Is there any downside to lengthening the credit card debt negotiation process?

There are some definite downsides to lengthening the debt negotiation process. The first is that a creditor may sue you at any point during the period of a debt negotiation plan or debt settlement program. The second is that interest and penalties continue to accrue – increasing the debt while you are trying to reduce it – so you want to get the process done as quickly as possible.