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How to Settle Debt With Michael J Adams PC

George Simons | January 24, 2025

George Simons
Co-Founder of SoloSuit
George Simons, JD/MBA

George Simons is the co-founder and CEO of SoloSuit. He has helped Americans protect over $1 billion from predatory debt lawsuits. George graduated from BYU Law school in 2020 with a JD-MBA. In his spare time, George likes to cook, because he likes to eat.

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 settle debt with Michael J. Adams PC, file a written Answer with the court to avoid default judgment and give yourself time to negotiate. Next, assess your finances, propose a settlement, negotiate terms, and get a written agreement to resolve the issue. Solo can help you with all these steps and more.

Financial challenges can arise unexpectedly, but taking proactive steps to address outstanding debts can help you regain control and move toward a more stable financial future. If you’re dealing with collection activity from firms like Michael J. Adams PC, the key is to engage directly and work toward a resolution.

Open communication is essential. Reaching out to collectors allows you to clarify your situation, validate the debt, and explore settlement or repayment options that fit your financial circumstances. Many collectors are willing to work with individuals who demonstrate a genuine intent to resolve their debts.

If you’ve received a lawsuit notice, it’s important not to ignore it. Instead, respond promptly with a legal Answer to protect your rights and avoid a default judgment. Understanding your rights and engaging in the process can help you negotiate settlements, prevent further collection activity, and get back on track financially. Empower yourself with knowledge and take control of your financial journey!

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Who is Michael J Adams PC?

Michael J Adams PC is a debt collection law firm that helps creditors collect debts. The firm is based in San Antonio, Texas, and its lawyers initiate litigation and execute judgments against debtors who have defaulted on payments.

Michael J Adams PC prides itself on firm debt collection policies and the vast experience that ensures clients benefit from its well-thought-out business decisions. The firm has represented renowned creditors, including GE Money Bank, Try Capital LLC, and American Express Bank. If Michael J Adams PC is suing you, see below for ways to preserve your rights and work toward a settlement.

Who does Michael J. Adams, PC, collect for?

Michael J. Adams PC collects for a wide variety of businesses, including:

  • American Express Bank
  • Duke Capital, LLC
  • GE Money Bank
  • Genesis Recovery Services, Inc.
  • Integras Capital Recovery, LLC
  • Forsythe Finance, LLC
  • Try Capital LLC

These are just a few of Michael J. Adams, PC’s clients. Credit card companies, consumer lending agencies, and other creditors may rely on the services of Michael J. Adams, PC, to recover debts for them.

Respond to the Michael J Adams PC lawsuit quickly to avoid a Default Judgment

The most common mistake debtors make when sued is to ignore the Summons and Complaint. However, if you owe a debt or have been sued in error, it's vital to respond to the allegations.

The debtor must file a response with the clerk of court within 20-30 days. Debtors can respond to the lawsuit in either of the following ways:

  1. File an Answer
  2. File a Notice of Appearance

File an Answer to the allegations

An Answer is a written response to the statements in a complaint that confirms whether you deny, admit, or are not knowledgeable regarding the plaintiff's assertions. You shouldn't admit to the statements if you disagree with them. For example, if you are unsure about the amount owed or the account number listed for the credit card number, your answer should state that you disagree with the allegations.

Filing a response on time ensures that you retain your rights to argue the matter in court and obtain a notice of future hearings. Be sure to send a copy to the Michael J Adams PC representative and keep a copy for reference.

File a Notice of Appearance to Require a Hearing

A Notice of Appearance is a response that states your intention to appear in court. Delivering a Notice of Appearance prevents the court from entering a default judgment without a hearing. Unlike filing an Answer, a Notice of Appearance does not explain your position regarding the lawsuit.

Respond with SoloSuit to avoid default judgment.

Request proof that you owe the debt

Buying, servicing, and selling of debt is so common that the original creditor rarely holds debtors’ accounts for long. Creditors enlist debt collection law firms as their last resort when agencies cannot collect the debt.

This means that Michael J Adams PC is unlikely to have the original contract you signed with the creditor. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and state debt collection statutes, if a debt collector or collection law firm sues you, it must:

  • Attach to the Complaint a written contract, an agreement, or a copy of the account, or state why the document hasn't been attached
  • Attach proof of assignment

If it can't provide either of the documents, the court may dismiss the case. Alternatively, you can ask the court to require the debt collection firm to provide the missing documentation. This is called requesting a more definite statement. Debtors are required to file a formal motion with the court in either of these scenarios.

It's important to note that you must request that the firm's representative send the proof within 30 days of receiving the debt's initial written notice. Once the law firm gets the letter, it must:

  • Stop any debt collection activity, including filing or continuing the lawsuit.
  • Provide the requested proof.

If the debt collection firm fails to provide proof of assignment and continues to demand payment, you can file a counterclaim in a state or federal court. Some states allow debtors to counter-sue for damages against the creditor for failing to verify the debt. If successful, you get $1,000 for every lawsuit and are compensated for court costs, attorney fees, and damages.

Make the right defense the right way with SoloSuit.

Make the right defense if you’ve been sued by Michael J Adams PC

Submitted Payment of the Debt in Part or Full as a Defense

Payment makes an excellent defense in any debt collection lawsuit. It is still a valid defense if you paid a different party, such as the original creditor, after your name has been forwarded to Michael J Adams PC. If the creditor hasn't alerted the law firm and you have been sued, you can assert payment as a defense. The amount can be in part or in full.

Mistaken Identity or Identity Theft as a Defense

This is a valid defense if the debt for which you're being sued isn't yours. Mistaken identity occurs when the debt collection law firm mistakenly identifies you as someone else with the same name or other identifying information.

Identity theft happens when a person steals your name and personal information to open credit accounts in your name. Since the onus of proof lies with the plaintiff to prove that you owe the debt, you can deny the charge based on either of these defenses.

Use the statute of limitations as a defense

The debt may be too old to be enforced. According to state law, debt collectors and law firms have a limited time to file lawsuits against debtors. The period varies by state, ranging from three to twenty years.

If the statute in your state is five years for your debt, and this time has elapsed, the statute of limitations is a valid defense. You should avoid making payments before the period lapses as it resets the time all over again.

If Michael J Adams PC is suing you, it’s important to note that you have options. Make sure you file your Answer on time to avoid a default judgment. You can use any of these defenses when responding to a lawsuit for nonpayment of debt.

How to settle a debt with Michael J. Adams, PC

Settling a debt is often the best resolution, especially if Michael J. Adams, PC has filed a lawsuit against you. Don’t let the thought of attempting to settle a debt be intimidating. It’s actually a straightforward process that includes the following steps:

  1. Take a hard look at your current financial situation. How much can you afford to offer to settle the debt? There is no magic number, but having at least 50% of the amount owed is a good starting point.
  2. Make an offer to settle for less. Explain the hardships that have contributed to the need to settle, the proposed settlement amount, and when you can pay. Be prepared for negotiations at this point. Michael J. Adams, PC, may send you a counteroffer.
  3. Get a signed settlement agreement. Once you’ve reached an agreement, make sure you receive a signed copy of the settlement agreement, often referred to as a stipulated judgment, for your records. Ensure that the document gets filed with the court to prevent further legal issues.
  4. Make the payment by the agreed-upon date.

To learn more about debt settlement, watch the following video:

Read Michael J Adams, PC reviews to prepare to engage with the law firm

Learning about Michael J Adams, PC can help you prepare to negotiate. Understanding what you’re up against when crafting a lawsuit defense or a settlement strategy will also help you prepare. Read these Michael J Adams PC reviews Read the consumer reviews online to learn from others’ experiences as you prepare to negotiate your debt to resolve it:

Let’s look at a real example of a Micahel J Adams PC review from Jonathan:

“Very easy to deal with and negotiated a settlement with me in just several minutes of talking to them. Lesson learned never co-sign on a vehicle for anyone including family.”

Clearly it’s possible to negotiate with the law firm and resolve your outstanding debt, but the key is to communicate openly and honestly about your situation. The thought of calling a law firm to negotiate intimidates most people, so we created SoloSettle to help streamline the negotiating process and move debt settlement online.

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