Debt Management Companies - Are They Worth The Money They Charge

So a while back I was getting fed up of all the frequent calls I was getting from institutions I owed money to. After careful thought, I decide to engage the help of a debt management company - Abacus.  Three weeks into them handling my finances, everything was great. All the phone calls stopped and I was slowly paying off money I owed. Then out of nowhere I got two summons to court for charging orders. I hastily contacted Abacus and inquired what was going on. It then dawned onto me that even though I was making regular payments and that my financial affairs were now being properly looked after, I could not escape the vicious teeth of the companies I owed money to. Ok, so I went to court and the charging orders were applied. What I do not understand is if the court wishes to apply a charging order fine, but what's the wisdom in applying the charging order and then adding more money to the outstanding money owing as court fees? plain stupidity.

Now, last week, I get another letter from the courts asking for attachment of earnings..hang on I say to myself, whats going on here. So I ring Abacus up and ask for an explanation. Why am I being asked for attachment of earnings when you (Abacus) have already negotiated with the company I owe money to; to make X amount in monthly payments? After careful thought, I think I will be better off managing all these payments myself. Abacus is charging me 45 quid per month as administration fees. now I can either spread that 45 quid over the payments i am already making or put that dosh into a saving account.

I think I will get rid of Abacus, I am really upset with they way they are handling my finances.