[gynn]

The easy, flip answer is not to get into debt in the first place, but that isn't very helpful advice to anyone finding themselves in debt.

The last thing you should do is bury your head in the sand and hope they will go away, because they won't. The debts will continue to grow and getting out of the mire is harder in the long run.

First tactic should be to try and work with them. Tell them the extent of your problems, and how much you can afford to pay them. If they are reasonable, they will accept an arrangement that you can live with. It will stop them hassling you, and gives you breathing space in the long term. You have to keep to any arrangement made, or they will be back knocking on your door.

If they aren't prepared to play ball, or if you are in it too deep to make individual arrangements with different creditors, you need further advice. Get some debt counselling (the Citizens Advice Bureau was always good for this). The law is surprisingly helpful to people deep in debt, and you can make a voluntary arrangement with the County Court that will render your creditors powerless to hassle you.

Good luck!