You may not have seen it coming. A missed payment here, a late fee there and before you knew it your APR went through the roof and your credit score sunk. But there are ways to escape from the credit trap. Credit card providers are more willing to negotiate down your debt than they have been in years. Take advantage of debt reduction strategies such as transferring your balances to a lower-interest card, eliminate finance charges altogether, and simplify your financial life by getting down to a more manageable number of credit cards. Debt counseling is another option but be wary of unscrupulous advisors.