Each year over 9 Million American households contact credit counseling or debt management companies according to the Washington, D.C. based Consumer Federation of America. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a Silver Spring, Maryland, network of credit counselors,

"say's it's clients who go into a formal credit management plan average a  total debt that exceeds $28,000 amounting to 95% of their total annual income." 

These companies may be a good idea for many, but they have their pro's and con's. Each individual has different circumstances. If a person is so for in debt that they can't even make the  monthy minimum payments, and have several different accounts they owe money on it might make sense to go with a debt management company.