This is a fair question. No one wants to become a victim of a scam or enter into business dealings with a financer that is less than desirable. However, the way to answer this question is with a question: are there any honest and legitimate brick and mortar consolidation agencies out there?
This question may take a few people off their guard. Most people will not apply the same stringent criteria to brick and mortar service that they would to an online business. This is why it is important to point out an obvious fact that escapes many of us: there are good brick and mortar debt businesses and there are poor ones. An on-line debt consolidation services can offer the same quality or lack of quality that a brick and mortar business will embody. The key is simply to perform the right due diligence to make sure the online service is a reliable one.
A poorly operated on-line debt consolidation service will not be able to stay "hidden" for long. A quick review of the Better Business Bureau's archives would reveal if any complaints have been lodged. Also, running a simple Google search of the service's name could probably turn up information. Again, word will get around if a company is not a reliable one.
So, to answer the initial question, yes there are excellent debt consolidation services online. In fact, many of them have helped people get out of horrible financial finds. As such, their value can not be overstated enough.
By the way, by researching and comparing the best debt consolidation companies in the market, you will be able to determine the one that meet your specific financial situation, plus the cheaper interest rates offered. Nonetheless, it is advisable going with a trusted and reputable debt counselor before making any decision, this way you will save time through specialized advise coming from a seasoned debt advisor and money by getting better results in a shorter span of time.