![]() ![]() Report any problems you have with a debt collector to Where Do I Report a Debt Collector for Breaking the Law?ĭebt collectors must follow the law when contacting you about a debt. Be sure to ask if they have experience with consumer law, debt collection defense, or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Find a lawyer in your state using the American Bar Association’s Directory. Hiring an attorney, if you can afford it.Free online answers to debt collection questions from an attorney in your state, which you may be able to get at.Or search for a pro bono (free legal help) program using the American Bar Association’s pro bono directory. To find a legal aid organization near you, use the Legal Service Corporation’s search tool. Free or reduced-fee legal help, if you have a low income.But there are options to get legal help, including Going to court can feel overwhelming to do alone. That can affect whether you get a job, insurance, a phone, or a home. A judgment will likely show up on your credit report and might make it harder to get credit in the future. The debt collector can also ask the court to award them additional money for collection costs, interest, and even attorney’s fees. If the court rules against you and orders you to pay the debt, the debt collector may be able to garnish - or take money from - your wages or bank account, or put a lien on property, like your home. That means the court can rule without hearing your side and the debt collector could win by “default” because you didn’t show up. In fact, the case can go ahead without you. And despite what you may have seen in TV shows, you can’t stop things by refusing to accept delivery or “service” of the lawsuit. Ignoring the legal notices and papers won’t make the lawsuit go away. If the debt is old, make sure the time for the collector to sue hasn’t already expired. They must prove that you’re the person who owes the debt, the debt amount is accurate, including any interest or fees, and you owe the debt to them and not to someone else. It’s the collector’s responsibility to prove the lawsuit claims. Look over your records about the debt and any information you may have gotten from the collector, including the validation information that debt collectors must send you.The papers that say the debt collector is suing you will tell you what to do. Answer the lawsuit, which you may have to do in writing or by showing up to court - or both.Here are the main steps to take if you get sued by a debt collector: Responding to a debt collector’s lawsuit in court will likely put you in a better situation, cost you less in fees, and give you more control over how you repay the debt. Even if you don’t think you owe that debt. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the lawsuit. You may even be able to resolve the debt by responding or showing up in court because some collectors would rather settle than go through extended litigation. That might mean writing a response and showing up to court, by any deadline listed in the court papers, regardless of whether you think you owe the debt or not.īy responding to the lawsuit, either yourself or through an attorney, you can make sure the collector has to prove that you owe the debt, that the amount of the debt is correct, and the debt collector has the legal right to sue you to collect on it. Getting sued can be stressful, and many people don’t know where to start. How Should I Respond To a Debt Collection Lawsuit? Where Do I Report a Debt Collector for Breaking the Law?.How Should I Respond To a Debt Collection Lawsuit?.Identity Theft and Online Security Show/hide Identity Theft and Online Security menu items.Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts Show/hide Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts menu items.Money-Making Opportunities and Investments.Jobs and Making Money Show/hide Jobs and Making Money menu items. ![]() ![]() Credit, Loans, and Debt Show/hide Credit, Loans, and Debt menu items.Shopping and Donating Show/hide Shopping and Donating menu items. ![]()
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