American Express and United Recovery

We owe money to American Express, United Recovery Systems took over to collect the bill. I talked to them several times to set up payments, but I was told they still had to have late notices on the account. I asked them if they could please drop the fees, again they said no. I tried everything to work with them and I finally just gave up because I could not pay what he was asking. They called everyday, Can they call everyday? At this time an attorney is calling everyday and leaving a message, can they do that, can they call everyday? The neighbors said someone came to the door with papers, what is that? Can they put a lien on our home if it is almost paid for? Can they take a vehicle? We can not afford an attorney, we can not pay anything at this time because my husands job has been cut in half. A relative has offered to loan us some money, but not all of it. Can we offer some, but not all of it? It would be less than half, a settlement? We don't know what to do, we want to pay them off with the money we barrow from our relatives if he would except our offer.