There are certain statements that could put you at a disadvantage when you're negotiating debt forgiveness. That can make debt forgiveness, also known as debt settlement, worth pursuing. So, before you pick up the phone, it helps to know which specific statements could put you at a disadvantage when negotiating debt forgiveness. What should you never say when negotiating debt forgiveness with a creditor? The bottom lineNegotiating debt forgiveness isn't just about convincing a creditor to accept less than the full balance.