There are steps, however, that consumers can take if they are having difficulty making payments. They can start by contacting their card companies to see if they can obtain a temporary interest rate reduction or a lower minimum payment. “I would recommend that people first reach out directly to creditors,” Ms. Saunders said. “The earlier you do, the more likely they are to work with you.”

Another option is to seek help from a nonprofit credit counseling agency. Participants can often get a free or low-cost budget review to help them identify areas where they may be able to cut spending and reduce their debt.

Consumers with more serious debt problems, however, may need a more structured approach, said Phil Heinemann, executive director of Debt Management Credit Counseling, a nonprofit organization in Lighthouse Point, Fla.

Those borrowers may be eligible for a debt management plan in which the counseling agency negotiates an interest-rate cut with the card companies. In exchange, borrowers agree to pay off the debt by making fixed monthly payments over three to five years.

If the proposed payment plan is approved, the agencies charge a monthly fee that varies based on the size of the monthly payment, but is typically capped by state law. The overall amount paid still represents a significant savings, Mr. Heinemann said, because of the lower interest rate on the debt, as well as the elimination of late fees and other penalties. (A handful of agencies, along with a few big creditors, are testing a new version of these programs that would cut the debt owed in half to make the programs more accessible for people trying to avoid bankruptcy.)