BCR and Encore

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Have you sent them the debt validation letter? Did they properly validate what they say you owe? I haven't got to settlement with any of my CAs yet, but common sense tells me that the older (therefore harder to collect) debt you can very likely get a lower percentage. If the debt is past SOL, you can possibly get even better percentage.

Also offer slightly lower so you have haggle room, where they will counter with higher (or just deny) then you can raise it a bit until you both come to an agreement. Also, no matter what settlement is reached, always make sure the agreement includes a delete, otherwise what is the point? A paid in full or a settled in full is just as bad credit wise as an unpaid. Heck, actually your score can drop a bit if you suddenly have an older unpaid change to a settled or paid. And always, -always- get the agreement in writing. If a CA balks, simply say it is for their protection as well as yours.

By validaton letter, do you mean that they tell you who they are collecting for? Both of them have it on there letters.
Also what do you mean by "always make sure the agreement includes a delete"?
thanks for the input

sorry, that was me - forgot to log in

Validation is so much more! It forces the collector to prove that the debt is valid, not just who it originated from. They must prove that the debt is for you specifically, such as by providing statements, anything with you signature. If they are trying to collect more then the debt originally was, they must then prove that they are legally able to collect the extra, such as state law or by a contract you signed. They also must prove they are legally able to collect, meaning that they own the debt or are acting on behalf of the one who owns the debt.

By delete I am assuming this debt is on your credit report? If so, then you should have it in writing that once you pay it, they will remove it from your report and keep it off (also agree that the account is closed, that any remaining portion of the debt is not to be sold). If it isn't on your credit report, then you have it in writing that it won't ever be put on.

You also want to make sure the debt is within SOL...Statute of Limitations, basically every state has so many years that a debt is actionable...for example in Texas it is 4 years. If the debt is more then 4 years old then they can't legally sue you for it.