Is this Legal?

by Dave
(Virginia)

I have fallen behind on my debts and have begun trying to repay them as I can. I had a collection agency that said the were a law firm contact me for a debitor. After speaking to them I had inquired about if they offered a hardship program. They said that they could if I qualified but it had to go through the debitor. They told me to send them copies of all my bills, pay stubs, and a copy of my bank statement and they what see if I qualified. Reluctantly, I submitted the information because they said they would place a judgement against me which could result in garnishment. Long story short I later talked with the debitor themselves and told them that I was trying to apply for hardship program. The representative told me that they would not offer me the hardship and don't know why the collection people even told me that. Anyway I have given these people my info and feel that I was intentionally mislead. My question is can they legally do this??