Skip to content

Are you struggling under an unmanageable amount of debt that you cannot afford to repay? Debt settlement is an approach to reducing your debt. Through debt settlement, a creditor and debtor make an agreement on a reduced balance that will be considered as payment in full. Debt settlement involves negotiating with your creditors to reduce your debt in exchange for a lump-sum payment.

Why Do Creditors Agree to a Settlement?

The goal of any creditor is to obtain as much repayment as possible. Many can be convinced that settling the debt is a viable option, especially if the consumer is financially troubled and considering bankruptcy.

Successfully negotiating a settlement generally requires convincing your creditor that you have few financial options and they need to accept whatever you can afford to pay. You must be able to show that you cannot repay the full debt, but can afford to pay off a portion of the debt all at once.

To convince your creditors that you have no other options, and may even be considering bankruptcy, a skilled lawyer can handle the negotiations on your behalf.

In general, only unsecured debts may be settled. Unsecured debts include medical bills and credit card debts — not student loans, auto financing, or mortgages. For the debtor, this makes obvious sense; they avoid the stigma and intrusive court-mandated controls of bankruptcy while still lowering their debt balances, sometimes by up to 50%. While, for the creditor, they regain trust that the borrower intends to pay back the debt instead of filing for bankruptcy.

Negotiating with a Collection Agency

Negotiating with a collection agency is somewhat similar to negotiating with a credit card company or other original creditor. However, many collection agencies will agree to take less of the owed amount than the original creditor, because the junk debt buyer has purchased the debt for a fraction of the original balance.

As a part of the settlement, the consumer may request that the account be removed from the credit report, which is generally not the case with the original creditor. With the current economic crisis, more credit card companies may be willing to settle existing credit card debts rather than add to their already large written-off bad debt.

Beware of Debt Settlement Scams

Debt settlement is a legal way to reduce your debt to an affordable level. Still, there are many debt settlement companies that will not represent your interests. These companies may misrepresent the reduction you will see, fail to disclose that you may be sued if you stop paying your creditors, and charge you substantial fees before settling any debts.

Contact Agruss Law Firm, LLC Today

If you are overwhelmed with debt and want an experienced negotiator to attempt settle your debt at a reduced amount, contact Agruss Law Firm, LLC. We have helped countless consumers receive debt relief and/or debt reduction.

We will seek a favorable debt settlement on your behalf by acting quickly, assessing how much you can realistically pay per month or upfront, and exploring your options with you. While debt settlement may be your best option, you do have other tools. We will help you consider all options, including bankruptcy.

Agruss Law Firm, LLC, has built relationships with credit card companies and collection agencies and can often times come to a settlement agreement quicker and at a more favorable rate than a debtor acting on their own. Contact Agruss Law Firm, LLC, to see if debt relief and/or debt reduction is an option for you.

We are listening

We will respond to you at lightning speed. All of your information will be kept confidential.

Form successfully submitted!

Submitted Comments

Michael Agruss
2 years ago
Hello Andrea. Many creditors are often unwilling to bend in helping consumers who are struggling to make their payments on debts. Fortunately, you do have some options. I will give you a call to discuss this and we can have a free, no-obligation consultation. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
2 years ago
Hi Alison. Even though you are a US citizen living abroad, the law still requires you to pay for your private student loans; that is, they never go away. As this is a unique situation, I would be happy to speak with you about possible outcomes, the law, and your rights. Please feel free to contact me at my office so we can discuss this further. Thanks, Mike
Alison
2 years ago
Hello, I have a private student loan debt that I cannot afford to make payments toward at this time. The loan has now been transferred to NRS Solutions and I'd like to understand the best way to proceed with any interactions with them. The loan was taken out while I was a New York State resident, earning a USD income, however, I am now a Permanent Resident in Canada, earning a nominal income in CAD. I'm not sure if this is an area where Agruss Law Firm could assist in navigating, but I'm not sure what do as a US-citizen living and working abroad without a US income. Thank you for your time and attention. -Alison
Andrea
2 years ago
Own a 3,000 debt and company is not willing to compromise
Michael Agruss
2 years ago
Hi Vanessa. I'd be happy to talk with you about your loan with One Main Financial and the car you are attempting to surrender. I'll give you a call. Thanks, Mike
Vanessa
2 years ago
I told out a loan with one main financial in Ohio and had trouble paying due to the pandemic. I ended up moving and was trying to give them my car as it was used for collateral and found out they sent my account to collections. Have tried to contact the collections place to surrender the car but yet to hear anything. The car is sitting at my mothers house in Ohio and I dont know what to do. I couldnt even get the cars plates recertified. Im just trying to at least take the car to them and see if they would settle for that amount of whatever they can get for the car
Michael Agruss
2 years ago
Hi Sergio. Did you owe the debt? Did they violate your rights? Let's talk about this further. 312-224-4695 Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
2 years ago
Hi Brittany. I can understand being afraid, what they did sounds like a violation of the FDCPA. Fortunately, they cannot garnish your wages without a court order. Have you been served any papers? I will call you and we can discuss this further. Thanks, Mike
Brittany
3 years ago
Source Mediation called me and threatened to garnish my wages, prosecute me on felony charges and spoke to me in an abusive tone called me “you people” and “ghetto”. The debtor name was correct Ace Cash. But the amount they tried to collect was 780.00 I called Ace Cash they’ve never heard of them and I owe 130.00 from approximately 2014. I was emailed a scam account docusign and pressured to give my bank card which I cancelled but there were so many threats of prosecuting me I was honestly afraid.
Sergio
3 years ago
Portfolio recovery associates recently sued me to collect a $915 debt
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Pavel. I will call you and we can discuss what you can do to get the calls to stop. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Paul. My office will give you a call. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hello Eugene. I'm going to give you a call to see what I can do. I'll be in touch. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Elba. Do you have copies of the papers you were served? If so, please send them over to my office at [email protected] I will be in touch and we can discuss your options. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Steve. Have you sent a letter to the debt collector telling them to cease and desist? You have that right. My law firm can help you to do so. Please call me at 312-224-4695 when you have some free time. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi James. I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling with debt. I would like to help. My law firm is experienced in dealing with debt, debt collections, and getting these types of issues resolved. Please feel free to contact me at 312-224-4695. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Karen. I can understand being nervous. I would recommend that you request written confirmation of what debt they are attempting to collect on before sending any payment. Once you receive that information, please send it over to me at [email protected] I will review it and we can discuss what options you could have. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Scott. I can help you with your debt issues. I will give you a call or you can reach me at Phone: 312-224-4695 Email: [email protected] Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hello Skyler. I'm sorry to hear about your mental health issues and the stress that these phone calls are giving you. Please contact my office at Phone: 312-224-4695 Email: [email protected] and we can discuss what options you may have. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Melvalisha. Debt collectors are not permitted to harass you over any debt. I'm going to call you to discuss this further. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Janet. Do you still have the recording from the debt collector? If so, please send it to my office. My email address is [email protected] Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Olice. Do you have student loans? I would like to discuss how the representative was rude and if she has violated the law. I will give you a call. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Jose. Can you please send the letter to my office? My email address is [email protected] I will review it and get in contact with you. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Ma'jestic. I am going to give you a call and we can discuss what options you may have. You can also reach my office at 312-224-4695 if you need to sooner. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hello Tatiana. Let's talk about this and if your employer violated your rights. I will give you a call. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Kaylee. I would be happy to discuss debt negotiation with you and determine what options you may have. I'll give you a call or you can reach me sooner at 312-224-4695. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Jeffrey. I'm sorry to hear that you're dealing with these issues. I would be happy to look into them further and see if you options. My office number is 312-224-4695, please call me when you have some free time to discuss the details. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Patrick. My law firm has experience in dealing with Halsted, as well as many other debt collectors. We know how to get the calls to stop. I would be happy to discuss your rights when I reach out to you. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Cynthia. I will give you a call and we can discuss the specifics of your situation in more detail. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hola Rafael. Comuníquese con mi oficina en 312-224-4695 y podemos analizar su situación en más detalle. Gracias Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Tracey. Please reach out to me at my office so we can discuss this in more detail. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hola Fernando. Por favor envíe su grabación para que pueda escucharlos. Los cobradores de deudas no pueden amenazarlo. Déjame ayudarte a resolver esto. Mi dirección de correo electrónico es [email protected] Gracias Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Jeff. I would suggest you tell SRG to send you a written statement before making any payments. If you need help with this or other debt issues, I would be happy to be of assistance. My office number is 312-224-4695. Please reach out when you have a few minutes to talk. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hello Brandy. I am going to give you a call to discuss this. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Joshua. I would be happy to help you sort this out. My office is experienced in these kinds of cases. Please call me at 312-224-4695 or I can reach out to you as well. Thanks, Mike
Joshua
3 years ago
I’m trying to figure out where my paypal credit debt has been sold off to but Synchrony keeps giving me the runaround and not helping at all.
Brandy
3 years ago
Would like help in negotiating debts.
Kaylee
3 years ago
I am interested in having someone help negotiate my debts. I am ready to pay them off. I have one from pro collect in the amount of 2900 but it was from an apartment that me and a roommate were on from 2014. I want it off of my record it is preventing me from housing and affecting interest rates on loans and what not. I also have a $1400 medical debt I want to negotiate.
Tatiana
3 years ago
I have issue between mu employer and health insurance. I quit mu job amd they cancel my insurance before of my last day. I has some medical exams and the insurance don’t paid because the company cancel my insurance. So i receive a bill for the labs and doctor office and i called to try to pay but the don’t want negociate the balance because i dont have the full amount. They already report the balance to my credit.
Ma'jestic
3 years ago
It’s from IQ data collections from 2018 and I can’t afford the payment arrangement. I’m only a college student working minimum wage
Jose
3 years ago
I had received a letter from Nelson and Kennard on a debt that i own. I only have 30 day to respond to the letter.
Melvalisha
3 years ago
Wells Fargo is harassing me about a charged off account
Skyler
3 years ago
BLUF: $50 late-cancel fee with therapist grew to $900 and kept me from mental health services. I'm a veteran who was going to the University of Colorado Boulder. I have some mental health problems and utilized the mental health services at the university. During my time there, I was prescribed a medication that had a negative effect on me and exacerbated my anxiety and depression. I was meeting my team (doctor and psych) every few weeks and trying to figure out a good routine so that I could focus and succeed in school. One day I needed to late-cancel to deal with extreme panic. I was billed for the late cancel, but couldn't pay it immediately. The amount started to grow, but every time that I finally had enough money to pay it, it had increased even more. Now, the debt has gone to collectors and I'm repaying at $50 a month. My struggle with mental health has led me to waste my time and benefits at the university. I don't ever answer my phone because of constant bill / debt / overdue calls for my student loans (Granite State) and Sears Citi card. I get calls from 8 am to 8 pm every day.
Scott
4 years ago
I have a debts with American Express and a few others and have fallen a bit behind. It seems Amex sent me to collections and sent my debt to another company. The number calling me is 866-251-2396. While looking up their number, I came across your website. Not sure what to do hoping forward!
James
5 years ago
I had some setbacks at work which had me falling behind. I'm now struggling to pay my bills and playing catchup. Combination of credit cards, student loans, private loans, and collections!
Steve
6 years ago
i get these calls im unemployed and i told them this and they still keep calling. They call at least 4 or 8 times a day 4 times today!
Eugene
6 years ago
I have Title Fraud Issue here. I purchased a vehicle from an auto dealer, and they have not sent paperwork to motor vehicle department for us to receive a title. what can I do? I purchased a vehicle in September. I paid for the vehicle, tax, transfer of the Registration and Tags from my former vehicle. I filled out all paperwork at dealership. They were responsible for sending the information to our local motor vehicle department for us to receive our title. I purchased vehicle from Redline Autos LLC. The owners have shutdown the business, and will not answer their cell phone. I have already spoken to the police, and a representative from motor vehicle department. Seems the only thing that can be done is an extension for registration renewal (still showing under my former vehicle) until the situation is resolved. Yes, I found the phone info in the glove compartment, and left a message for the previous owner of the vehicle I purchased to see if they have any info on the owners of the Dealership!
Paul
6 years ago
My name is Paul Keene and Michgel just settled a case for me with GC services and I just needed to know if my check from that settlement will come from you guys or them in the mail and when? I can.t remember the number but Michgel has it on file.I,m sorry my memory is very bad!
PAVEL
6 years ago
Hello there. 877-891-9182 is keep calling me, autobot or debt collector I'm not sure, can we do something with this? They keep calling me from different number 877-891-9XXX during day for last week. Keep telling me I have a debt. I don't have any debt and all my payments on 2 credit cards were made on time. its annoying, i asked them not to call me, but its continuing!
Elba L.
6 years ago
I have a debt and they serve me papers and now I'm suppose to go to court on Jan 6th. I hv an unpaid balance of $1,077.28 with HSB Bank Nevada but Portfolio Recovery bought the account, they have been calling me and to tell you the truth I hv been ignoring the calls because I'm not working, I hv no way to pay them and one afternoon a guy came to my place and serve papers and told me that I hv been sued by this company!
Karen
6 years ago
I have been getting harrasing calls from 877 630 6409. How do I know this is a legit company and I'm not getting scamed. You already know my number and that I'm on my phone. That number that keeps calling me says it's the same firm and had all my info and that they are sending me stuff in 24 hours I am very nervous that's all!
Janet
6 years ago
Hi i recieved a very rude automated voicemail this morning. To be honest im not aware of what they are calling about. I know i have debt but they didnt state what it was about, it was just a very rude automated voicemail, i have gotten harrassing phone calls but not like this, well the way you word it makes me worry like im in big trouble!
Olice
6 years ago
National Enterprise System called me demading i pay 17,130.52 or in a lump sum 12,000. I dont even know who these people are. They list a student loan. I tried to talk to her, but she kept insisting on a lump sum of money. I tried to explain to her that I had just started to work in December and since I had just burried my mother, I had helped with her care (reason i wasn't working). I never got past the "how much can you pay right now?" conversation with this horribly rude woman. I have seen lots of complaints, when i call the number on the bill it hangs up on me. Not sure what to do now!
Jeffrey
6 years ago
my son and I have been harassed many times by sallie mae, we were set up on a 15 month repayment plan and they still called us every month, sometimes 3 and 4 times a day leaving messages and they were getting there money monthly because we were set up on automatic withdrawl from our bank account, i'd really like to know if they even have a original promisary note for our loans too. I have become disabled since I took these loans out and now I can't work so I live on a small amount of money per month and to pay these loans is a huge burden my mom co signed and really doesn't have the money either as she is trying to raise other kids still not sure if any of this matters but I thought I would share!
Patrick
6 years ago
I'm reading here about halsted, today she got harassing phone call from computer voice, claiming to be from halted, with threats if i dont talk to person at halted, action will be taken, halted somehow got hold of my wife cell number, harassing her to get to me, for so-called credit card debt of mine pre-2010 not paid. why even waste my time further with scammers like this!
Cynthia
6 years ago
What do you do about navient? i owe a lot of student loans, never could get a great job, had used all of the deferments including unemployment, had a bad few months of paying and I signed up for a student deferment which kicks in 3/16 and it was approved by navient to change my field slightly to see if I could get a job. they keep calling and say i have no deferment etc although I sent in the paperwork and they approved it. they call incessantly. I also had a few surgeries and had health reasons when some of them were kicked back. i borrowed about 25-30 thousand but due to the interest rate since I am older and due to the resetting due to deferments, it is up to 90 thousand. I am desperately trying to get a job in public service. I am trying to lock in on the public serviced foregiveness in ten years. Nope, not disabled!
Rafael
6 years ago
buscando informacion referente a ARA Asset Recovery Associates encontre su pagina de internet y veo que pueden solventar este proplema, cual seria el nombre del abogado que tendria que comunicar para hablar con el , entiendo y hablo bien el Ingles, recibi varias llamadas y suy amenazantes sobre ARA y dicen que tengo una deuda de menos de 2000 me mandaron una carta via email y mi nombre no concuerda y mi direccion tampoco, y me amenaza con llevarme a corte y reportarlo al buro de credito, el ARA dice que la deauda es originaria de Miami y le pide documentos que avalen la cuenta pero no puede ARA ofrecer ningun registro!
Tracey
6 years ago
I keep getting calls from Halsted financial. They call my parents house all the time I have not lived there for 15 years. They say I owe them money I have never heard of them!
Fernando
6 years ago
si, he tenido varias llamadas de una agencia de coleccion, en la que me amenazan en que si no pago una determinda cantidad me van a meter a la carce, que ya mandaron al sheriff por mi, me acusan de ratero, se burlan con la cantidad de ofrezco que es lo unico que puedo pagar, me intimidan que es hijo de un juez en la ciudad en la que vivo, llaman de diferentes numeros, llaman a mi trabajo sin permiso, llaman a mis familiares, los tengo grabados!
Jeff
6 years ago
That's good. My name is Jeff and I am furious with a phone call I just received from SRG over "a debt" from 2000. This gentleman and lady were very rude. Stated that I owed for a hospital bill in the amount of $621. The date of injury was 5/2009 ( which is accurate) My insurance paid for the visit. SRG had my last 4 of my SSN. Couldn't provide with with an account and then hung up on me. I contacted the hospital and there is nothing in their system!