Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania

First, you should consult a lawyer to deal with the collection agency on your behalf. Second you should check out the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices act at:

www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf

The Act regulates what debt collecters can and can't do, and provides for $1,000 in damages for each violation of the Act plus payment of your attorneys fees if you win.

Finally, you are going to have to deal with the fact that this debt won't go away, so its important to determine how they calculated the amount due, and to try negotiate or have your attorney negotiate a reasonable payment schedule that you can afford. Also, an attorney can advise you what responsibility, if any, your parents might have for the repayment of the debt. You're too young to declare bankruptcy and ruin your credit for 10 years. A lawyer will usually not charge for an initial visit and will advise you of your options. In the meantime, you should document each and every you have with the collection agency, including date, time and the person you spoke with.