What some people do is get one big loan to pay off their debts, Thias brings it down to one payment at a rate they can afford. Sadly it has its pitfals too, its a long term payoff and the overall interst can be horrendous. Really its just acushion to lessen the burden of your weekly outgoings.
Credit is ok if the individul can balance the books and use it in moderation. I mean buying a house is on credit but the difference is a house is a necessity but that doesn't mean you go out a buy a house you can't afford.
Hell the mortgage lenders wouldn't allow it anyway as they would know if its within your credit limits. All i'm saying is its a pity the credit card companies and shops that offer it aren't doing the same kind of background checks. That is assuming theses checks are allowed and not seen as a breach of security or intrusion of human rights or indeed the data protection act.
Whatever is the standard law is it needs tightening up and regulated.