Full And Final Settlement Offers. Free Advice. StepChange (2024)

iThe advice on this page applies to anyone with personal debts taken out in the UK.

If you’ve received a lump sum of money, you can use this to pay back your creditors by arranging a 'full and final settlement' to your debts.

You can get a lump sum of money from selling an asset, such as a property or a vehicle, receiving an inheritance, or it could be a gift from family or friends.

If it’s the best solution for you we have a specialist debt advice team who can help you make full and final settlement offers to your creditors.

How do full and final settlement offers work?

Depending on how much money you have, you might be able to repay all of the money you owe and become debt free.

But if the lump sum you have is less than the amount you owe to your debts you can make ‘full and final settlement’ offers. This means offering the lump sum you have in return for your creditors agreeing to ‘write off’ the rest of the debt.

How do you make a settlement offer?

You can make settlement offers to all of your debts, sharing out the lump sum fairly among them.

Not all creditors will be willing to accept reduced settlement offers. They’re more likely to agree this if it would otherwise take you a long time to repay them.

  1. Firstly you need to work out how much to offer your creditors and then send your offer to them in writing.
  2. Always ask your creditors to confirm they accept your offer in writing before you send them any money.
  3. Keep any letters your creditors send to you about the settlement offer just in case you need to refer to them again in the future. We recommend keeping these letters safe for at least six years after you’ve paid the settlement amount.
  4. You may find not all your creditors are willing to accept your offer of settlement and you’ll have to negotiate with each one individually. It’s possible that none of your creditors will accept a full and final settlement.
  5. If your offers are accepted, make sure you send payment to each creditor by the date they give you. Keep proof of payment.

Full And Final Settlement Offers. Free Advice. StepChange (2)Use our template letter to offer a full and final settlement to your creditors

What percentage should I offer a full and final settlement?

It depends on what you can afford, but you should offer equal amounts to each creditor as a full and final settlement. For example, if the lump sum you have is 75% of your total debt, you should offer each creditor 75% of the amount you owe them.

Can I remove settled debts from my credit report?

If you agree a full and final settlement your creditor will mark the debt as ‘partially settled’ on your credit file. This shows future creditors that the debt was cleared for less than the full amount, and this could affect their decision about whether to lend to you.

The account will be removed from your credit file six years after it was partially settled, or six years after the date it defaulted if this was earlier.

Get some expert help and advice

If you’ve received a lump sum of money and you’re struggling to repay your debts, get free, online debt advice to find the right solution for your situation.

We'll provide you with a budget and debt solution that’s specifically tailored to your situation, so you know you’re getting the right advice.

We're rated

4.8 out of 5

Read reviews of StepChange »Av. ratings for our service by DMP/DRO clients after 3 months.

Full And Final Settlement Offers. Free Advice. StepChange (3)

"Get in touch with StepChange, you'll wish you'd done it sooner" Rob, Wiltshire

Full And Final Settlement Offers. Free Advice. StepChange (2024)

FAQs

Full And Final Settlement Offers. Free Advice. StepChange? ›

What percentage should I offer a full and final settlement? It depends on what you can afford, but you should offer equal amounts to each creditor as a full and final settlement. For example, if the lump sum you have is 75% of your total debt, you should offer each creditor 75% of the amount you owe them.

What is a reasonable full and final settlement offer? ›

If you come into a lump sum and are interested in using that money to make a debt settlement offer, you will first have to work out how much money to offer. Ultimately, a 'reasonable' amount to offer as a full and final settlement is whatever your creditors are willing to accept.

What is a reasonable settlement offer for debt? ›

“Negotiating with a collection agency can be challenging, but it is vital to reach a fair settlement,” Raymond Quisumbing, a registered financial planner at Bizreport, said. “Offering 25%-50% of the total debt as a lump sum payment may be acceptable.

What is accepting payment in full and final settlement? ›

Full and final settlement means that you ask your creditors to let you pay a lump sum instead of the full balance you owe on the debt. In return for having a lump-sum payment, the creditor agrees to write off the rest of the debt.

Can you negotiate a settlement amount? ›

You can try to negotiate a debt settlement on your own, but it's typically done through third parties like debt relief companies, which you hire to negotiate on your behalf. With this method, you will make payments to the debt settlement company rather than your creditors, along with any fees.

Can I ask for more money on a settlement? ›

However, it may be that you can get a better offer by doing the settlement agreement negotiation on the basis of goodwill. There may not be any commercial incentive for them to pay you more, but they may genuinely want to be helpful and show gratitude for your hard work.

What is a good settlement figure? ›

A good settlement offer should not only be able to cover your hospital bills and legal fees, but it should also be equivalent to close to a years' worth of your current wages, especially in cases where your injuries may be permanent or cause some kind of disability.

How much money should I ask for in a settlement? ›

Ask for more than what you think you'll get

There's no precise formula, but it's generally recommended that personal injury plaintiffs ask for about 75% to 100% more than what they hope to receive. In other words, if you think your lawsuit might be worth $10,000, ask for $17,500 to $20,000.

What is considered a good settlement? ›

A reasonable settlement in most personal injury cases compensates the victim adequately for their medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. It should cover both current and future costs related to the injury.

Will a debt collector settle for 30%? ›

Some will only settle for 75-80% of the total amount; others will settle for as a little as 33%. Looking for a place to set the bar? The American Fair Credit Counsel reports the average settlement amount is 48% of the balance. Again, start low, knowing the debt collector will start high.

What happens if you get full and final settlement? ›

What is an full and final settlement? FnF is the process of paying various dues to the departing employee. The final amount will include salary up to the last working day, encashment of unused leaves, gratuity, pension and other incentives.

How do you respond to a full and final settlement? ›

As per our employment contract and company policy, I am entitled to receive the remaining compensation owed to me, as well as any outstanding benefits and allowances. However, it has been [number of days/weeks/months] since my employment ended, and I am yet to receive the settlement amount.

Is it better to settle debt or pay in full? ›

Summary: Ultimately, it's better to pay off a debt in full than settle. This will look better on your credit report and help you avoid a lawsuit. If you can't afford to pay off your debt fully, debt settlement is still a good option.

How much is full and final settlement? ›

What is an full and final settlement? FnF is the process of paying various dues to the departing employee. The final amount will include salary up to the last working day, encashment of unused leaves, gratuity, pension and other incentives.

What is the settlement offer rule? ›

This rule as reported makes evidence of settlement or attempted settlement of a disputed claim inadmissible when offered as an admission of liability or the amount of liability. The purpose of this rule is to encourage settlements which would be discouraged if such evi- dence were admissible.

Is it better to accept a settlement or pay in full? ›

Paying a debt in full is better than settling a debt

You'll also save money. Settling the debt eliminates future interest and reduces the amount you'll repay to the lender. When you settle a debt, the creditor or debt collector will typically report the account as settled for less than what you owed.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Laurine Ryan

Last Updated:

Views: 6470

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Laurine Ryan

Birthday: 1994-12-23

Address: Suite 751 871 Lissette Throughway, West Kittie, NH 41603

Phone: +2366831109631

Job: Sales Producer

Hobby: Creative writing, Motor sports, Do it yourself, Skateboarding, Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Stand-up comedy

Introduction: My name is Laurine Ryan, I am a adorable, fair, graceful, spotless, gorgeous, homely, cooperative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.