The first step in a debt settlement negotiation with a bank, credit card company, or collection agency is to confirm the debt belongs to you. If you reject a settlement offer, or fail to keep up with a payment arrangement, your creditor might take you to court.This article provides a template for a debt settlement proposal letter and explains what a debt settlement letter should contain. A debt settlement letter is all you need to negotiate debts with your creditors. It asks you to pay a certain settlement amount to the collection agency. Download a free pdf version of sample letters to dispute with credit bureaus and negotiate a payment plan with creditors. If you decide to reject the settlement offer, you'll need to do so in writing. Refrain from making any personal insults attacking the claims adjuster. Your full name used on the account; Your full address; Any account numbers or reference numbers that are linked to your account. If you want to see if you qualify for an offer in compromise before filling out the paperwork, you may use the Offer in Compromise (OIC) Pre-Qualifier tool.