Your credit is trashed right now anyway. Debt settlement will most likely stay on your credit for 7 years after it is settled. If you are not able to settle all your debts immediately, how long will it take before this clock starts ticking? Chapter 13 Bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 7 years from the date of your filling. So the clock starts immediately. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy stays on your credit for 10 years, but you start over with almost no debt in most cases. This is attractive to some lenders. In fact some people have found they start receiving credit offers immediately upon discharge from a chapter 7 bankruptcy.