<prompt> Human: Let me first start by saying thank you very much if you can offer any advice here. I am in a terrible financial situation due to my parents choices that were unknown to me until about a week ago. I am in the US and the other school is also in the US.So I spent a semester studying at another university about two years ago and I just received a lawsuit from a debt collector trying to collect the tuition which my mother decided to never pay she told me she had. Long story short my only option that i can see is to try and settle with them as I cant afford to pay since its a substantial amount over 10k and i just graduated and have no job or assets. There was no loan taken out as my parents were supposed to pay cash but somehow never did. I was allowed to register for classes and stay at the dorms with no problem but they are now saying i never paid a dime. according to them their policy is you cant register for classes or stay at the dorms unless you paid which they say i didnt so I dont know how that factors in.My question is since there was no student loan and they essentially allowed me to go to school without paying they are trying to collect now for the 1st time 2 years later does that make a difference on how they can collect against me and or how my credit score will be affected if i settle the debt. Thank you again.  <response>: My question is since there was no student loan and they essentially allowed me to go to school without paying they are trying to collect now for the 1st time 2 years later does that make a difference on how they can collect against me and or how my credit score will be affected if i settle the debt. Ask them to prove you owe the money. Be adamant you want the exact contract. If somebody wants your money it is up to them to prove you owe it. 