i would hardly say that settlement companies prices are hardly the same. I have seen a wide range of pricing and some are pretty darn high. and i would have to agree with mobile, 4 years for 25,000 is way way to long and wouldnt pay your clients.
If your looking into debt settlement pay the max you can afford for the shorter term. The key is pay it off as fast as possible to prevent lawsuits and interest and late fees. I hate so say it but you are going to have to suffer a little.
say my situation i paid 400 a month. this went into my savings every month it nearly killed me to make that payment. I knew it would though. But at x mas my property taxes were due and a few unexpected things came up and i called my settlement company and they worked it out for me. But say i would have only paid half?? it may have taken me twice as long and chances are i would have recieved many summons just so i could be comfortable. settlement is suppost to be fast once you are getting to 4 years or more your kinda defeating the porpouse