Debt collection- who to contact/negotiate?

Hello-
My boyfriend has been receiving letters from a debt collectors regarding a couple of bills- they aren't excessive ..one is for 700 and one is for 400. One is a utility bill(700) and the other, I think is overdraft from a previous bank account.

There are medical/mental health issues that are recently diagnosed that will be life long. He was unable to work or take care of any finances for a bit, which is why the bills went unpaid. I'm helping him resolve things now as he can not do so at the current time. I can't pay the bills for him.How should I proceed? He cannot even afford a $100 a month payment plan. Should I contact the utility company? I called the debt collector and they said the account would be sent back to them anyday and that it would be in my best interest to set up a plan with the debt collectors before that happens. This sounds like a scam. He earned the debt, I know this, but do companies ever make exceptions or decrease amount owed?
What should I do?

**********Leslie**********,
Thank you for your reply...What do you mean by once they get it back without intervention and taking it to court? Who get what back...what kind of intervention do you mean?

Call the utility company and be prepared to back up the medical emergency with supporting doctor bills etc. and ask that they drop the amt. owed. May work but if they get it back without any intervention they WILL go to court and get a judgment.

STOP talking to the collection agency PERIOD. Everything to them should be in writing ONLY.

Good luck

You can contact the original debtor and set up a payment plan of whatever per month.... you can also offer the debt collector like $350 for the $700 one and see if they will settle it, however, that will more than likely be required to be paid immedietly once a settlement is agreed upon.......

Hope this helps and good luck....