Exactly. Some blogs and other websites are offering bad advice. Performing overt actions such as: checking one's credit, sending debt validation letters, paying small amounts, maintaining other debt at the expense of another, seeking jobs which check credit, and others can empower debt collectors to pursue that individual vigorously. On the other hand, a completely destroyed credit report (100% charge offs) with no known mortgage or vehicle with a hard-to-find debtor is unlikely to be pursued since they are more likely to be collection/judgment proof.

What many people do not realize is that most charged-off debt is uncollectible. Only a small fraction actually gets paid. Most debtors cannot be located by their collectors, and that's the primary reason why debt collectors will normally settle for less than what is owed.