This paper briefly analyses the new legislation related to the procedures of friendly settlement of consumer debts. The law of December 20, 2002 tackles two specific kinds of settlements. The first concerns the creditor who personally settles the debt. The second relates to the, sometimes questionable, practices of debt-collecting agencies. For both kind of settlements, the legislation imposes the application of specific rules. The paper especially focuses on the rules attorneys must apply if the creditor requests him or her to intervene in the friendly settlement of debts.