Portfolio Recovery Served me with civil summons

STOP..STOP..STOP

If you go into court with the same lack of understanding as you have shown here you are going to be eaten alive by their attornies.

First off people that think they don't owe anything don't go calling collection agencies looking for some settlement to pay less. If in the written email you offered to pay a lesser amount they WILL use that in court as proof that you know you owe the debt. In other words you are not only up the creek without a paddle, you don't even have a boat.

The collection agency and THEIR attorney is not there to help you. They don't care about your situation, they only care about collecting the money you owe.  They have zero incentive to make any sort of settlement unless you can pay a significant portion in a single payment before the court date and they feel you take a significant amount of time to pay them off otherwise. When I say a significant portion up front, I mean 70 80% minimum. So if you don't have around $1000 just lying around, they aren't going to talk to you.

Now, as for the court date. Whatever you do, you MUST go to court. If you fail to show up they will get a judgement against you. They could then take further action to force you to pay the money, things such as Wage Garnishment or attaching your bank account. If you show up in court you MAY get a judge who is sympathetic to your sitation and may try to work out some deal. However, you also could get a judge who is very hardline and you will end up with no help.

I would seriously consult an attorney as to how to proceed. It may cost you $200-$300 for the consultation, but in the end it may save you a couple thousand once you start adding in interest and court fees.