All around the globe and especially in countries like USA consumer debt is always on the rise. Most of the American families are struggling very hard to make both ends meet and at the same time pay out their high interest debts every month. There is no problem with their levels of incomes as these are the standard in the country. The problem lies with the interest rates and the modes of payment through most of the repayment plans including the credit card repayments. Repayment with debt consolidation plan is much superior compared to any of them.
Basic defect with most other repayment plans is that they do not get the principal declined and instead concentrate on interest payments. The period grows longer and longer with little of the principal cleared and as result you go on paying much more than what you would have paid with a good debt consolidation plan. Such repayment plans will never get you out of debt. But the debt consolidation plan will be able to get you out of it with careful planning, reduction of interest rates, and consolidation of all loans into one, payment through one consolidated premium and even reducing the principal through negotiation process with the creditor.

Of course you could opt for the readymade solution of one time repayment where the creditor agrees to close the loan account on payment of a consolidated sum that is lower than the original principal and interest taken together. But such one time payment can adversely affect your credit rating and future loan prospects. Good debt consolidation plan will not affect your credit rating and future loan prospects in any manner.