My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Colorado
I used to live at a college dorm in Denver back in 2009. I had to pay for my rent and food plan at the beginning of each semester. I only lived there for 2 semesters and moved out a month early even tho the last month was paid for and they wouldn't give me the money for the last month when I asked... A few months ago a collection agency called me up saying I owe them roughly 2,700 hundred dollars in fees and whatever else they didn't go into. The person said she would look into it and never got back to me, so I didn't see any issues with it and figured they made a mistake... Now they're taking me to court and I don't have money for a lawyer, and I can't get any bank statements from my old bank as they don't have them anymore; so I have no way to prove that I paid them... I know I did because they were anal about being paid at the beginning of the semester. All I have is a my friend as a witness when I first moved in there that I had to write them a check for the full amount for the first semester or they wouldn't let me move in...
In the court papers it's an invoice with all the late fees printed off a computer and a tenant ledger printed off a computer. In the invoice it says that I owe for July's rent + 121$ late fee and then 160$ added on for every month (12 months).
I guess I'm wondering how much on my end do I have to prove? How can they prove that there is no way an accounting error didn't happen on their end. Seems unfair that I can be taken to court so long after the fact, and I can't prove my innocence since the documentation(Bank Statements) that would end the argument doesn't exist anymore...
Anyway thanx for any help!
P.S. Can I be looking at jail time or anything of the sort if I'm found guilty and can't pay them? I know it's not criminal court, but I've never been to civil/debt court before. I'm just broke like the rest of the country and couldn't come up with 2,700$. Honestly I would have to apply for bankruptcy because if they garnished my wages or anything I would be out on the street as I'm barely getting by with bills/rent atm.

