some of the ppl on this forum are too smart for their own good.
1) don't think about negotiating paying the debt at this point.
2) stop talking to them over the phone. only in writing using certified mail.
3) dispute the tradeline based on the date of the conversation, by requesting them to Validate the debt.
4) That forces them to prove if they in fact bought the bad debt or are simply assigned the debt by Citi Bank
5) in your debt validation letter ask these q's
6) General Guidelines for your letter
1. Complete account history, the requirement of which has been established via Spears v Brennan 745 N.E.2d 862; 2001 Ind. App. LEXIS 509 and;

2. Agreement that bears the signature of the alleged debtor wherein he agreed to pay the original creditor;

3. Letter of sale or assignment from the original creditor to your company. (Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt. Coppola v. Arrow Financial Services, 302CV577, 2002 WL 32173704(D.Conn., Oct. 29, 2002) - Information relating to the purchase of a bad debt is not proprietary or burdensome. Debtor must phrase their request clearly to obtain: The source of a debt and the amount a bad debt buyer paid for plaintiff's debt, how amount sought was calculated, where in issue a list of reports to credit bureaus, and documents conferring authority on defendant to collect debt.

4. Provide date opened, date of first major delinquency and date of last activity;

5. Prove the statute of limitations has not expired on this account;

6. Intimate knowledge of the creation of the debt by you, the collection agency.