Even if you have a very tense relationship with a creditor, debt negotiation strategies may still help you seek a resolution to the problem. The first step in the process involves gathering documentary evidence to substantiate your claims of financial hardship. You need to make a strong case for your claim that you are facing extreme financial distress and that you will be unlikely to recover and resume making standard monthly payments in the near future. After this has been established, it is important to make a debt negotiation offer that is likely to be accepted. In most cases, your creditor may have a formula in place that they use to calculate settlement offers. If the figure that they name is out of reach for you financially, you may be able to counter with a lower offer. However, if you make the mistake of advancing a figure that is unrealistically low, your creditor may take this as a sign that you are not acting in good faith, prompting them to halt the negotiations process altogether. As such, it is important to name a settlement figure that is low, but not too low. After your settlement offer has been accepted, submit the funds as soon as possible. In most cases, it is preferable to pay via cashier's check sent by certified mail, although your lender may impose their own payment requirements.