Thanks for the replies on this and another thread I started this morning. I have decided to take out a CU loan to pay off the balance and put the Credit Cards away, only to be taken out in case of emergency (I am reluctant to actually close the CC accounts because they may be needed for internet transactions etc.).
Because my wife and I both need personal funds, I have to replace the CCs with something. I will open 2 new Laser Card accounts - at least then we can only spend what we have and there is not the temptation to spend hundreds of Euros because it is available even though it doesn't actually exist.
I resisted doing this earlier in the year because of the charges on the Laser Card accounts, presumably there will also now be extra government duties as well. I will just have to put these costs out of my mind, put them down paying for a service and realise that I am probably paying more in interest on the Credit Cards balances at the moment.