Received a credit card debt forgiveness letter? Here's what to do next.

A credit card debt forgiveness letter isn't necessarily the finish line when it comes to dealing with your debt issues. Andrii Dodonov/Getty Images

When a credit card issuer agrees to forgive a portion of your balance, you may receive an official letter stating that a portion of your debt has been forgiven. This marks a significant milestone in your financial recovery, as for most borrowers, that letter generally comes after months of financial strain, collection calls or an overdue account that's weighed heavily on both their finances and minds. So when that envelope containing your credit card debt forgiveness letter finally lands in your mailbox or email inbox, it can feel like an unexpected weight is lifting. But here's what many people don't realize: That letter isn't t