đź’° Solo's Debt Payoff Giveaway — Enter for a chance to win up to $4,700 to pay off your debt! 🎉                      đź’° Solo's Debt Payoff Giveaway — Enter for a chance to win up to $4,700 to pay off your debt! 🎉                      đź’° Solo's Debt Payoff Giveaway — Enter for a chance to win up to $4,700 to pay off your debt! 🎉
Start My Answer
loading...

How to Stop Pinnacle Collections Agency

George Simons | December 08, 2023

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: Not sure why you're being sued by Pinnacle Collections Agency? Stressed out about it? You can beat them in court if you pick the right defense.

Being harassed by a debt collector like Pinnacle Collections Agency is stressful, frustrating, and all-around unpleasant. Why? Because Pinnacle, and many other large debt collection agencies, will typically utilize unethical and inappropriate tactics in an attempt to “persuade” you (meaning they try to intimidate you) to pay back the amount you allegedly owe.

To get you to pay, Pinnacle Collections Agency will likely call you on the phone throughout the day, attempt to contact you via social media, and/or send threatening letters or making false promises.

The Troubling Reputation of Pinnacle Collections Agency

Pinnacle Collections Agency is notorious for using aggressive and highly questionable tactics to try and collect outstanding debts. The agency operates out of Southern California and is the subject of numerous consumer complaints alleging serious violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

For example, consumers have reported that collectors with Pinnacle have utilized communication tactics that violate federal law and have even tried to collect on debts that weren't owed. If you have been contacted by Pinnacle, understand your rights before responding.

If you've received threatening phone calls and/or letters from Pinnacle Collections Agency or were served with a debt collection lawsuit filed by Pinnacle, do not give up hope. Instead, you should take action and access the resources provided by SoloSuit. Our mission is simple - help people being subjected to harassment by debt collectors and collection lawsuits.

To help consumers, we invested the time to compile relevant information that is intended to help demystify the complex process associated with lawsuits filed by debt collectors. When you are empowered with this information, you will know what to expect and what steps need to be taken to protect your rights against a debt collection company like Pinnacle Collections Agency.

Respond to debt collectors in 15 minutes with SoloSuit.

Understanding Your Rights When Contacted by Pinnacle Collections Agency Demanding Repayment for a Debt

Pinnacle Collections Agency is known for routinely attempting to take advantage of people by preying on their lack of knowledge related to the legal rights afforded under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The FDCPA codified specific rules and regulations governing the conduct of debt collectors. Some of the statutory restrictions placed on debt collectors include:

  • A Pinnacle debt collector cannot contact you at work;
  • A Pinnacle debt collector cannot use offensive language when speaking to you over the phone or in correspondence;
  • A Pinnacle debt collector cannot threaten you with legal action; and
  • A Pinnacle debt collector cannot contact you at your home before 8:00 A.M or after 9:00 P.M.

How to Defend Yourself If You are Sued by Pinnacle Collections Agency in a Debt Collection Lawsuit

If you are served with a debt collection filed by Pinnacle Collections Agency, it is extremely important to be proactive and respond to the lawsuit. Do not make a mistake that is, unfortunately, quite common among consumers being harassed by debt collectors - ignoring the lawsuit and hoping it just goes away.

The lawsuit will still be there, even if you decide to throw the Complaint in the trash. If you ignore the lawsuit, it simply means you are raising the proverbial white flag and letting the debt collection company win. Do not make this mistake.

Here are some helpful tips when crafting your Answer to the lawsuit:

  • Do not admit or indicate any liability for the alleged debt. Why? Because Pinnacle bears the legal burden of affirmatively establishing that you owe the outstanding debt.
  • File your Answer with the Clerk of Court on time (in most collection cases, an Answer needs to be filed with the Court between 20 or 30 days after you were served with the Complaint).
  • Mail a copy of your Answer that was stamped by the Clerk of Court to Pinnacle Collections Agency.

Effective Affirmative Defenses to Raise in Your Answer

When responding to Pinnacle's debt collection lawsuit, you are allowed to highlight some of the serious deficiencies and problems with the allegations leveled in the Complaint. Also, as mentioned earlier, debt collectors carry the legal burden to establish that you owe the amount claimed in the Complaint. This means the debt collector needs to establish the following before you could be deemed responsible for the debt:

  1. The debt collector possesses the legal right to sue you;
  2. You are the actual individual responsible for the debt; and
  3. You owe the specific amount listed by Pinnacle Collections Agency in its Complaint filed with the Court

If Pinnacle cannot meet these prerequisites, there is a good chance you will prevail in Court and could potentially get the lawsuit thrown out.

Depending on the facts of your particular case, you may want to consider arguing that the debt collector failed to file the lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations. You may be asking, “What is a statute of limitations?” Well, the statute of limitations is essentially the amount of time someone has to file a lawsuit against another person or company.

If the facts of the case indicate that Pinnacle sued you for a debt where the applicable statute of limitations expired, then you could file a motion to have Pinnacle's lawsuit dismissed with prejudice.

In addition to the statute of limitations as a way of defeating Pinnacle, you should also consider filing a “Countersuit” or “Counterclaim” if you have evidence that Pinnacle Collections Agency violated a provision, or potentially multiple provisions, of the FDCPA. If you have evidence that Pinnacle violated the FDCPA, you could be eligible for compensatory damages and reimbursement of your legal fees.

Make the right defense with SoloSuit and win in court.

What To Do If You are Taken to Court by Pinnacle Collections Agency

Here is an overview of what you need to do if Pinnacle Collections Agency files a debt collection lawsuit against you:

  • Take note of any phone calls made before 8:00 A.M. or after 9:00 P.M, any phone calls made to your place of work, and any use of vulgar or inappropriate language.
  • Make sure you file your Answer within the timeframe provided by the Court.
  • In your Answer, consider raising one or more affirmative defenses like the statute of limitations. You should also demand that Pinnacle provide actual proof of the specific amount owed and that you are the person responsible for paying the amount allegedly owed.

These are strategies you can use to defeat Pinnacle Collections Agency in court. Also, you should consider filing a countersuit or counterclaim for any violations of the FDCPA.

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

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

Contents