Im ready to settle- what should I do?

Look...this isn't rocket science....have they ever offered to settle with you? If not....you must call and start the negotiation process. Start low 15-20% and tell them you are borrowing from a family member and that is all you can come up with no matter what. Tell them your trying to clean up your past. Don't accept anything other than your offer. You must remain in control. If the collector thinks he/she is in control you lose! If they say no...tell them you already worked out a similar agreement with another creditor and this may be your last chance and may be forced to bankruptcy.
Goodluck

Guest: there is no reason to be so rude in your response to valid questions.

amaranth......just telling people like it is....some people want the "truth" furthermore....I don't sugar coat anything....

was never trying to be rude!

guest,your first statement was kinda rude.telling someone in blunt terms,this isn't rocket science is not what someone needs or wants to hear.heck when i first came here nobody told me that concerning my ipdl's.when people come here they have just been harrseed,threatened with arrest or garnishment,and many other atrocities.they need support,not being talked down to.i think your post for the most part was informative,but a little tact in your opening.

Take a look at this thread for tips on negotiating settlements:

http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/settlement/how-to-negotiate.html

Giving the benefit of the doubt here...what I have discovered in this age of "tele-communicating" is that these methods lack the personal inflection of how things are really meant! For example, if I was sitting having coffee with a dear friend of mine and I said "you know, this really isn't rocket science" probably no offense was meant (or taken). However, on an open board (like this) where each poster probably hasn't had any interaction with the other party before, I can see how that same exact phrase could come across as hurtful.

I guess we all need to be aware of how our written words can be miscontrued. I do agree tho that we need to support each other. I mean, isn't that what we (originally) came here for?

I saw this the other day...it seems appropriate for this cause!...

'Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'

Yes, it is very easy to mistake typed words- but there are certain phrases that typically always mean the same thing, whether said sarcastically or blankly, and "rocket science" has always refered to the intelligence of a particular situation. Stating that settling debt "isn't rocket science" implies that this person is dumb and shouldn't be asking questions in the first place.

All I'm saying is that people come here for help, and people should be more tactful in their replies. A lot of people are already ashamed of and embarassed by their financial problems and debt, and they are coming to us because they don't feel comfortable asking others they may personally know. So why make them feel stupid on top of what they must already feel?

And guest, by then saying that "you say it like it is", you are pretty much implying that this person is dumb and that you're just calling it as you see it.

I guess we all need to be aware of how our written words can be miscontrued. I do agree tho that we need to support each other. I mean, isn't that what we (originally) came here for?

I saw this the other day...it seems appropriate for this cause!...

'Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'

Well I am new here and I would have been offended by that remark. It might not be rocket scientist but there is an art to successful negotiation and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that. 8)

wow- I just checked my post, and saw 9 replies! I got excited, but they consisted of only bickering! haha thats okay! I understand! but if anyone has advice to my questions...id appreciate more feedback. Thanks so much!!

this is for Amaranth and any other poster on this site regarding my first comment "this isn't rocket science."

If you are "offended" by my comment... than you have not spoken to a collector (or for that matter lawyer who makes you feel a bit tiny) that knows how to offend, insult, belittle, scream, annoy, berate, and any other word used to describe your situation that you find yourself in.......including me.

So....for those of you who wish to continue a dialogue about what I said ...start a new thread somewhere else.....If you are SuperManLKN....than I apologize for using the phrase "rocket science" if it offended you. That said, read my first post without the "rocket science" and it should help you get a head start.

i said that before guest,your post was good.my man,follow that advice.guest,you can save everything else you posted.the actual advice and knowledge were right on,you need to work on your people skills.super,you should register then you can take advantage of all the benfits here,and there
are many.follow guest's advice.

Do most people start off asking to settle for 15-20%? That seems low compared to the 50% that is mentioned here a lot.

no i wasnt offended and I do plan to register tomorrow.
thanks for the support