I've managed to rack up about $18k in credit card debt across three different cards, and the interest rates are absolutely killing me (one is at 29% APR). I keep seeing ads for debt consolidation loans, but I'm terrified of getting scammed or hurting my credit score even more. Has anyone actually done this? Did it help you get debt-free, or did you just end up running up the cards again? Would love some real-world advice before I make a move.