Consumer credit counseling and debt negotiation have become the two most popular ways for consumers to help themselves get out of debt today here in the United States. Many people ask which method will be better.  To give a good comparison you must understand what you will be getting from the two.  In consumer credit counseling you will be forced to pay back the entire amount owed on the debt at a lower interest rate, usually this will save five to seven years for the consumer to reach the point of debt freedom.  With debt negotiation you will be negotiating a one time lump sum payment for less than what is actually owed, resulting in a great savings of money and time.