The direct answer is that you get rid of credit card debt by paying more than the minimum each month, but that is rarely practical for someone searching this question. Most people asking this are carrying a balance of $5,000 to $25,000 across two or more cards, with interest rates above 20%. The real problem is that monthly payments barely cover the interest, so the principal barely moves.
Your situation likely involves a specific hardship. It could be a job loss, a medical event, or a divorce that cut your income. It could also be simple overspending that snowballed over time. The risk level here is high. If you are only making minimum payments, you are looking at years of repayment and thousands in interest. If you have missed payments, your credit score is already dropping, and collection calls may start.
Before you choose a path, gather three things: your total debt by card, your current monthly income, and your essential expenses. Without these numbers, any plan is guesswork.
For a practical path forward, consider these options. A balance transfer card with a 0% intro APR can work if you have good credit and can pay off the balance within 12 to 18 months. The tradeoff is a one-time fee of 3% to 5% of the transferred amount. For larger debts or weaker credit, a debt management plan through a nonprofit credit counseling agency can lower your interest rates to around 8% to 10% and consolidate payments. The tradeoff is you close the cards and commit to a three- to five-year plan.
If you are already behind on payments, a debt settlement program may be an option, but it requires stopping payments to your creditors, which damages your credit further. Availability for any of these options depends on your state, the type of debt, the severity of your hardship, whether your accounts are current or delinquent, and the specific criteria of each partner program.
To get a clear, private picture of what might work for you without any sales pressure, use the DebtSense AI assessment on the homepage. It provides a preliminary review of your situation based on your numbers, not a guess. That is the first step before you speak with anyone.
Debt question guide