Before paying a negotiated lump sum, you must receive a written settlement letter from the bank or collector.

: Medical bills or notices of employment loss.

: Explores how small businesses use credit cards as a primary financing source.

This is a formal request for a debt collector to provide detailed proof that you actually owe the debt.

If you find an error on your bill, write a separate dispute letter rather than writing on the bill itself.

: If you are judgment proof (e.g., your only income is Social Security), you may need to file an "Exemption Claim Form" with your bank. Research and Policy Papers

: A technical paper on how revolving debt affects consumer spending over a lifetime.

If you are looking for academic "papers" regarding credit card debt: