Do you know this story, does it apply to you or do you know someone who it applies to? The story of having racked up your credit cards too high and now you are scared because you have to pay them off and you don't really have the money.

Do you cringe each month when the credit card bill arrives? Are you frightened to look at the details and perhaps even leave the envelope unopened in the hope that somehow by avoiding it the debt will disappear? You are not alone. More than 8.5% of credit card balances are 3 months or more in arrears in the UK alone, and with more credit cards in the UK than people that is one heck of a lot of debt.