Depending on your monthly budget, we usually estimate our programs anywhere from 24 months to 48 months, although we have had clients with the ability to complete a program in as little as three months.  In extreme hardship cases, we will sometimes estimate programs out to 60 months to provide the lowest possible monthly program payment.  Any Debt Negotiation program can be longer or shorter than estimated depending on the amounts of the final settlements.  If you only make the minimum payments, you might stay in debt for the next 15 or 20+ years.  Assuming you do not make any more charges on your credit cards, just only making minimum payments could still cost you 2x, 3x, or even 4x as much as you originally borrowed.