I had been paying on a credit card that I had for my business, although the card is in my personal name. After I closed the business, I came to an agreement with a collection company to continue making payments. I lost my job at the end of XX/XX/XXXX but continued making small payments to the company. I was making these payments with money from Unemployment Compensation, which I received for 6 months. I was not having success in finding work so decided to go back to school to change careers. 
I received a notice from the collection agency/attorney that they would be filing a lawsuit if I did n't settle on the account. I contactedthem and spoke to XXXX XXXX ( with whom I had been working for quite a while when I was making payments ). I wanted to come up with some kind of deferment or plan that was workable now that I am no longer working. Because I felt an impending threat, I offered to make a {$1000.00} payment after speaking to friends to come up with the money. XXXX XXXX said that they could take the money then and have a monthly amount that would increase over time. I did not want to make that commitment over the phone and asked him to send me a copy of the agreement. He agreed to this. In the conversation, it was implied that the legal action would not proceed while I was waiting for a copy of the suggested payment plan. They took my money, which I presumed was a sign of good faith from me. 
The only money that I am receiving now is from student loans that I have taken out to go to graduate school. Any money in my bank account has come from these loans. 
I assume that XXXX XXXX XXXX has since written off the account balance. There have been many collection agencies I have made payments to for this account and it seems that each company has gotten more and more aggressive with their collection tactics. 
This is n't the only debt that I have remaining from the closure of my business. I have made small payments to various collection companies for several debts. When I was working, I was able to settle on some of them, or pay them off completely. 
I am now in a situation where I will not be able to earn income until I graduate in XXXX or XX/XX/XXXX. The program I am enrolled in is very rigorous and does n't allow me time to work. I am XXXX years old so I do n't have the energy that my fellow students have, and it takes all of my time to complete my schoolwork. 
I feel that this company has been very aggressive with me. I have made payments when I can and they have kept applying pressure. After I received their latest communication ( packed into a very small envelope. I opened it with the expectation that it was finally the contract that I had requested ), I was not able to sleep well for XXXX nights. 
It has never been my intention to file bankruptcy. I have worked very hard to avoid it but feel that companies like this, and their pressuring tactics, are driving me to this. I feel harassed and taken advantage of.