You can contact the other party (or they can contact you) at any time to try to come to an agreement before the hearing. If you do reach an agreement, you and the other parties must let us know in writing, and copy in the other party, as soon as possible.  \r\r If you make an offer to settle and you want to keep it confidential, make it in writing to the other party and use the words ‘without prejudice’ in your offer.  \r\r This means that if your offer is not accepted by the other party, it cannot be discussed at a hearing.  \r\r You can try and resolve the dispute without VCAT right up until the day of the hearing, and for residential tenancy disputes, in the hearing. \r\r After you settle, if you’re the applicant you can end your case by asking us: \r\r \r to withdraw your application \r to strike out your case with the right to apply for reinstatement (except in a review of a planning decision)  \r for consent orders.  \r \r\r Learn more about how you can settle a dispute outside VCAT