Hey everyone, I could really use some advice on dealing with a debt collector.
I have an old debt with LVNV Funding LLC / Resurgent Capital Services for $21,548.97. I’ve honestly been ignoring it for over a year because I was unemployed and just couldn’t afford to deal with it at the time.
They recently sent me a settlement offer for a lump sum of $9,266.06 (about 43% of the original debt), which is valid until April 30, 2026. Before that, I also received an email saying they may pursue legal action and sue me.
I just started working again and have about $6,000 saved. There’s no way I can afford the $9k they’re asking, but I might be able to offer the $6k as a lump sum.
My questions:
- Has anyone had success negotiating a lower lump sum than what they initially offer?
- Is it realistic to try for a “pay for delete” with them if I offer $6k?
- If they’re already mentioning legal action, does that mean I’ve lost leverage?
- Should I even contact them, or could that make things worse?
I want to handle this the right way now that I’m back on my feet, but I also don’t want to make a move that puts me in a worse position.
Any advice or personal experiences would really help. Thanks in advance.