Old credit card account

How much is the debt? Once a crediter sends your account to a collection agency you have to deal with them BUT the credit card company will not refuse your payment. Find out the # to the credit card company and ask to speak with their collections department and let them know the collection agency in charge of your account is refusing your offer for repayment. See if the credit card company will give you an address to send in payments. Aslo ask if a charge off is available. This will be a negative mark on your credit bureau but if it is available they will give you lower payoff amount.
Also ask if you can work with Consumer Credit Counseling Services to get a plan for repayment. This company works with the credit card company to develop a plan (lower apr, minimum payment amount) to pay of consumer debt. It is a free service but I'm not sure if they can help once the credit card account goes to collections. Call them first 1-800-355-2227.

Also check the "Statue of Limitations", usually 6 years. You may not have to pay at all. You should check with a reputable credit counselor for the correct information.

If you live in california the time limitation for collection of a debt is four years. So if they havent collected their out of luck. Let them know that you are aware of this. You can take legal action.

They could take you to court and take you for just about anything that they want. or else garnish your wages for what they want, and not what you can pay.

If it's truly your debt, you'll need to pay it. The good news is that after this length of time you can probably get them to settle for pennies on the dollar. Handle all communication by certified mail, keep copies and don't do anything until they've done what you need first. (Don't pay it until they've supplied a letter stating that your payment, when received, will be accepted as payment in full. Then pay them, also by certified mail with copies of the money order or cashiers check.)