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If your accounts are slightly or significantly delinquent at the beginning of the Debt Settlement program, then making settlements is going to have a direct improvement on your credit score because it will show that these accounts are resolved and you are fulfilling your obligation.

If your accounts are current at the beginning of the Debt Settlement program, then your credit will decline during the program as the accounts go delinquent and then as each one is settled, your credit should improve.

The positive effects on your credit report is that your future ability to pay goes up and the late marks can generally be removed from your report after Debt Settlement is done with credit restoration. Take in mind that a settlement means that you have paid back an agreed amount to the creditors, you are not avoiding the obligation, but obtaining a more manageable amount for you to pay back because different circumstances and hardships prevented you from paying the full amount. With credit restoration, your credit can be normal again within 12 months, without it, it could take around 2 years for your credit to start improving any further even after the Debt Settlement is done, at this point you will receive credit card offers once again, since you are no longer in debt!