I second DIY.
I just helped my friend get out of 15K in debt in 3 months. Here are some some fast and furious rules we set up:
1. Pay all bills early, every time. Do not rely on the "window." Get every account on autopay or autocheck pay from your bank so you don't have to remember anything. Make an accurate list of all your bills so you don't forget anything, check them off each month as they get paid.
2. Eliminate of what I call "stupid" charges on any/all of your credit cards: credit protection, programs you rarely use, late fees (covered by #1), etc.
3. Put yourself on a realistic budget, and stick to it. The basis of any realistic budget is paying all your bills every month and on time. If you can't afford to pay all your bills and still have money leftover for food, call your creditors and see if they will work with you to negotiate a lower monthly payment. From what I've seen, most "get out of debt" counseling agencies consolidate your bills for a nice hefty profit, so be very careful if you go with one; do your homework.
4. When paying debt down, always pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first.
5. Pay off collections BEFORE they get on your credit report.
Between setting up JUST #1 and #2 for my friend, he's now saving $1500/year he was otherwise spending on late fees, credit protection charges and other miscellaneous crap. This is WITHOUT modifying any actual spending habits whatsoever.
After 6 months, he's paid off all his credit card debt, renegotiated interest rates on 2 loans and saving himself an additional $3000 a year just on interest charges.
There are lots of articles online that'll give you sound advice for free. Check them out.
