My wife is considering debt settlement

Maybe, your wife can handle the debts on her own by talking with the credit card companies. Did she call them to negotiate on the interest rates? If they are willing to work on the payment arrangement, she may not have to take this step. I will make this move before seeing any debt settlement company.

I just got scammed with a debt settlement company, so be careful. Have you considered debt consolidation instead? I contacted the credit card companies directly to see if they would lower the interest rates and or work out payment arrangements and they wouldn't budge. I finally enrolled in a debt consolidation program after being scammed by the debt settlement company I was with, and they managed to get my interest rates lowered, and fees waived after 3 months of being in the program.

Whichever route your wife chooses to go, it is highly advisable to check out any companies she is considering working with, to make sure they have a satisfactory record.