Bad credit has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, and as a result many Americans are resorting to bad credit consolidation.  Although bad credit occurs for various reasons, such as late mortgage payments or inability to pay school loans, the vast majority of individuals are in trouble due to mismanagement  of credit cards.  Being late by even one day can result in penalties, perpetuating the cycle of late payments due to high fees and high fees due to late payments. This inability  to manage one's credit cards  can result in overwhelming debt.  For many, card debt consolidation  is the only solution. More on Bad Credit Consolidation Can Have Many Benefits