Start My Answer

How to Beat RSIEH in Court

Melissa Lyken | December 11, 2023

Melissa-Lyken
Legal Expert, Paralegal
Melissa Lyken, BS

Melissa Lyken is a senior paralegal and legal-finance content writer with over eight years of professional legal and business experience and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

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: Don't know how you're going to beat RSIEH in court? We've got you covered. Learn all about this debt collection firm and how to win against them.

Are you being sued by the RSIEH for an unpaid debt? Not to worry, there are several ways you can defend yourself in court. RSIEH is a debt collection agency tasked with collecting debt on behalf of lenders, banks, credit unions, and credit card issuers.

The most common mistake debtors make when they are sued for debt is ignoring the lawsuit. Ignoring the debt is the worst thing you could do as it allows judges to rule in the plaintiff's favor automatically. This shouldn't be the case, as there are effective defenses debtors can utilize to beat RSIEH in court.

Who Is RSIEH?

RSIEH is an acronym for Rausch, Sturm, Israel, Enerson, and Hornik. It is a debt collection law firm based in Wisconsin that helps financial institutions and creditors collect a debt. The firm was established in 1997 and incorporated in 2008. According to its website, RSIEH assists credit issuers and consumers in resolving financial setbacks.

RSIEH has strict philosophies regarding honesty, fairness, and giving back to the community, but it lacks regulatory compliance policies. This omission sometimes causes the company to engage in illegal debt collection practices, including those prohibited by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. An awareness of your rights is critical when identifying plausible defenses against RSIEH.

Make the right defense the right way with SoloSuit.

Hold RSIEH Accountable to the FDCPA to Beat Them in Court

Get Everything in Writing

Debt collectors are notorious for misrepresenting facts, especially if there's no written proof indicating otherwise. If they call you over the phone, it can be challenging to hold them accountable for the conversation. As such, it's essential to insist that all communication with the RSIEH be in writing.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) requires communication between debtors and debt collection agencies via U.S. mail. If the debt collector violates this rule, you can use it as a defense in court.

Ask for Proof That You Owe the Debt

If the company is collecting an old debt, it has probably changed hands so many times that RSIEH doesn't have written proof indicating the person owing and the amount owed. The FDCPA requires that debt collectors send written notice to the debtor that proves they owe the debt, the amount, and the name of the original creditor.

If this is not provided, the debtor can dispute the debt within 30 days; once disputed, RSIEH must cease all debt collection efforts (including suing the debtor) until they have verified that you owe the debt. If the RSIEH proceeds with filing a lawsuit without providing the required written notice, you can file a small claims action in state court. However, you must prove that:

  • You mailed a letter to RSIEH to request proof that you owe the debt.
  • The RSIEH received the letter.
  • The company failed to provide the requested verification.

Respond to debt collection lawsuits in 15 minutes with SoloSuit.

File a Countersuit Case Study: Kelly Fosen vs. RSIEH

Kelly Fosen, a Texas resident, owed Citibank a certain amount of money. The bank wrote to Fosen to inform her that they would involve a third party if the amount weren't paid. The credit card provider decided to involve RSIEH after Fosen made no attempt to pay the debt.

Fosen disputed the debt, asking Citibank to prove she owed money. RSIEH still filed a lawsuit without serving her with the petition. Since Fosen didn't receive any papers to prove she owed debt despite disputing the debt within the allowed window period, she filed a countersuit against both the credit company and RSIEH, alleging that both corporations violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Know Your Rights Under the FDCPA to Win Your Case

The Federal Trade Commission enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and makes it illegal for debt collectors to abuse debtors or use unfair practices when collecting debts. Debt collectors are prohibited from:

  • Calling you at work if calls aren't allowed during working hours
  • Calling you at inconvenient times
  • Discussing your debt with anybody other than you, your lawyer, or spouse
  • Falsely claiming that you'll be arrested if you fail to pay the debt.
  • Threatening to take property unless they have a warrant
  • Harassing, threatening, or using obscene language when collecting debt
  • Lying about your debt, including stating that you owe a different amount than you owe

If RSIEH violates any of these rules, you can use it as a defense in court. However, this is only valid within a year from the date the law was violated. If successful, you're entitled to damages, including lost wages, but if you can't prove damages, you may be awarded up to $1,000 and reimbursed court costs and attorney fees.

Don't let debt collectors push you around. Respond with SoloSuit.

Use the Statute of Limitations as a Defense

After a certain amount of time, the statute of limitations on some debts expires, prohibiting RSIEH debt collectors from filing any lawsuits. The statute of limitations is a rule that sets the period within which a creditor or debt collector can sue for payment of a debt. It varies by state, type of debt, and whether your agreement with the creditor was in writing.

For example, in Ohio, the statute of limitations for written contracts is eight years from the date the debtor breaches the contract.

In case of mortgage foreclosure, banks have up to 21 years to file a foreclosure action against debtors. The statute of limitations begins the day you fail to make payment. If you make a payment or admit guilt after being served, the statute of limitations starts again. It's important to note that even when a debt is time-barred, you still need to respond to your lawsuit.

Once the statute of limitations expires, the debt is deemed time-barred. This is another defense you can use to beat RSIEH in court. When a debt is time-barred, a debtor can:

  • Pay off the debt: This option is ideal for debtors who want to eliminate debt. You can pay the whole debt or a part of it in an arrangement called a settlement. Be sure to request a signed letter stating the amount paid and that you've been released from the debt.
    • Pay nothing: The debt collector can't sue for a time-barred debt, but they have a right to continue contacting you. You can stop the process by sending a letter to RSIEH.

Being sued by a law firm may seem like you are in an unfair fight. Ignoring the lawsuit allows RSIEH to obtain a court judgment or apply a wage garnishment. If the RSIEH sues you for debt, you are within your rights to use any of the defenses highlighted above. An awareness of your rights is critical when identifying opportunities for filing a countersuit and filing your Answer.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to respond to a debt collection lawsuit.

How it works: SoloSuit is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your answer. Upon completion, you can either print the completed forms and mail in the hard copies to the courts or you can pay SoloSuit to file it for you and to have an attorney review the document.

Respond with SoloSuit

"First time getting sued by a debt collector and I was searching all over YouTube and ran across SoloSuit, so I decided to buy their services with their attorney reviewed documentation which cost extra but it was well worth it! SoloSuit sent the documentation to the parties and to the court which saved me time from having to go to court and in a few weeks the case got dismissed!" – James


Get Started


>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit: A Student Solution To Give Utah Debtors A Fighting Chance

>>See what BadCredit.org says about SoloSuit

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


It only takes 15 minutes.
And 50% of our customers' cases have been dismissed in the past.

"Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. I started researching on YouTube and found SoloSuit's channel. The videos were so helpful, easy to understand and encouraging. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it. Very professional, impeccably prompt. Thanks for the service!" – Heather


Get Started