I've furnished the lad with the information and firmly stated I'll not bail him out. I suspect he wanted the easy way out, and I was happy to help him getting with a consolidation loan from an institution, but since that isn't going to happen, his option is self-management using the snowball method, or CAP, which he doesn't seem keen on for the reasons touched on above. I've told him that CAP is his best long term solution and he should be prepared to make some sacrifices.
He is a kid who doesn't handle adversity that well, and is always keen on the quick solution, but I truly don't think he understood the consequences of his debt management and the calling lots of places asking for lots of loans. Together it makes for an unpleasant situation to find himself in.
I'll update once I have more information.
Thank you to those of you who have provided constructive advice and feedback. Having run a business and managed finance for nearly 20 years reasonably well, it was news to me that calling around asking for money would count against you, but then I rarely if ever, finance things other than perhaps a car, or our mortgage.