If you are burdened by financial hardship and bad debt, settlement may be an option. But before you make a decision to contract with a potentially unscrupulous and almost certainly costly debt settlement firm, it is important to carefully consider all of your options. According to most personal finance experts, your best bet is to eschew the middleman and attempt to negotiate directly with your creditors. By offering a straightforward account of your current and future financial situation and making a good-faith effort to meet your creditors halfway, you may be able to develop beneficial settlement terms on your own, without paying thousands of dollars in fees and charges to a third-party firm. Additionally, many credit card companies have stated publicly that they prefer to work directly with customers when it comes to negotiating a settlement - some have even instituted a company policy of refusing to work with third-party negotiators. If you are not the DIY type, consider contracting the services of a skilled debt settlement lawyer.