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How to Settle Debt With Universal Credit Services

George Simons | January 31, 2025

Fact-checked by Patrick Austin, J.D.

Patrick Austin
Attorney from George Mason
Patrick Austin, JD

Patrick Austin is a licensed attorney with a background in data privacy and information security law. Patrick received his law degree at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief for the National Security Law Journal.

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: Is Universal Credit Services calling you about a debt? You can find a resolution. Learn about your FDCPA rights, respond to a lawsuit if you’ve been sued, and negotiate with Universal Credit Services to settle the account. Use Solo to streamline this process.

If you are being contacted by a debt collector affiliated with Universal Credit Services, you probably are going through a stressful time. Do not throw your hands up in despair. You have options and a pathway forward. Rather than ignoring the debt collector’s outreach, learn how to engage with them and work towards an amicable resolution, such as a negotiated debt settlement.

Settle debt with Universal Credit Services

You can negotiate debt settlement at any stage of the collections process. SoloSettle makes it easy.

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What is Universal Credit Services?

Universal Credit Services is a legitimate business entity, so do not mistakenly assume their correspondence is a scam or attempt to steal your identity. Universal Credit Services is a third-party debt collection agency, which basically means they assist in the collection of delinquent accounts on behalf of other businesses and organizations.

In some instances, Universal Credit Services purchased a delinquent account from an original creditor (e.g., a credit card company).

Universal Credit Services uses an “ethical approach to debt collection,” so working with the company’s collection agents may be less intimidating than normal collectors. If you’re ready to reach out and find a debt resolution, use the Universal Credit Services phone number or other contact information below:

Who does Universal Credit Services collect for?

Universal Credit Services pursues delinquent and discharged accounts on behalf of companies operating in the healthcare sector, financial services sector, utility sector, and state governments (e.g., delinquent tax bills).

Read Universal Credit Services reviews online

Looking for info about what other consumers have shared about their debt collection experience with Universal Credit Services? If the answer is yes, then take a moment to check out these real online reviews:

It’s fair to say the online reviews for Universal Credit Services are up and down (i.e. some good, some not so good). Nevertheless, there are online reviews indicating people can have a generally positive and productive experience communicating with Universal Credit Services about a debt collection matter. Take, for example, the review posted by a borrower named Brian:

“I had a medical bill here years ago and was unaware of the bill. I worked with these folks and they were incredibly reasonable and helpful. Now that I am a business owner I am retaining their services in the event that a bill goes unpaid. Very kind staff and very helpful and willing to help setup a payment plan for anyone experiencing hard times.”

Brian’s review shows that debt collectors with Universal Credit Services are open to working with you to resolve your debt issue. Proactive communication is essential and increases your chances of achieving a resolution.

Speaking of proactive communication, you can contact Universal Credit Services to negotiate the debt and work out a settlement plan that is less than the original amount. Keep reading for some negotiation tips.

Negotiate a debt settlement with Universal Credit Services

With the help of SoloSettle, you can take proactive steps to try and negotiate a debt settlement where you wind up only paying a portion of what is actually owed. Many debt collectors, including Universal Credit Services, may be amenable to accepting a settlement for an amount less than what you owe. Here are some recommended steps to try and settle your debt:

  1. File an Answer to the debt collection lawsuit so you don’t get hit with a default judgment.
  2. Determine how much you can realistically afford to pay with the following formula: Amount available to settle = (monthly income – monthly costs) + savings)
  3. Make a reasonable settlement offer that is less than the maximum amount you can pay.
  4. Be ready to go through multiple rounds of negotiating.
  5. When you reach a debt settlement agreement, memorialize the terms and provisions in writing.
  6. Make sure both you and the debt collector sign the agreement.
  7. Pay the negotiated amount in a timely manner.

To learn more about these tips and others that may assist you on your journey to settle debt with Universal Credit Services, watch the following interview with a consumer rights attorney who shares the best tips for negotiating debt settlement with collectors:

Know your rights when Universal Credit Services contacts you

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act contains several regulations that determine what debt collectors may and may not do to collect a debt. Some of the rules include:

  • Universal Credit Services cannot contact you at work.
  • Debt collectors cannot use rude and vulgar language when they talk to you on the phone or in letters.
  • Universal Credit Services are not allowed to threaten you with lawsuits.
  • Universal Credit Services cannot call you in your house before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
  • Universal Credit Services cannot discuss your debt with anyone buy you, your lawyer, and your spouse.

Protect yourself if Universal Credit Services sues you

If you are sued by Universal Credit Services, it is smart to respond to the lawsuit as soon as you can. It's not a good idea to ignore the lawsuit and hope it goes away. The lawsuit will still be there and the debt collection company will win by default if you ignore it. There are things you can do to fight the lawsuit and maybe get it dismissed.

Below are some smart things to do when you write your Answer:

  • Never admit that you owe the debt. The debt collection company must prove that you owe the debt. Don't make their job easy for them!
  • File an Answer with the Clerk of Court within 20 or 30 days of receiving the complaint, or whatever the timeline is.
  • Mail your Answer copy to Universal Credit Services and make sure it was stamped by the Clerk of Court.

Try these affirmative defenses in your Answer

To beat Universal Credit Services at their own game, you need to respond to the lawsuit. You can point out any problems and weaknesses in their allegations. Remember that the debt collector has to prove that you owe the money they allege in the complaint. This means Universal Credit Services has to show these things before they can say you owe the debt:

  • The debt collection agency has the right to sue you.
  • You are the one who owes the debt.
  • You owe the money that is stated by Universal Credit Services in the complaint.

If the debt collection agency does not meet these requirements, you may be able to get the lawsuit thrown out.

Depending on your case circumstances, you could argue that the company did not file the suit before the statute of limitations expired. This is the amount of time someone has to file a lawsuit against someone else.

If the statute of limitations has lapsed, you may file a motion to have the case dismissed with prejudice.

Also, there are other ways that you can beat Universal Credit Services in court. Try filing a countersuit. If you can prove the company violated the FDCPA, you may be eligible for compensation and have your legal bills covered.

Respond to a debt lawsuit against Universal Credit Services

The first step to beating Universal Credit Services in court is to respond to the lawsuit by filing a written Answer. You have 14-35 days to respond before a default judgment can be entered against you. This gives Universal Credit Services the right to garnish your wages and seize your property.

Use these six tips to draft an Answer that will increase your chances of winning the case:

  1. The Answer isn't the place to tell your side of the story in detail. Instead of using an elaborate story to respond to the lawsuit, your Answer should focus on responding to the claims listed in the Complaint document. Keep it simple. You can admit, deny, or deny due to lack of knowledge.
  2. Deny, deny, deny. Most attorneys recommend that you deny as many claims as possible, forcing Universal Credit Services to do more work to prove their side of the case.
  3. Include affirmative defenses. Like we mentioned above, an affirmative defense is any legal reason that Universal Credit Services should not win the case. A common affirmative defense used in debt lawsuits is the statute of limitations, which is the time period that a debt collector has to sue someone for a debt. If the debt is past the statute of limitations, then the lawsuit is void. There are several other defenses you can bring up in your Answer to help you strengthen your case.
  4. Use standard formatting or “style”. At the head of the Answer document, be sure to include a caption where you list the court information, party information, and case number.
  5. Include a certificate of service. It's important to serve your Answer to Universal Credit Services. At the end of your Answer document, include a certificate of service when you verify the address you used to serve Universal Credit Services the Answer.
  6. Sign it. Most courts reject any legal documents without signatures, which is why this last step is so crucial.

SoloSuit can help you draft and file an Answer in all 50 states.

Learn more about these six tips in this video:

Overview Of Steps You Can Take to Beat Universal Credit Services in Court

We've covered a lot here, but here's a fast rundown of what to do if you get sued by Universal Credit Services:

  • Be sure to file an Answer within the proper time frame.
  • Attend any and all court hearings and be prepared to argue your case before a judge.
  • File a formal request demanding Universal Credit Services prove that you owe the amount they say. They also need to prove you are the person who owes the debt.
  • Consider raising at least one affirmative defense, such as the statute of limitations, in your Answer.
  • Remember that filing an Answer is just the beginning. It’s best to contact Universal Credit Services directly to negotiate and resolve the debt outside of court.

Good luck!

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