Ask questions to find out how the adjuster came to the conclusion that they did. Develop and plan your response (which is often called a counteroffer). Respond to the offer in writing. Do not settle your claim until you have healed from your injuries.

Should I accept the first compensation offer? Unless you have taken independent legal advice on the whole value of your claim, you should not accept a first offer from an insurance company.

To put it bluntly, no. You should not accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer. Why? Because the amount of money you are awarded in your settlement is extremely important—not just for covering your current medical bills, but also for helping you get back on your feet.

You can be sued on unpaid debts after charge off, so settling is a good idea when it makes sense for you financially. A collection agency making an offer you did not solicit often means there is room to negotiate an even better outcome.

When you settle an account, its balance is brought to zero, but your credit report will show the account was settled for less than the full amount. Settling an account instead of paying it in full is considered negative because the creditor agreed to take a loss in accepting less than what it was owed.

How to deal with debt collectors

1. Don’t ignore them. Debt collectors will continue to contact you until a debt is paid.
2. Find out debt information. Find out who the original creditor was, as well as the original amount.
3. Get it in writing.
4. Don’t give personal details over the phone.
5. Try settling or negotiating.

Debt collectors report accounts to the credit bureaus, a move that can impact your credit score for several months, if not years. The late payments and subsequent charge-off that typically precede a collection account already will have damaged your credit score by the time the collection happens.

If the debt holder still doesn’t pay whomever is collecting the debt, the creditor can file a lawsuit against the debt holder in civil court. However, the creditor is less likely to do so if the balance owed is under $1,000, or if the debt is settled.

six years

If a debt collector has gone to court and obtained a legal judgment against you, your wages can be garnished until the debt has been repaid. That might be seven months, seven years, or even longer.

A collection agency is only allowed to contact you to tell you what they will do next. For example, they may say they will sue you in court or that they won’t contact you again. Remember, you still owe the money even if they stop contacting you. They can sue you to try to collect the debt you owe.