I have researched online and am still not clear on how this works. I really need a personal loan to help out with some other bills and am no longer able to take my classes. I am now in deferrment on my federal loan and they don’t do credit checks or anything for a consolidation loan. Just curious.

I owe on 3 credit cards. One is starting to fall behind on the payments as its too much to pay. Which route is the way to go? Debt consolidation or contacting creditors & explaining that I was living beyond my means & now I am having trouble paying.
On the one card I’m having trouble with (Chase), my monthly balance is $299 but I can afford to pay $180 a month to them. I’ve heard horror stories where people get the WORST treatment when they try to set up payment plans with credit card companies. Do most companies decline an offer of a payment arrangement? I can get back to more payments in January or February but now is hard.

I am approximately $25k in debt, should I use a debt consolidation agency?