Start My Answer

5 Steps to Resolve a Debt With Equinox Collections

Sarah Edwards | February 12, 2024

Sarah Edwards
Legal Expert
Sarah Edwards, BS

Sarah Harris is a professional researcher and writer specializing in legal content. An Emerson College alumna, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the prestigious Boston institution.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: To resolve debt with Equinox Collections, you must know your rights, request debt validation, pay off any debt that is validated, respond to any pending lawsuits, and consider debt settlement. SoloSuit can help you with all these steps and more.

Dodging debt collectors might work for a certain amount of time. However, avoiding paying a debt can lead to much bigger problems. In some cases, a debt collector might even file a debt collection lawsuit against you. That can cause even more financial hardship.

If Equinox Collection Services has been calling you to collect on a debt, the best course of action is to face the issue, resolve it, and move on. Here’s how you can do that.

Resolve debt through debt settlement.

Settle with SoloSettle

Make an Offer

What is Equinox Collection Services?

Equinox Collection Services is a debt collection agency founded in 2004, and its headquarters are located in Oklahoma. Here's the Equinox Collections phone number and other contact information:

  • Address: 10159 E 11th St, Ste 500, Tulsa, OK
  • Phone: 866-337-9736
  • Other phone: 918-615-0045

Somewhat confusingly, when you click on “visit website” on the business’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile, it takes you to a website for NorthStar Technologies. If you get a debt collection notice from Equinox Collection Services or NorthStar Technologies, it’s important to note that the debt is from the same company.

So, in other words, Equinox Collections is just another name for NorthStar Technologies.

Read Equinox Collection Services reviews online

Equinox Collection Services has been in business for 20 years, but as of 2024, there are no customer reviews on the company’s BBB profile, and only two complaints have been filed against the company in the past three years.

Both of these complaints claimed that the business was trying to collect for a debt the individual did not owe.

Equinox Collection Services has a BBB rating of A+. However, it’s not BBB-accredited.

There are also no complaints against Equinox Collection Services on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database. However, we found that since 2011, 24 complaints had been filed against NorthStar Technologies, the company’s alternate name.

Many of the complaints included allegations that the company:

  • Filed a lawsuit without properly notifying the consumer.
  • Didn’t notify consumers of their right to dispute.
  • Tried to collect debt that had either been paid off or was never owed.
  • Continued to contact consumers after being asked to stop.

Other complaints mention that the company would not validate a debt.

Resolve debt with Equinox Collection Services in five steps

When you’re contacted by a debt collector, it’s tempting to pay whatever the company claims you owe immediately so that you can put the matter behind you as soon as possible. But you may end up paying more than you owe, or paying for a debt you don’t owe at all.

Instead, follow these five steps to resolve your debt:

1. Know your rights

Fortunately, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the tactics collectors can use to collect debt. But perhaps more importantly, it gives you the right to ask the collector to prove you actually owe the money. If the collector can’t prove it, you don’t have to pay.

2. Make Equinox Collection Services prove you owe money

If you want proof, you need to make the request for verification in writing using something called a Debt Validation Letter. In that letter, you need to ask for the following things:

  • The name of the original creditor.
  • How much you allegedly owe.
  • A copy of your signed contract with the original creditor.
  • Proof that Equinox Collection Services is legally authorized to collect the debt.
  • The company’s license number to operate in your state of residence.

If you get a notice or a phone call from Equinox Collection Services, you should draft and send your Debt Validation Letter as soon as possible. You only have 30 days from the original notice to request proof.

Check out SoloSuit’s video on how to make a Debt Validation Letter!

3. If Equinox Collection Services proves you owe, make sure you pay

If you don’t hear back from Equinox Collection Services, you’re likely in the clear — that means the company is either unable or unwilling to validate the debt. However, if the company does validate the debt, you need to take action. If you don’t, the company can file a lawsuit against you, and that can cause even more trouble.

But what if you can’t pay all of what you owe? In this case, it’s worth asking for a payment plan, or asking if Equinox Collection Services would accept a slightly lower payment. To understand how this works, let’s consider an example:

Example: Tori gets a letter from Equinox Collection Services claiming she owes $500 on an old medical bill. She uses SoloSuit to send a Debt Validation Letter. Equinox Collection Services proves she owes the debt, but she doesn’t have $500 to spare. Tori calls up Equinox Collection Services and explains the situation. The company asks if she could pay $50 per month for 10 months, and she agrees. Tori makes sure she makes the payment on time every month, and within a year, the debt is completely paid off.


If you do get a payment plan, make sure you stick to it. If you default, the company will likely resume collection actions against you or file a lawsuit. To pay Equinox Collections, you can use the comapany's online payment portal.

4. If you’re sued, know your deadlines and follow them

If you do get a notice of a lawsuit, it’s important to respond by your state’s deadline. Usually, that’s within 20-30 days. If you don’t respond, you’ll likely lose by default. In that case, you might have your wages garnished or even have the amount you owe taken from your bank account.

To respond to a lawsuit, you need to file an Answer letter with the court.

File your Answer in minutes with SoloSuit.

5. Consider settling

Lawsuits are long and expensive, so it’s usually best to negotiate a settlement. This means that you settle the debt by paying less than the original amount. In return, the plaintiff drops the lawsuit.

You don’t need an attorney to settle — SoloSuit can negotiate with the collector for you to settle your debt for less.

Ready to face your debt?

Dealing with debt can feel incredibly stressful. However, it’s far less stressful in the long run to deal with your debt now. Fortunately, you don’t have to face debt alone. Let SoloSuit help you get closer to being debt-free!

Get started with SoloSettle by SoloSuit today!

To learn more about how to settle your debt, check out this video:

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Guides on how to resolve debt with every debt collector

Are you being sued by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Resolve your debt with your creditor

Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.

Settle your medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Guides on arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Stop calls from debt collectors

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Federal debt collection laws can protect you

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Get debt relief in your state

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt collection laws in all 50 states

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt state guides

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote a guide on each state’s statutes. Check it out below.

Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection by State (Best Guide)

Check the status of your court case

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.

How to stop wage garnishment in your state

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in all 50 states.

Other wage garnishment resources

How to settle a debt in your state

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

How to settle with every debt collector

Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.

Other debt settlement resources

Personal loan and debt relief reviews

We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.

How to repair and improve your credit score

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt.

How to resolve student loan debt

Struggling with student debt? SoloSuit’s got you covered. Below are resources on handling student loan debt.

Civil law legal definitions

You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.

Get answers to these FAQs on debt collection

How-to debt guides

Learn more with these additional debt resources