the fee should be small. Be careful to avoid scammers by checking your credit counseling service with the Better Business Bureau or a lawyer.