i can't pay my credit card bills and need to raise cash fast

When you can’t pay your credit-card bills it can feel overwhelming. Instead of ignoring the situation, address the issue right away. It’s not going to get better by ignoring it, and in fact, it will only get worse. By acting now, you can minimize the damage to your credit rating and start digging out of debt.

• Before you miss a payment, contact that lender by phone. Explain the situation and discuss options. If your payment history has been good up to now with this creditor, you might be able to work out a revised payment plan (sometimes called a financial hardship plan) for a limited time.
• If you can pay only a portion of the bill, still contact your lender. Making an effort with small payments is better than no payment at all. Making contact and paying part of the bill may help you avoid collection calls and can help minimize harm to your credit score.
• Don’t be afraid—or embarrassed—to ask for help. A nonprofit debt counseling service like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is resource you can trust. In addition to using its Web site, you can call NFCC toll-free at 1-800-388-2227 to get help in turning your financial troubles around.
• Are you facing a repossession? Repossession means that you relinquish ownership of an item you’ve bought with a loan (not a credit card) but haven’t paid for in full, or you’ve allowed the loan to go into default. It can be voluntary or involuntary—the creditor can come get the item or you can give it back.
  
  Either way, it’s bad for your credit score and bad for your financial situation. Not only do you still have the debt, which doesn’t go away just because you don’t have the item, now you don’t have the item. For example, if your car is repossessed, you still have the car loan but now you lack transportation to your job. To avoid repossession, try selling that item yourself and using the money you make to pay back the debt.
• Quickly raise cash to pay your bills. Now’s the time to take a look at all the things you have in your house and garage and sell as much as possible. Using a free want-ad service like www.craigslist.org or other similar sites or free, local print advertisements, post your items and sell them. Use the cash you earn to pay your credit card and other consumer debt, such as loans. Now is not the time to hang onto unused items, thinking you may use them some day. Read more tips on cutting costs to raise money.