Advice please about 4 large credit card debts

[SecondhandRose]

Boyfriend of my friend has 4 (£10,000) credit card bills (£40K). They are all mostly interest that has built up over the years - don't ask!

He has now woken up to the fact he owes a fortune but is now able to pay them off with a new mortgage (robbing Peter to pay Paul I know).

Is there any way he can make lower settlement offers to the companies without paying the full amounts or would a 3rd party have to do this for him?

He is on a low income (17K) but not eligible for any benefits apparently.

it's worth visiting the CAB, if he really can't afford the full payments they may be able to negotiate something within his budget. In some cases they can stop the interest on accounts, giving you time to pay off the balance

Wow with that amount get someone else involved to mediate (CAB , www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/ He may get the interest frozen now but can't imagine if he has assets (ie enough to buy/mortgage a house) he'll get away with paying less than he currently owes. Can he really afford that mortgage on such a low income ?

Have a look at www.moneysavingexpert.com Martin Lewis gives incredibly good advice about reducing credit card debt.

Thanks, the house is worth about 200k was bought jointly with his Dad and now my friend will help with payments (after house is put in her name too).
Will look at the two sites. Thanks

which country you in?