Pay them but negotiate. Start with $200 and tell them that that's all you got. Trust m they will take what they can write off the rest. But make sure you pay in the condition that your credit score remains intact... I have done this before you can too. I started with $50 as starting point of negotiation for a $1,200 bill... The final settlement amount was $350. As I said, they will take what they can... It's in their interest to settle too. They get 0 by ruining your credit history. But they will get x > 0 by negotaiting a settlement.