<prompt> Human: I received a call from my Mother today around noon informing me quite angrily that she had received a call from a collection agency. I had no idea what it could have been about so I had her forward me the number to call and I did. I spoke with a gentleman on the phone about the debt which was related to an apartment that I had lived in up until about 14 months ago.I asked why I had not been contacted in the past about the debt which I was still uncertain about and he told me that they were the third company to have the debt and I should have been contacted. He gave me a total that was up for collections of up around 4400 and asked me how Id like to pay. Flabbergasted at the amount I didnt know what to say. I told him I couldnt pay the balance straight up and asked if they did installments. He gave two equally silly alternatives, the first was two installments half half; the other was one down payment of 1300 and 10 installments of 300 monthly.After giving me the payment options, he asked how Id like to pay again and recommended that I just pay the full balance. I told him that Id have to call back. He then informed me that a decision must be made by 2pm tomorrow or consequences.I checked my credit score and nothing has been reported as of yet.I called back an hour later to get some clarification as well as some more understanding since I had calmed down from the initial shock.I spoke to the same person who I suppose is my point of contact for the matter and requested a letter explaining the debt be sent to my address since I still have not seen this debt in writing. He told me he would but told me that I still needed to have a decision made by 2pm tomorrow and berated me about knowing what I had done and to just face the situation and pay it, and trying to intimidate me with consequences. I asked what the consequences would be if he didnt have his answer by tomorrow. He kept repeating collections will continue, collections will continue, collections will continue. I asked what that meant, he just said collections will continue.I made sure to be abundantly clear that this was not a refusal to pay, but I wanted clarification in writing before I settled a debt for that amount of money.Long story short I feel like Im not being shown all my options and want it showing in writing that I owe a debt. What is my best course of action?EDIT: Thanks to everyone for your advice. I have asked for a letter confirming the debt and upon receiving that I will send a letter requesting validation of the debt. Im going to try and contact him this morning and let him know that all further communication should be conducted through the mail.  <response>: Do what the links tell you to do in the automod response for dealing with collections. 