Household HSBC Watch

Did you make a deal with Household International or another lender or credit card issuer? Did they offer you a settlement to pay your account for less than the full amount? Are collectors calling with settlement offers?

Here is how you can tell if the offer is valid:

1. Agree on the terms and conditions
2. Ask the company to mail you a signed copy of the settlement offer
3. If they say you must make a decision right now, tell them to fax the offer to you instead
4. Tell them you will not agree on the phone, but will return a copy of their signed settlement offer to them, with your signature, by registered mail

If the creditor refuses steps 1 - 4 above the most likely outcome will be that you owe the balance after you paid off what you thought would be the settlement. Even if you get a printout from a collection agency demanding money on a reduced settlement payoff, call them and get a signed copy before you do anything.