How to try to settle a collection before court.

I have a debt that was sold to a collection agency, and I found this out because I received a summons from an attorney in Jan. 2010 for it. I responded to complaint, and informed the attorney and the clerk of court that I no longer live in the county they tried to serve it to me to begin with and that I couldn't go to court that far away.

I sent a validation letter to the attorney in January 2010, and the last thing i got was a change of venue court date for this week.

Some people tell me to get a lawyer but I cant afford one. so i doing this on my own, and some people say just let it go.

What should I do? should I contact the collection agency ? the attorney representing them? the original creditor wont speak or give me the time of day.

I want to avoid a judgement but cant afford the whole amount. I want to get past this.

thanks.