Agreed....consolidated loan companies are awful.
One of the easiest ways I know to pay down (old) debt without using these companies or filing for bankruptcy is to start with your lowest debt amount, concentrate on paying as much as you can toward it (over the minimum payment). Once that is paid, work on the next lowest.

I've seen it work for a number of people, but there may still be other ideas or better ideas.
( flirting with badgers What? It sounded good at the time., Fri 2 May 2008, 1:24, Reply)