If you're buried deep in credit card debt, you probably shouldn't be asking if debt settlement affects your credit score. Instead, you may want to consider if you should really care what your score is. Think about your situation very seriously for a moment. You're losing sleep and can barely make the minimum payments due on your credit cards. This situation is making you nervous and you can't shake the sick feeling in the pit of your stomach because you're always thinking about the money you owe and how you'll be able to pay it back. Should you be worried? Probably, because this is a legitimate concern, and one that has the potential to remain for several years if you continue making minimum payments.

Now, jump over to the other side for a moment. Let's say you've struggled and sacrificed to make your credit card payments each and every month. Because of this, your credit score is relatively high. So what? Is it worth feeling stressed out just to have a good credit rating? If you should enter a debt settlement program and your credit score is lower than you'd like it to be for a year or two, would you be awake at night thinking about your credit rating? It's doubtful. If you're like most people you'll probably be so relieved to be debt-free, your credit score will be about as significant as your neighbor's sister's dog's puppies.

Entering into a debt settlement program may or may not affect your credit score, depending on what your current situation is. Chances are, if you've made some late payments already and/or your credit cards are carrying high balances, your score is probably not as high as you may think it is. Negotiating reduced settlements with your creditors, through debt settlement, however, can save you thousands of dollars, help you avoid bankruptcy and finally get you to the point of being debt-free and stress-free in less than two years - very possibly even sooner.

If you should decide that debt settlement is your best option, be sure to hire a company you trust. If the first representative with whom you speak sounds like a salesperson and not really interested in your concerns regarding your current financial situation, there's a good chance you're not going to get the customer service you desire and deserve once you become a client with this particular firm. While going through the process of debt settlement, you'll want assurance that your questions and/or concerns will be addressed promptly by the company you've chosen.

In summary, you should probably take a good look at what matters most to you - a lifestyle free of debt and concern, or a high credit score. When it comes right down to it, the choice really is yours, so be sure to make the decision you're most comfortable with.