This from investment adviser Eric Tyson, in last Monday's Albuquerque Journal:

"Q: I have a credit-card debt problem, and I see many television and radio ads about companies offering debt-reduction programs. Are they real and legal? Do you know of any reputable and reliable companies?

A: A number of these firms simply seek to put you on a debt-repayment program by restructuring your payments. This can adversely affect your credit report and rating. Also, by offering these sorts of programs exclusively, many of these advertised firms have a conflict of interest in not being able to objectively discuss with you a full range of options for dealing with your bad debt. Two agencies I suggest you consider are Hummingbird Credit Counseling, or the Institute for Financial Literacy."©

I added links. Good luck.