<prompt> Human: I got a free credit report as part of a lease application and discovered some shocking information:Back in 2009 before I knew anything about credit I opened a joint credit card account with my sister. I was under the impression that after I moved across the country that she had paid off the balanced and closed the card. Looking at my credit report, it seems the payments became delinquent in July 2015, and have since gone into collections in December 2015. It has been in collections ever since. It is at a high balance of 5990 and a past due balance of 2594.I am planning on reaching out to my sister tonight for a WHAT THE HELL talk, but given her financial situation I have no hope that she will take care of this problem for us.I am pretty sure that I am going to have to settle this debt since I am a co-owner of this credit card. What are my best options to settle the debt and improve my credit scorehistory?Based on my credit report I think I know who the debt was sold to. Do I contact the debt collection company directly? Should I work with some 3rd party company? Contact the original creditor? Is this something I can settle for less than total value? Any advice on next steps would be greatly, greatly appreciated.  <response>: High balance is just the highest balance ever reported in the past, not super relevant here. So, its in collections for 2594, not 8k. Make sure you dont overpay 