<prompt> Human: I am 30 years old, opened my first credit card in 2010, and my debt has ballooned to over 10k. my debt is spread out over 5 credit cards that have an average rate of 21, with the total monthly minimum payment pushing upwards of 300.I make under 25k a year, and I have been unable to move these cards down from their maximum limit even though they have been maxxed out for years at this point with me only making minimum payments.This month I simply cannot make my payments, Im overwhelmed and my family is advising me to just let the cards go to collections.What are my options? File for Bankruptcy? Ive heard the credit companies could sue me, do I need a lawyer?edit: I realize this thread got way more attention than I expected, but please read the other replies before adding yet another comment that says did you try a balance transfer or a loan? yes. yes I did try that.Assistant: Look into balance transfers of consolidationpersonal loans. Check credit karma Human: I already did. I was denied a loan, denied with a cosigner, and the only friend who i could get to try to apply with me as the cosigner, also got denied. they wont get me a loan without collateral and I drive a POS car and dont have a mortgage  <response>: I dont know if you read my bigger post above, but- if this is the case, your credit is already bad- with nothing left to lose, get rid of the debt. 