Even if settling is the only option available, I will probably take them up on it now as I need to clear this revolving credit from my CR's. According to the score estimator that I got with the Suzie Orman kit, doing this alone would raise my score from about 600 to up around 670 (Personally, I have my doubts it would do this much...but even if I get half that jump, it would be worth it). I also want to avoid the possibility of them filing against me before the SOL expires and desire to put this chapter of my life (when I made many bad credit decisions) behind me.