xmcp - make sure the company removes your bad credit listing (if it's there). chances if you're in collections they've reported the incident to the big 3 credit bureaus... only they can get it removed, and any settlement on your part (or theirs) should be contingent on them removing the bad report, otherwise you'll walk away from this thinking it worked out with a happy ending until 6 months later you're in a car dealership ready to buy and the salesman walks toward you from his office, your report in hand, shaking his head...