What does the Japanese mean?

@small_snow
@Pfirsichbaeumchen
@KK_kaku_

I don't know if the English sentence is natural or not, but I think it's close enough to the Japanese translation.
- Don't tell me it was really a demand for money from debt collectors?

The Japanese sentence has no subject, so there are several possible patterns. For example:
(1) まさか、(あれって)本当の借金の催促だったの？
Don't tell me it was a real demand for money from debt collectors!
Do you mean to say it was a real demand for payment of debt?
I never thought it was a real demand payment of the debt.

(2) まさか、本当に(俺に)借金を返せって言ったの？
Don't tell me you're really trying to get me to pay my debts!
Did you mean to say asking me to pay back my debts?

I'm not sure of my English as usual, but the meaning is like those, I think.
@Pfirsichbaeumchen, @KK_kaku_, what do you think about that?

Does 借金の催促 necessarily come from debt collectors, or could a firm you haven't paid yet send you one to remind you? I don't know business practices in the US or Japan enough to answer. They are certainly different in Germany. 😊

Maybe:
- No way, is this really a debt collection request?
- No way, is this really a debt collection call?
- No way, was that really a debt collection request?
- No way, is this really a debt collection call?

The existing english sentence is a bit unnatural in my opinion, and not very polyvalent.

>Does 借金の催促 necessarily come from debt collectors, or could a firm you haven't paid yet send you one to remind you?

Ah, I see. Certainly, the Japanese sentence doesn't say "借金取りから (from debt collector)." Thanks.

Thanks, everyone!