Some thoughts
They cannot take away our self--respect if we do not give it to them. – Gandhi
Know your rights – e.g. if collectors are not authorised to contact you in the office (like in some Jurisdictions) then complain .... always in writing .
Limitation starts once again from an acknowledgement of a debt. Your 6 years starts all over again.
Do not make any commitment you cannot keep (under pressure)
They can't get blood from a stone, hence acknowledge their call (you are probably paying for it anyway) and budget yourself for Repayment, basic needs first. Thereafter prioritize.
Seek A Financial Consultant but usually whatever advice can received is "within you" and be done by yourself..... search yourself
"All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. The only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. You may succeed in making another feel guilty about something by blaming him, but you won't succeed in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy."Wayne Dyer
