If anyone does accept the legitimate $1k inconvenience payment, make sure there isn’t a signing statement where you endorse the check. Sometimes they will add a light gray statement about this payment is not an admission of guilt but it is simply buying their peace. In that case you may be sealing a contract that gives them peace from you. They signed the front, you signed the back and the bank brokered the transaction by verification of ID and payment. Contracts don’t need to look like closing a house.