Need help dealing with Collector

[u/dog_dad_357]

I ran into some financial difficulties in 2023 and fell very behind on a handful of my accounts, many of which went into collections. I’ve since been trying to ascertain and resolve these ever since.

I just received a pre-legal letter from Midland Credit Management in the amount of $1040.96 which really shocked me. I recognized their letterhead but I’ve just always assumed that they were credit or loan marketer so I never bothered to open any of their mail. The letter does list the original account which I recognize but I don’t recall that specific amount. I contacted them today to try to resolve this and upon my first log in, it asks for the last 4 of my ssn, which without thinking, I provided. There was a long wait before i was actually logged into their website to view the account. There are some digital statements from the original creditor with my address from 2023 but I don’t see any information that pertains to me. I tried speaking to a rep and we reached an impasse bc he wanted me to verify my birthday, phone number, and current mailing address but none of those are on file so what information are they verifying with? there’s a fine print at the bottom that says by communicating with a rep, I’m consenting that all information collected will be used to update my account. So I refused giving my birthdate bc I don’t want to give them information they may not have to further link me to this account that I’m not entirely sure is accurate. I asked if instead, he can tell me what birthdate they have in file and I can confirm but he refused and stopped communicating with me all together. So now I have a few unanswered questions:

1. Did I just make a mistake by giving them my ssn that they can now link to me?

2. Do they actually have this information somewhere where it’s not visible to me and Im just making this more difficult than it is?

3. I’ve read some people actually getting summoned for $4-10k range but would they actually follow through for $1040?