How Can I Settle My Credit Card Debt Before Going to Court?

Sarah Edwards | March 06, 2023

Few things are as terrifying as a lawsuit. Going to court over credit card debt can cost you time and additional money, and it may even be embarrassing to take time off of work for a debt-related lawsuit.

Is there a way to settle credit card debt before going to court? The answer, fortunately, is yes. This guide will help you learn how to settle your credit card debt and avoid the additional expense and hassle of a court appearance.

When will debt collectors take me to court?

Debt collectors will generally sue when they believe you have the ability to pay your debts but have been unwilling to do so. You probably won’t be sued for a debt under $500, but larger debts can make you vulnerable to debt collectors who use the law to collect the debt.

If you’ve been sued over credit card debt, it’s likely that the debt collector believes one or more of the following:

• You owe a large amount of debt.
• You’ve missed several months of payments.
• You owe debt on multiple past-due accounts.
• You have other accounts with your creditors, who can see your transactions.
• Your creditors have access to your assets.

Your risk increases the most once your debt passes the six-month mark. That’s because creditors usually charge off an account after six months, which means that the debt is written off as an uncollectible loss. But that’s also when the creditor might decide to hand off your debt to a third-party collection agency or debt buyer, who can sue you to reclaim the debt.

Avoid being sued over credit card debt

Naturally, your best bet is to avoid a lawsuit entirely. Life happens, and it’s easy to get behind in your payments. But as you try to juggle multiple credit card payments, remember the six-month rule. You want to settle your debts before the charge-off period arrives and your creditor hands your debt over to a collection agency.

But what if you simply can’t make the necessary payments? Contact your creditors as soon as possible. You may be able to negotiate some type of payment plan to remain in good standing before a charge-off.

After all, a lawsuit costs the creditor as well, so they may accept a lower payment to avoid the hassle and expense of retrieving the entire debt.

Follow these steps if you’re sued over credit card debt

The debt collection lawsuit officially begins when your creditor or debt collector files a Summons and Complaint with the court and serves you with a copy. When you’ve been slapped with a lawsuit, you’ll need to respond immediately. Here are your first steps in dealing with a debt-related lawsuit.

1. Check the statute of limitations

Your creditor has a narrow window of time in which to collect the debt. This window is known as the statute of limitations and is different in every state. This rule is designed to prevent creditors from targeting consumers for an old debt.

So when you’ve been sued, check the date of the debt in question, then compare this to your state’s statute of limitations. If enough time has elapsed, you can use this as an affirmative defense in your lawsuit and may resolve the issue without appearing in court.

2. Know your rights

You can challenge the lawsuit by filing a response in court. As a debtor, you have rights that protect you from unsavory creditors.

For example, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects you from such errors as improperly serving you, serving the wrong person, or violating the statute of limitations.

Similarly, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) can protect you if your debt is the result of identity theft. If your rights have been in any way violated, you can say as much in your Answer that you file with the court.

3. Respond immediately

At most, you’ll have 30 days to respond to the Summons and Complaint, and in some states, you have as little as 14 days. During this time, you’ll need to craft and file an official Answer, which responds to the lawsuit by either admitting or denying the debt or by requesting additional information.

4. Consider settlement options

Assuming the credit card debt is legitimate, you may need to consider options for settlement. You’re unlikely to avoid paying your debt entirely, especially if you want to avoid appearing in court. Therefore, it’s time to consider ways to pay off at least a portion of your debt.

Below, we'll list several steps to take to settle a credit card debt before court.

You can also check out this video to learn how to go about settling your debt on your own:

Follow these steps to settle credit card debt before court

Unfortunately, you can’t always avoid a lawsuit. You can, however, find a way to settle your credit card debt before you go to court. Here are four ways to settle your credit card debt.

1. File an Answer to your lawsuit

The most vital step you can take is to file an Answer after receiving notification of the debt lawsuit. Do not procrastinate or ignore the lawsuit. You typically have 14-35 days (depending on where you live) to file your Answer, and failing to do so can result in a default judgment in the creditor’s favor.

With a default judgment, they might seize your assets or garnish your wages until the debt is paid.

It’s also important to file your Answer even if you reach a settlement agreement with the collector. This way, the collector can’t pull a fast one and request a default judgment after you make an agreement. The court must have your Answer on file to understand what arrangements have been made to settle your debt.

Always file your Answer as soon as possible. Get help from SoloSuit, which can help you craft an official and customizable Answer to ensure your rights are protected.

Let’s consider an example.

2. Use SoloSettle to offer a lump-sum settlement payment

When offering to settle the debt, it’s better to offer a one-time, lump-sum payment and not a payment plan. Why? A payment plan can still involve interest payments, which can be even more costly in the long run. Additionally, it only prolongs your credit card debt challenges rather than clearing the slate entirely.

Besides, most collectors would prefer to take a lump-sum payment. That’s because debt collectors are third-party agencies that purchase your credit card debt from the original creditor. It’s easier for them to reclaim these expenses if you offer a lump-sum payment than if you pay over time.

SoloSettle is a tech-based approach to debt settlement. Our software sends and receives debt settlement offers to creditors and debt collectors until you reach an agreement. The goal is to empower consumers, like you, to take matters into their own hands and settle their debts for good.

Let's take a look at an example.

Check out this video to learn more about how to settle your debt before going to court.

3. Pay the debt in full

If your other negotiations fail, you can simply offer to pay the remaining credit card debt in full. Be cautious about this option since you’re no longer dealing with the credit card company itself but with a debt collector. You’ll have to adhere to their repayment terms, which might not be ideal.

Plus, the other options allow you to settle your debts for a lower amount, which can help you get out of your debt more quickly. Paying your debt in full should therefore be a last resort.

Finally, take a look at this last example.

We know that paying off a debt in full isn't an option for everyone. If you've been sued for a debt and you want to fight back, start by responding to your case with SoloSuit's Answer form.

Consider these alternatives to settling credit card debt

Settling your debt is clearly the best option, and many debt collectors are more than willing to accept a reasonable settlement as opposed to tying up resources in court. But if you can’t afford to settle, you might consider these alternatives.

File for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, often called “liquidation bankruptcy,” clears all judgments. Filing for Chapter 7 is inexpensive and can bring about fast results.

But be cautious. For starters, you’ll have to meet the government’s “means test” to determine whether you qualify for this option. But more significantly, filing for liquidation bankruptcy can have broader implications for your finances and your credit score and can negatively impact you for years afterward.

File for Chapter 13 bankruptcy

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy, or “wage earners plan,” allows you to repay your debts through a monthly plan, commonly between three and five years. As with any bankruptcy filing, this can have negative implications beyond the lawsuit, so this option should be a last resort.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to fight debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt.

SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

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

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

How to answer a summons for debt collection in your state

Here's a list of guides for other states.

All 50 states.

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Guides on how to beat every debt collector

Being sued by a different debt collector? Were making guides on how to beat each one.

• Absolute Resolutions Investments LLC
• Accredited Collection Services
• Alliance One
• Amcol Clmbia
• American Recovery Service
• Asset Acceptance LLC
• Asset Recovery Solutions
• Associated Credit Services
• Autovest LLC
• Cach LLC
• Cavalry SPV I LLC
• Cerastes LLC
• Colinfobur
• Covington Credit
• Crown Asset Management
• CTC Debt Collector
• Cypress Financial Recoveries
• Delanor Kemper & Associates
• Eagle Loan of Ohio
• Educap
• Estate Information Services
• FIA Card Services
• Forster & Garbus
• Freshview Solutions
• Fulton Friedman & Gullace LLP
• Harvest Credit Management
• Howard Lee Schiff
• Hudson & Keyse LLC
• Integras Capital Recovery LLC
• Javitch Block
• Jefferson Capital Systems LLC
• LVNV Funding
• Mannbracken
• Mariner Finance
• Medicredit
• Michael J Adams PC
• Michael J Scott
• Midland Funding LLC
• Mullooly, Jeffrey, Rooney & Flynn
• Mountain Land Collections
• MRS Associates
• National Collegiate Trust
• Nationstar Foreclosure
• Northstar Capital Acquisition
• NCEP LLC
• NRC Collection Agency
• OneMain Financial
• Palisades Collection LLC
• Pallida LLC
• Paragon Revenue Group
• Pinnacle Collections Agency
• PMAB LLC
• Portfolio Recovery Associates
• Provest Law
• PYOD LLC
• Reunion Student Loan Finance Corporation
• Revenue Group
• Regents and Associates
• RSIEH
• Salander Enterprises LLC
• Second Round Sub LLC
• Security Credit Services
• Sherman Financial Group
• Suttell and Hammer
• T-Mobile
• Transworld Systems
• Tulsa Teachers Credit Union
• UCB Collection
• Velo Law Office
• Velocity Investments
• Waypoint Resource Group
• Weinberg and Associates
• Wolpoff & Abramson

Win against credit card companies

Is your credit card company suing you? Learn how you can beat each one.

• Bank of America
• Capital One
• Chase
• Credit One Bank
• PayPal Synchrony Card
• SYNCB/PPEXTR
• Synchrony Bank
• Target National Bank
• Wells Fargo

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