Do charged-off accounts affect utilization & confused about settlements

[i_and_i]

I have two charged-off cards with 100% and 78% utilization. Chase is offering to settle for $186 on $778. When it comes to settlements, I'm confused. I've read settlements are a bad idea because you still owe the unsettled amount and paying it won't increase the credit score. I'm not sure if that's only for collection accounts, though. It's supposed to come off 11/24. 

The Self card was secured with $150 and the last balance was $140. I ended up with long-haul COVID, and could no longer make payments. I [incorrectly] thought that since they had the $150, they would pay the balance and close the card since I wasn't making payments. What happened was they paid the $140, leaving $30 in late fees. They continued to charge late fees until the account reached $117. At that point, they charged it off. 

So my questions are: Are the accounts affecting my utilization (neither say "closed" in MyFico on the Equifax report. I thought a charged-off account was a closed one)? 

Should I pay the settlement that Chase is offering? 

Bonus question: Can late charges accrue on late fees even though the balance was PIF? 

[FireMedic1]

A charge off does affect your score due to being calculated into your aggregate util. Once settled they have to report a $0 balance. Then the monthly updating will cease. Util goes down and a small score rise. Not much. The CO ranks right under a BK until it falls off. Your not the first to say they had your money. That should have taken care of it. Theres a few that play that game. So after they took their money that left you $10 until they charged the late fee. Then you were in the hole for $30. Here comes the lates because it wasnt paid. Then the CO. Which is another way of saying closed.