What To Do When Being Sued for Debt: How to Prevent Default Judgment

Getting served with a debt lawsuit can feel overwhelming—not just for consumers but for anyone trying to navigate the complex legal system. Every year, millions of Americans face debt collection lawsuits, yet many are unsure how to respond effectively.

That's where expert legal advice becomes invaluable. Attorney Dennis Charney, who has over 20 years of experience defending consumers in debt cases across Idaho, Utah, and Arizona (and happens to be a helicopter pilot in his spare time), recently joined us on The Debt Hotline podcast to share insider strategies that debt collectors don't want you to know.

In a revealing interview, Dennis discussed how to turn the tables on debt collectors using proper legal responses and strategic arbitration demands.

The critical timeline: What happens when you get served

Being served with a debt lawsuit immediately starts a countdown clock that varies by state. Some states give you 20 days to respond, while others provide 45 days. This timeline is non-negotiable, and missing it can cost you thousands. Dennis explains:

"Really the first thing that happens when you get the court summons for debt is that a clock starts ticking. You must get an Answer filed with the court where the complaint has been filed because if you don't, then at the expiration of the period that is reflected on the summons, the person who is suing you can go ahead and ask the court for a default judgment."

A default judgment essentially means the debt collector wins without having to prove their case. This allows them to garnish wages, levy bank accounts, and place liens on property—all without demonstrating that you actually owe the debt or that the amount is correct.

How to properly file your Answer document

Filing an Answer might seem intimidating, but it's actually a straightforward process that puts you back in control of your case. The Answer document allows you to respond to each allegation in the complaint systematically.

Respond to debt collection lawsuits fast with Solo.

Dennis recommends a specific strategy for handling different types of allegations:

Admit obvious facts: Information like your name, current address, and the county where you live can typically be admitted without harm to your case.

Deny disputed facts: Key allegations about the debt amount, your obligation to pay, default on the account, and the collector's right to sue should generally be denied. This forces the collector to prove their case with documentation.

Use strategic denials: Even if you believe you might owe some amount, denying allegations puts the burden of proof on the collector and opens up settlement opportunities. Dennis emphasizes:

"If allegation number one says that I am Dennis Charney, I neither need to admit or deny. And typically on things like that, you do an admission, but typically the allegations that really matter such as that you opened an account and that you defaulted and that the amount that's owed is $12,900 are all things that one would deny."

It's important to understand that denying an allegation is not the same as saying it's untrue. You're simply requiring the collector to prove their claims—which is their legal obligation.

The arbitration strategy that changes everything

One of the most powerful tools available to consumers facing credit card debt lawsuits is demanding arbitration. Most credit card agreements include arbitration clauses, and using them strategically can completely shift the power dynamic in your favor.

Here's how arbitration works to your advantage:

• Courts must honor arbitration agreements: When you properly demand arbitration pursuant to your credit card agreement, the court must "stay" (pause) the lawsuit and order the parties to arbitration.
• Collectors usually bear the cost: Private arbitration through organizations like the American Arbitration Association costs thousands of dollars, and the debt collector must pay these fees upfront.
• Economics favor settlement: Since debt buyers typically purchase debts for pennies on the dollar—often 4-8 cents per dollar according to FTC studies—spending $4,000+ on arbitration fees to collect a $10,000 debt makes no financial sense.

Dennis breaks down arbitration by saying:

"If arbitration is demanded pursuant to the credit card agreement, which most credit card agreements do contain an arbitration provision, it is the obligation of the credit card company then to go initiate arbitration against the individual. That is a very, very expensive process and that cost must be borne by the person who is pursuing the matter."

This economic reality puts collectors in a position where they're much more willing to negotiate reasonable settlements rather than pursue expensive arbitration.

Using debt validation letters before lawsuits

If you're receiving collection calls but haven't been sued yet, sending a debt validation letter can be an effective preemptive strategy. Under federal law, debt collectors must provide specific documentation proving the debt when properly requested.

The debt validation process requires collectors to verify:

• The exact amount owed
• The original creditor's name
• Your obligation to pay the debt
• Their legal right to collect

Dennis breaks it down further:

"The federal law mandates that any debt collector provide certain documents in response to what we call a debt validation letter, and the debt validation letter is a letter that somebody who is alleged to owe a debt can send to a creditor, which demands essentially proof of the debt."

This process is particularly effective against debt buyers who may lack complete documentation, especially for older accounts that have been sold multiple times.

Real courtroom scenarios and winning strategies

Dennis shared several real-world examples from listener questions that demonstrate these strategies in action:

The smart response strategy

One listener, Kara, went to court and was asked by the Synchrony lawyer if she acknowledged the debt. Her response was brilliant: "I didn't have enough info to acknowledge it or not."

"I have to commend her. I think that her answer was brilliant. She didn't say yes, she didn't say no. And that's exactly how to handle those questions, whether they're written or verbal like that," Dennis praised.

This response neither admits nor denies the debt, preserving all legal options while avoiding damaging admissions.

When hospitals can't prove medical debt

Another listener, Holly, was sued for $2,700 in medical debt from 2022, but when she contacted the hospital directly, they had no records of the bills. This situation demonstrates why proper documentation is crucial for collectors.

Dennis suggested using discovery requests to demand all documents the creditor relies on to prove the debt. If they can't produce adequate documentation, the case may be dismissed.

Handling arbitration rejections

When listener Jack reported that a court refused his arbitration request without giving a reason, Dennis outlined the proper response:

"You could ask the court for reconsideration. I don't know what the particular facts are or if Jack had submitted a copy of the credit card agreement that showed the arbitration clause, but typically speaking, it's pretty easy to find the statute in any particular state that requires courts to honor arbitration agreements."

Settlement negotiations and realistic outcomes

While completely defeating a debt lawsuit is possible, settlement often provides the most practical resolution. Understanding the economics behind debt collection helps inform realistic settlement expectations.

• Debt buyer economics: Companies like Midland Funding and Portfolio Recovery Associates purchase large portfolios of charged-off debt for approximately 4-8 cents per dollar of face value.
• Settlement ranges: Debt buyers typically settle for 20-40% of the original debt amount, while original creditors usually require 60-80% settlements.
• Timing advantages: Early settlement negotiations often yield better results before collectors invest significant resources in litigation.

"If someone's suing you for $10,000 and you settle it for $1,500, I think that's kind of a win. You've saved $8,500," notes consumer attorney John Skiba in previous Solo interviews.

What happens after default judgments

If you miss the deadline to respond and the collector obtains a default judgment, your options become more limited but aren't completely eliminated:

• Immediate consequences: Judgments typically allow wage garnishment, bank account levies, and property liens.
• Vacation possibilities: Some states allow motions to vacate default judgments based on "excusable neglect," but these have strict time limits.
• Protected income: Certain income sources like Social Security are generally protected from garnishment, though rules vary by state.

"That's going to require at that point probably consultation with an attorney in that customer's state," Dennis advises for post-judgment situations.

Special protections for vulnerable populations

Certain groups have additional protections that can be leveraged in settlement negotiations:

• Social Security recipients: Federal law protects Social Security income from garnishment for most debts, giving these consumers significant leverage.
• Military personnel: The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act provides additional protections for active-duty military and their families.

Dennis emphasizes the importance of informing collectors about protected status:

"If you're on Social Security, make sure to inform the collector immediately. That's the one deviation from what I said earlier, I let the creditor know. Because what that tells the creditor is we're not garnishing this person."

The discovery process for building your defense

For larger debts or cases where you suspect the collector lacks proper documentation, the discovery process can be a powerful tool. Discovery allows you to request:

• Document production: All contracts, account statements, payment histories, and assignment documents.
• Witness identification: Names of people who will testify about the debt's validity.
• Business records: How the debt was purchased, calculated, and verified.

"She's entitled if she wanted to look up the discovery rules in her particular state, she could make a request for what we call discovery," Dennis explains. "And then she could demand all the documents that the creditor is relying on in support of trying to prove the debt."

Building leverage through proper responses

The key to successful debt lawsuit defense lies in understanding that you hold more power than you might realize. Debt collectors operate on volume and prefer easy victories over expensive litigation.

By filing proper responses, demanding arbitration when available, and requiring collectors to prove their cases, you shift from a position of weakness to one of strength. This leverage is essential for achieving favorable settlement terms.

Settle your debt for less with SoloSettle.

Expert insights on winning strategies

Throughout the interview, Dennis emphasizes that debt collectors fundamentally prefer settlement over litigation. The economics of debt buying—purchasing debts for pennies on the dollar—means that collectors have significant room to negotiate while still maintaining profitability.

"Every single creditor out there prefers getting something to nothing and they definitely prefer settling to fighting," Dennis notes. "So to a certain extent they have an advantage because typically speaking, they're correct with respect to what they're saying in the court papers. But on the other side of the equation, you have the upper hand as a debtor because you've got something they want and they want to get it as easy as they can."

Get the complete legal strategy

This article covers the essential strategies from Dennis Charney's in-depth interview, but there's much more detailed advice available in the complete episode. To hear his full insights on handling discovery requests, negotiating with specific types of collectors, and avoiding common legal pitfalls, listen to the entire interview on The Debt Hotline on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

For immediate help responding to debt lawsuits, Solo provides tools to create proper Answer documents and connect directly with collectors for settlement negotiations.

Don't let debt collectors win by default. Fight back with proven legal strategies.

Transcript

George (00:02):

Alrighty folks, I'm George with Solo. I'm here with my friend Dennis. Dennis, can you go ahead and tell us a little bit about yourself?

Dennis (00:44):

Yeah, hi, my name is Dennis Charney and I'm an attorney and I work on cases in Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. I've been associated with SoloSuit for just about five years now.

George (00:59):

Nice. Dennis is also a firefighting helicopter pilot. In his spare time, we are going to go ahead and talk about what to do when being sued for debt. We have some attorney secrets here from Dennis. That's what we're going to be talking about. If you're being sued for debt, you can go over to SoloSuit.com and use our debt answer product to respond to the lawsuit. All right, Dennis, jumping into things, what happens when you get a court summons for debt?

Dennis (01:31):

Really the first thing that happens when you get the court summons for debt is that a clock starts ticking and it will be a different time period in different states. Some states the clock is 20 days. Some states the clock is 45 days, so it depends. So you need to read that summons very, very carefully because the first step is that you must get an answer filed with the court where the complaint has been filed because if you don't, then at the expiration of the period that is reflected on the summons, you can well, the person who is suing you or the company that is suing you usually in cases handled by. So suit can go ahead and ask the court for a default judgment, which will deprive the person being sued, the ability to try and defend the case.

George (02:24):

And what can you do if you're being sued for credit card debt? Let's say you get one of these summons, it's for a credit card debt. What do you do next?

Dennis (02:33):

Well, what we do is utilize the services of a company such as yours, George, which would be to fill out an appropriate answer form. Typically speaking the answer form when I answer them for clients on my own or when I'm advising people who wish to do this type of thing without having to pay the expense of an attorney, I usually ask the client or advise the client to go ahead and file an answer that kind of mirrors the complaint. In other words, if allegation number one says that I am Dennis Charney, I neither need to admit or deny. And typically on things like that, you do an admission and all you typically have to do is just say, admit or deny. And then that would then process would be repeated for the remaining allegations in the complaint where then typically the allegations that really matter such as that you opened an account and that you defaulted and that the amount that's owed is $12,900 are all things that one would deny to put the case at issue with the court and then that will grant you the ability to at least to try and negotiate with the company, whether it's debt collector or an actual credit card company that's suing you.

George (04:01):

I think you've kind of gotten this covered already. The question we have here is how do I respond to a summons for debt?

Dennis (04:08):

Yes. In addition to filing the answer in getting that handled right away, a strategy that I often employ in credit card cases, most credit card cases is to demand arbitration pursuant to the credit card agreement. And that's why I believe that SoloSuit also sells forms to assist customers. With respect to that process,

George (04:34):

How do you think filing a motion to compel arbitration factors into settlement? Let's say somebody wants to settle this case. Let's say they agree they owe the debt, but they think it's a bit higher than they should have to pay, filing a motion to compel arbitration, going to assist them on the path to settlement, do you think?

Dennis (04:54):

I believe so. I believe in most of the cases when I have been defending people alleged to be in default on credit card debt, that the motion to compel arbitration typically gives those clients a significant advantage. The reason is this is typically speaking credit card debt that is being pursued on behalf of a debt collector, for example, has been purchased by that debt collector for pennies on the dollar. In other words, if they purchased a debt from Discover Card as an example and that debt was $10,000, they might've paid $500 for it and then that $500 gives them the right to go ahead and try and pursue it. So anything they make above the $500 is profit to them and Discover Card in the meantime has gone ahead and written off the remaining $9,500 of that debt. So the debt collectors in those types want to spend as little money as possible to try and collect that debt, which is why they hope that when they file suit, they'll get a default judgment and then simply be able to garnish somebody's wages or attach a bank account if arbitration is demanded.

Pursuant to the credit card agreement, which most credit card agreements do contain an arbitration provision, it is the obligation of the credit card company then to go initiate arbitration against the individual because the case will be stalled or what we call stayed in court. And then the credit card company is forced into the position of having to initiate arbitration through private arbitration, usually through something called the A or American Arbitration Association. That is a very, very expensive process and that cost must be born by the person who is pursuing the matter. And so they're looking at it going thinking to themselves, they don't want to throw good money after bad, and it puts them in a position where they are much more willing to compromise what they might otherwise be demanding if they know they're going to have to spend 4,000 more dollars to pursue a debt that's only worth $10,000. You heard the phrase throwing good money after bad, and that's really what their thought processes are.

George (07:24):

What about before a lawsuit? If someone is in collections, they think they might get sued, they've received a letter alleging they owe a debt, should they send a debt validation letter? Will that assist them on a path to settlement, do you think?

Dennis (07:38):

It certainly doesn't hurt. The federal law mandates that any debt collector provide certain documents in response to what we call a debt validation letter. And the debt validation letter is a letter that somebody who is alleged to owe a debt can send to a creditor, which demands essentially proof of the debt. What's the account number? Who is the obligor, why do you claim that I owe you $7,952? Specify that, and it's typically more of a thorn in their side. Oftentimes they will have it, but it takes them a while to gather up and obtain the documents. And in the meantime, rather than comply with the debt validation letter, they may very well reach out and try to offer a settlement. And that's especially true in those cases where it is a debt collected that is purchased debt because in the past I have been able to obtain the agreement between the debt collector and the original creditor, and it essentially says, you're buying the debt, we probably won't help you out. We probably won't even have this debt for you. And so if you kind of hold out, you may actually win by demonstrating that they actually don't have proof that the debt is owed, even though it actually might be.

George (09:08):

Okay. Question from Jack. I requested arbitration and the court refused the request. They said they do not need to give a reason. What can I do now?

Dennis (09:21):

The only thing that, well, you could do one of two things. You could ask the court for reconsideration. I don't know what the particular facts are or if Jack had submitted a copy of the credit card agreement that showed the arbitration clause, but typically speaking, it's pretty easy to find the statute in any particular state. And they're all differently numbered and slightly differently worded, but they all essentially stand for the same thing that if an individual demonstrates to the court that there is an arbitration agreement in existence and a party to that agreement insists on arbitration that the court must stay the case. In other words, pause the case and order the parties to go to arbitration. If a judge is ignoring that, you can ask the judge for reconsideration, maybe cite the statute if Jack did not know to do that, attach the contract. And then if you still don't have luck with that judge, then you have to go through the appeal process. And that's probably beyond the skillset of a typical person who doesn't appear in court every day. It gets pretty complex.

George (10:39):

Right. Is there grounds for a judge ever to reject arbitration if it's in the arbitration agreement?

Dennis (10:47):

A late filed arbitration demand could be grounds, but typically speaking, when I file the answer or advise a client to file an answer, I have them file the demand for arbitration simultaneously so that there's no allegation of that. The only time you really can't file an arbitration demand is after judgment has been entered unless the court says otherwise. So there really should not be grounds for courts to do that. And if you look at this from the perspective of the courts, typically they love them and the reason they love them is because everybody knows and hears the court system is so backed up, so clogged, everything takes forever. And that's because there's so many cases. So when a judge sees a case come through with a demand for arbitration, they're like, woo hoo, this is great. One less thing for me to worry about, I'm going to stay this case and send these people somewhere else to go fight their battle and I don't have to deal with it.

George (11:49):

Great. We'll, jumping into some more questions. We have a one from Sunny Missed Court last week. Pulled my court records this week. It said this inpro per answered dispo as of dismissal, not sure what it means. So one document said Inpro per answered dispo as of dismissal, dispo might be an abbreviation for disposition, but what is a disposition in court? There's a deposition.

Dennis (12:19):

Well, there's a deposition which is much different than a disposition. Disposition would be case dismissed or judgment in favor of the plaintiff or defendant's. Motion for summary judgment. Granted is a case disposition, but a deposition is where the opposing side gets to ask questions of witnesses.

George (12:38):

A disposition is like an order?

Dennis (12:40):

It could be, yes.

George (12:41):

Well, it sounds like you have another document saying court ordered dismissal.

Dennis (12:46):

Well, if that's the case, then that would be good for that.

George (12:50):

Sounds like generally a good thing there, Sonny. Alright, moving on to Nee. Hi. I have a business loan with BHG Loans Company and they sued me without warning when I stopped paying. Now I'm paying monthly and they have put the lawsuit on hold. It doesn't sound like she's necessarily asking a question. Maybe she's just kind of wondering what happens next in this situation.

Dennis (13:16):

I don't know other than if they have worked out an agreement to not pursue the lawsuit while this customer or potential customer is working out payment arrangements, then I would say that's good news. But judges can stay proceedings pending settlement or resolution. And it sounds like that may have what may have been what occurred in this particular case.

George (13:46):

Nice. Okay. Here she has a follow-up question from Ramee. So if I stop paying, will I owe the whole loan amount right away or can I stop paying and negotiate still?

Dennis (13:58):

Probably the answer to that question is in the affirmative to both. The lawsuit would probably get reignited so to speak by BHG, but if the circumstances changed and this person couldn't make the payments that they're currently making, maybe they'll negotiate. Again, every single creditor out there prefers getting something to nothing and they definitely prefer settling to fighting. So to a certain extent they have an advantage because typically speaking, they're correct with respect to what they're saying in the court papers. But on the other side of the equation, you have the upper hand as a debtor because you've got something they want and they want to get it as easy as they can.

George (14:46):

Right. Okay. Question from Amy. Hey there, just submitted my response to a summons for $250 of medical debt. Should I call the attorney suing if I want to just pay the debt? Will they try to get me for the larger demand amounts?

Dennis (15:05):

I'm guessing I am speculating here, but maybe that they are also asking for court costs and attorney's fees and things along those lines. It probably would not hurt to reach out to the attorney because settlement negotiations and discussions are not admissible to prove that a person does or does not owe something. So it would never hurt to put out a call and say, look, I can settle this for $125 or $175 or even the two 50 if you'll dismiss the lawsuit. And the other thing that they really, really like is lump sum payments as opposed to payments over time. So they're going to be much more inclined to take $250 to settle it in full as opposed to $450 over 10 month payments of $45 a piece.

George (15:57):

Right. Another question from Cara. Went to court last week, met with Synchrony lawyer. He first asked to do, do I acknowledge the debt? I said, I didn't have enough info to acknowledge it or not. He then asked the judge to reschedule and said, they'll mail me proof of the debt, what do I do now

Dennis (16:23):

What I would do is wait for the proof of the debt, and by the way, I have to commend her. I think that her answer was brilliant. She didn't say yes, she didn't say no. And that's exactly how to handle those questions, whether they're written or verbal like that. So good for her. I think law school could be in her future, but in any event, if there's already a lawsuit going on, maybe she wants to consider the idea of an arbitration demand. I'm almost certain that Synchrony has an arbitration clause in their agreement, but any of the customers can go to the consumer finance.gov website and then they can use that website to search for their particular credit card issuer. And then there's a database of all credit card agreements that's required by law to be there. So she could go to that website, she could find whether or not there's an arbitration clause in her credit card agreement, file an arbitration demand, and she'll stop those guys in their tracks.

George (17:28):

Nice. All right, Kara, if you need help studying for the lsat, let us know. We got a question from David. So he was sued by Discover David was a no-show in court. There was a default judgment, can I vacate the judgment? There's a lien on my home now I'm willing to negotiate. How do I proceed?

Dennis (17:48):

That's going to require at that point probably consultation with an attorney in that customer's state. In general, a judgment that is recorded in the county in which you reside will operate as a wien on property. There's going to be lots of exceptions across the 50 states, but that's a very broad general statement. But if the case is already gone to judgment and it's to the point where there's a lien, there may not even be a time remaining under the rules of civil procedure to do what's known as file a motion to vacate the default judgment, which is usually something that a court will grant if an individual can demonstrate that they had excusable neglect, and I don't know which state this person is in or whatever, but he's probably beyond the help of a self-help website such as yours.

George (18:46):

And for those listening, a lien is basically a hold on the finances of your house, right? So if you have a lien on your home and you sell your house, the money goes first to pay off the debt that has a lien on your home. A question or an update from Holly? I'm being sued for an old medical debt for around $2,700. A court date is in December. The lawyers are saying it's the hospital, but I called and they don't have the bills from 2022, so she's being sued for 2,700 bucks. The hospital doesn't have a record of her bill.

Dennis (19:29):

She's entitled if she wanted to look up the discovery rules in per particular state, she could make a request for what we call discovery. And all 50 states authorize parties to a lawsuit to send discovery requests to each other usually because there is some uniformity. Usually it's Rule 16 in the civil rules, at least it is in all the states that I practice in. And then she could demand all the documents that the creditor is relying on in support of trying to prove the debt. And she can also demand the names of all the witnesses who are going to testify and things along those lines. And if they can't prove their case, she goes to court and lets them try to prove their case and sees where it goes. But it does get a bit more complicated with the rules of evidence and how they can get documents into the court record and things like that. And for a $2,700 debt, it's certainly not going to be worth paying an attorney as opposed to if it was a $27,000 debt, and so she would probably need to brush up or maybe consult with an attorney for an hour or so to prepare herself for court would be the advice I would give.

George (20:51):

Great. Amy, the question from her is telling the collector to prove it, or in other words, denying every paragraph in the complaint, is that the best way to respond to a summons and complaint?

Dennis (21:08):

Typically, yes. If you absolutely cannot admit it, or if it's a fact that is required to be proved, then the complaint, I typically advise my clients to go ahead and just deny it. The easiest ones to admit are what your name is and that you currently reside in such and such county in California or wherever that might be. You could admit stuff such as that. But for facts that are genuinely in dispute, I typically deny those and make them prove them

George (21:40):

Is denying them. Is that better than denying for lack of knowledge?

Dennis (21:45):

Substantively, the words might sound different, but procedurally it's the same. It still winds up being a denial. It's like standing silent in criminal court if the judge asks guilty or not guilty and you say, I stand silent. The judge says not guilty. So it's sort of the same thing.

George (22:07):

Interesting. And how do you think this part is denying, is that the same as saying it's not true?

Dennis (22:14):

No. No. It's basically just saying that an individual doesn't have knowledge one way or the other, and they're entitled to deny until such time as it can be proved

George (22:24):

Right. And so perjury doesn't apply here, right? It's not like, no, it did not. You're not on the line for perjury here. It's just the denial is different from saying it's not true. It's just saying that you deny it and that you essentially like the collector or whoever's on the other side to prove it. Prove it up. Yep. There we go. So that's a crucial point here, folks. Question from Sylvester. Can social security be garnished for senior citizens after a default judgment?

Dennis (22:57):

I would say typically the answer to that question would be no. But every state is going to have a different way for an individual to be able to object to such a garnishment and to demonstrate that the proceeds are disability benefits or retirement benefits that are not subject to garnishment. So it's going to be a state by state question, but generally speaking, the answer would be no.

George (23:21):

Okay. There we go, Sylvester. So if you're getting that SSI, you're most likely protected, but you'll still want to do what you need to protect it. All right, folks happens that if you're being sued for debt this week in the us, you are not alone. There are around 500,000 to a million people sued for debt in the US this month. So you aren't alone. We are here with, so to help you, Dennis, thanks so much for coming on the show, everybody. You're welcome. Take care.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast is intended strictly for general informational purposes and should not be construed as legal, financial, or investment advice. Solo and its hosts are not licensed attorneys, financial advisors, or other certified professionals. While select guests may hold active professional licenses, their contributions are purely for educational and thematic discussion. They're not delivering professional or personalized advice. Solo is not a law firm, does not offer legal representation and must not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal counsel. It is also not engaged in debt, settlement, credit repair, or financial counseling services. Sola provides self-directed software tools designed to support users in navigating their own legal and financial situations. Participation in this podcast is not establish an attorney-client relationship. Listeners are encouraged to consult with attorneys or licensed professionals for guidance specific to their circumstances. The opinions expressed by podcast participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or official positions of SoloSuit Inc. Doing business as solo or any affiliated organizations.

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

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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.

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• Comenity Bank Debt Collection
• Commonwealth Financial
• ConServe Debt Collection
• Consumer Collection Management
• Contract Callers Inc
• Convergent Healthcare Recoveries
• Convergent Outsourcing
• Couch Conville & Blitt
• Covington Credit
• CRDT First
• Credco in Court
• Credence Resource Management
• Credit Bureau Systems
• Credit Control Corporation
• Credit Management Company
• Credit Management LP
• Credit Systems
• Credit Systems
• CSIEZPay
• CTC Debt Collector
• CVCS Debt Collection
• Cypress Financial Recoveries
• D&A Services
• Daniels, Norelli, Cecere & Tavel P.C.
• DCM Services
• Debt Recovery Solutions
• Delanor Kemper & Associates
• Department Stores National Bank
• Direct Recovery Associates
• Discover Collections
• Diversified Adjustment
• Diversified Consultants
• Diversified Recovery Bureau
• DNF Associates, LLC
• Dodeka LLC
• DRS Credit
• Dynamic Collectors
• Eagle Loan
• Eagle Accounts Group, Inc.
• Eastern Account System
• EduCap
• Ellington and Associates Collections
• Encore Capital Group
• Enerson Law
• Enerson Law LLC
• Enhanced Recovery Company
• EOS CCA
• ERC Collections
• ERSolutions
• Estate Information Services
• Equable Ascent Financial
• Everest Business Funding
• Executive Credit Management
• Faber and Brand
• Factual Data
• Falls Collection Service
• FBCS
• FCO Collections and Outsourcing
• FIA Card Services
• fin rec svc (Financial Recovery Services)
• First Federal Credit Credit Control
• First Financial Bank
• First Portfolio Ventures LLC
• First Progress
• FirstPoint Collection Resources
• Firstsource Advantage
• FMA Alliance
• FNB Omaha
• Forster & Garbus
• Franklin Collection Services
• Freedom Plus
• Freshview Solutions
• Frontline Asset
• Frost Arnett
• Fulton Friedman & Gullace LLP
• Galaxy International Purchasing, LLC
• GC Debt Collection
• GC Services
• General Revenue Corporation
• GLA Collections
• Glass Mountain Capital
• Glasser and Glasser
• Global Credit Collection Corp
• Global Trust Management
• GMAC Financing
• Golden 1 Credit Union
• Grant and Weber
• Grant Mercantile Agency
• Gulf Coast Collection Bureau
• Gurstel
• Halsted Financial Services
• Harris and Harris
• Harvard Collection
• Harvest Credit Management
• Helvey and Associates
• Hollis Cobb
• Holloway Moxley
• Hosto Buchan
• Howard Lee Schiff
• H&R Accounts
• HRRG
• Hudson & Keyse LLC?
• Hunter Warfield
• IC System
• Impact Receivables Management
• Innovative Recovery
• Integras Capital Recovery LLC
• Javitch Block
• JHPDE Finance 1 LLC
• JP Receivables Management Partners
• JPMCB card
• Kenneth Eisen and Associates
• KeyBank student loans
• Kinum
• Kirschenbaum, Phillips & Levy P.C.
• KLS Financial Services
• Kramer & Frank
• Lakeside Collection
• Lending Club
• Lincoln and Morgan Kabbage
• Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP
• Lockhart Collection Agency
• LJ Ross Associates
• LTD Collections
• Malcolm S. Gerald and Associates
• Malen & Associates
• Mandarich Law Group
• Mannbracken
• Marcam Associates
• MARS Inc. Collections
• MBA Law
• MCA Management Company
• McCarthy, Burgess & Wolff
• Meade & Associates
• Medicredit
• Mercantile Adjustment Bureau
• Merchants Credit Association
• MGM Collections
• Michael J Adams PC
• Midland Funding LLC
• Mid-South Adjustment
• Monarch Recovery
• Monterey Financial
• Moss Law Firm
• Mountain Land Collections
• MRS Associates
• MRS BPO
• MSW Capital LLC
• Mullooly, Jeffrey, Rooney & Flynn
• Nathan and Nathan PC
• National Collegiate Trust
• National Credit Adjusters
• National Credit Care
• National Credit Systems
• National Enterprise Systems
• National Recovery Agency
• National Recovery Solutions
• Nationstar
• Nationwide Credit
• Nationwide Recovery Services
• Nationwide Recovery Systems
• NCEP LLC
• NCO Financial Systems Incorporated
• North American Recovery
• Northland Group
• Northstar Capital Acquisition
• Northstar Location Services
• NPAS
• NRC Collection Agency
• Oliver Adjustment Company
• Oliphant Financial, LLC
• Oportun
• P&B Capital Group
• PCB Collections Agency
• Palisades Collection LLC
• Pallida LLC
• Paragon Contracting Services
• Paragon Revenue Group
• Payday Loan Debt Collectors
• Pendrick Capital Partners
• Penn Credit
• Perdue Brandon
• Persolve LLC
• Phillips & Cohen Associates
• Phoenix Financial Services
• Pioneer Credit Recovery
• PMAB LLC
• PRA Group, Inc.
• Pressler, Felt & Warshaw LLP
• Prestige Services, Inc.
• Prince Parker and Associates
• ProCollect
• Professional Finance Company
• Progressive Management Systems
• Provest Law
• PYOD LLC
• Quaternary Collection Agency
• RAB Collection Agency
• Rash Curtis and Associates
• Radius Global SOL
• Radius Global Solutions
• Rawlings Company
• Razor Capital
• Real Time Resolutions
• Receivables Performance Management
• Regents and Associates
• Reliant Capital Solutions
• RentGrow
• Resurgent
• Resurgent Capital Services and LVNV Funding
• Revco Solutions
• Revenue Enterprises LLC
• Revenue Group
• RGS Financial, Inc.
• RMP LLC in Court
• RMP Services
• RS Clark and Associates
• RSIEH
• RSIEH
• RTR Financial Services
• Rubin & Rothman
• Salander Enterprises LLC
• Samara Portfolio Management
• SCA Collections
• Scott Parnell and Associates
• Second Round Collections
• Second Round Sub LLC
• Selip & Stylianou LLP
• Sequium Asset Solutions
• Sessoms and Rogers
• Sherman Acquisition
• Sherman Financial Group
• SIMM Associates
• Source Receivables Management
• Southern Management Systems
• Southwest Credit Group
• Spire Recovery Solutions
• SRS Company
• Stark Collection Agency
• State Collection Service
• Stenger and Stenger
• Stillman Law Office
• Summit Account Resolution
• Sunrise Credit Services
• Superlative RM Debt Collector
• Suttell and Hammer
• Synergetic Communication
• Synerprise Consulting
• The Law Office of Michael J Scott
• Trellis Company
• Troy Capital
• TRS Recovery Services
• TrueAccord
• Tulsa Teachers Credit Union
• UCB Collection
• UHG 1, LLC
• Unifin
• Unifin Debt Collector
• Unifund
• Universal Credit Services
• US Bank Collections
• USAA collections
• USCB America
• Valentine and Kebartas
• Valley Servicing
• Vance & Huffman LLC
• Van Ru Credit Corporation
• Velo Law Office
• Velocity Investments
• Viking Client Services
• Wakefield and Associates
• Waypoint Resource Group
• WCTCB
• Weinberg and Associates
• Weltman, Weinberg & Reis
• Westwood Funding
• Williams and Fudge
• Wilshire Consumer Credit
• Wolpoff & Abramson
• Worldwide Asset Purchasing
• www.AutomotiveCredit.com
• Zarzaur & Schwartz
• Zwicker & Associates

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.

• American Express; American Express – Debt Collection
• Bank of America
• Barclay
• Best Buy Credit Card
• Capital One
• Chase
• Credit One Bank
• Old Navy Credit Card
• PayPal Synchrony Card
• Regional Finance
• Retailers National Bank
• Reunion Student Loan Finance Corporation
• SYNCB/PPEXTR
• Synchrony Bank
• Synchrony Walmart Card
• Target National Bank
• Webbank
• Wells Fargo
• Can I Pay My Original Creditor Instead of a Debt Collection Agency?
• Can I Settle a Debt with the Original Creditor?

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.

• Am I Responsible for My Spouse's Medical Debt?
• Do I Need a Lawyer for Medical Bills?
• Do I Need a Lawyer to Fight Medical Bill Debt?
• Does Bankruptcy Clear Medical Debt?
• How Much Do Collection Agencies Pay for Medical Debt?
• How to Find Medical Debt Forgiveness Programs
• Is There a Statute of Limitations on Medical Bills?
• Medical Debt Statute of Limitations by State
• Summoned to Court for Medical Bills — What Do I Do?
• Summoned to Court for Medical Bills? What to Do Next

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.

• How Arbitration Works
• How to Find an Arbitration Clause in Your Credit Agreement
• How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration
• How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration in Florida
• How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration Without an Attorney
• How Credit Card Arbitration Works
• Motion to Compel Arbitration in California
• Sample Motion to Compel Arbitration

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.

• 1-800-390-7584
• 800-289-8004
• 800-955-6600
• 8009556600
• 877-366-0169
• 877-591-0747
• 800-278-2420
• 800-604-0064
• 800-846-6406
• 877-317-0948
• 888-899-4332
• 888-912-7925
• 202-367-9070
• 502-267-7522

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.

• 15 USC 1692 Explained
• Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act Work in Florida?
• FDCPA Violations List
• How to File an FDCPA Complaint Against Your Debt Collector (Ultimate Guide)
• How to Make a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Demand Letter
• How to Submit a Transunion Dispute
• How to Submit an Equifax Dispute
• How to Submit an Experian Dispute
• What Debt Collectors Cannot Do — FDCPA Explained
• What Does Account Information Disputed by Consumer Meets FCRA Requirements Mean?
• What does “meets FCRA requirements” mean?
• What does FCRA stand for?
• What is the Consumer Credit Protection Act