5 Tips for Settling Debt With Nelson and Kennard

By Talk About Debt Team
Reviewed by Ben Jackson
Last Updated: February 16, 2026
4 min read
The Bottom Line

Nelson and Kennard is a debt collection law firm that can be negotiated with successfully. Follow these five steps: respond to all communications, validate the debt, make a proactive settlement offer, negotiate counteroffers, and get your agreement in writing to resolve your debt.

Answer Your Lawsuit

Nelson and Kennard is pursuing you for an unpaid debt. You’re feeling overwhelmed and anxious about what happens next.

Settlement negotiations could help you resolve this for less than you owe. You might get the debt collection firm to accept significantly less money.

Don't Face Nelson and Kennard Alone

Nelson and Kennard is pursuing you for debt. You need to respond before they get a default judgment and garnish your wages.

Respond to Your Lawsuit

These five tips will help you settle with Nelson and Kennard successfully.

What Is Nelson and Kennard?

Nelson & Kennard is a debt collection law firm based in McClellan Park, California. The firm employs lawyers who represent creditors and debt buyers nationwide.

They take legal action to collect debts across the United States. The firm has office locations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Hawaii.

Contact Nelson & Kennard

Ready to negotiate with Nelson & Kennard? Use this contact information:

  • Phone: 866-920-2295
  • Email: info@nelson-kennard.com
  • Address: 5011 Dudley Boulevard, Building 250 Bay G, McClellan, CA 95652

5 Tips to Settle Debt With Nelson and Kennard

You’re receiving frequent phone calls and threatening letters from Nelson and Kennard. Or maybe they’ve already sued you in court.

Now is the time to take action and resolve this matter. Settling the debt is a viable option worth serious consideration.

Feeling overwhelmed about negotiating? Our partner Solo can help you send and receive settlement offers until you reach an agreement.

Tip 1: Never Ignore Debt Collection Letters or Lawsuits

You must respond to debt collection letters and lawsuit documents. Ignoring these communications creates serious problems for you.

Failing to respond to a lawsuit allows the court to enter a default judgment. Once that happens, Nelson and Kennard can garnish your wages or place liens on your property.

Default judgments give debt collectors powerful tools to collect from you. Don’t let that happen.

Tip 2: Exercise Your Right to Debt Validation

The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects your rights. You can formally request that Nelson and Kennard validate the alleged debt.

Send them a Debt Validation Letter to confirm they have accurate information. The letter helps you verify whether the debt collector has correct details.

After receiving your letter, Nelson and Kennard must provide:

  • The specific amount you allegedly owe
  • The original creditor’s name and contact details
  • A statement advising you have 30 days to dispute the matter
  • A statement that they’ll provide additional information if you disagree

Tip 3: Be Proactive and Send a Settlement Offer

The debt turned out to be valid. Now you need to be proactive and send a settlement offer letter.

Sending an initial offer kicks off the negotiation process. Your opening offer should generally be less than the maximum you can pay.

A low opening offer provides room to negotiate with the collector. Never offer an amount you cannot actually afford to pay.

Your offer should be an amount you’re prepared to pay immediately upon acceptance. Plan ahead before getting on the phone or sending your letter.

Consider offering around 50 percent of the amount owed as your opening bid. Use non-round numbers like $1,554.23 instead of $2,000.

Non-round numbers signal that you’ve thoroughly analyzed your finances. They show you’ve determined an exact amount you can afford.

Tip 4: Prepare for Counteroffers and Negotiation

Nelson and Kennard will likely reject your initial settlement offer. Don’t be surprised or disappointed when that happens.

Rejection is very common and part of the standard debt settlement process. You’ll probably receive a counteroffer from the law firm.

A counteroffer is actually a positive sign. It means Nelson and Kennard is open to settlement negotiations with you.

Be ready to adjust your offer based on their response. Stay within your budget throughout the negotiation process.

Tip 5: Get the Settlement Agreement in Writing

You reached an agreement with Nelson and Kennard. Congratulations on this important step forward.

Now you must get the specific settlement terms in writing. Either you can draft the agreement or request that they draft it.

If Nelson and Kennard drafts the settlement agreement, review every term carefully. Make sure the obligations are clear and match what you discussed.

Sign the agreement and ensure a representative from Nelson and Kennard signs too. Once memorialized, you can proceed with payment via mail or their payment portal.

Nelson and Kennard Reviews

Want to learn more about Nelson and Kennard before engaging with them? Read their online reviews to understand consumer experiences.

Nelson and Kennard’s Yelp rating is only 1.2 stars out of 5. Their Better Business Bureau rating is just 1 star out of 5.

Fourteen complaints have been filed by consumers with the Better Business Bureau. These ratings suggest many consumers have had negative experiences with the firm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nelson and Kennard?

Nelson and Kennard is a debt collection law firm based in McClellan Park, California that represents creditors, debt buyers, and third-party collection agencies. The firm operates nationwide with offices in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Hawaii.

How do I validate a debt with Nelson and Kennard?

Send Nelson and Kennard a Debt Validation Letter requesting proof of the debt. Under the FDCPA, they must provide the specific amount owed, the original creditor's information, and statements about your right to dispute the debt within 30 days.

What percentage should I offer to settle with Nelson and Kennard?

Start with an opening offer around 50% of the total debt amount, but only offer what you can actually afford to pay immediately. Use non-round numbers like $1,554.23 instead of $2,000 to show you've carefully calculated your finances.

Can I negotiate with Nelson and Kennard after being sued?

Yes, you can still negotiate a settlement with Nelson and Kennard even after they've filed a lawsuit against you. You must respond to the lawsuit to avoid a default judgment while simultaneously pursuing settlement negotiations.

What happens if I ignore Nelson and Kennard's lawsuit?

Ignoring a lawsuit from Nelson and Kennard will result in a default judgment against you. Once they have a judgment, they can garnish your wages, place liens on your property, and levy your bank accounts to collect the debt.