You should have continued with the rest:
What if you are sued by a debt collector?
Here is an overview of what you need to do if you are sued by a debt collector:
- Do not admit liability for the alleged debt since the burden is on the debt collector to establish that you, in fact, are responsible for the amount owed.
- Be sure you file your Answer to the Complaint within the time the court provides. You have up to 35 days to respond to a debt collection lawsuit, depending on which state you live in.
In your Answer, make sure to raise any applicable
affirmative defenses (e.g., the statute of limitations) and demand that the debt collection company prove that you are responsible for the specific amount owed. These are examples of strategies you can use to defeat a debt collector in court.
What is the best way to respond to collectors?
The best way to respond to a debt collector is with a Debt Validation Letter. A Debt Validation Letter is a powerful document that stops debt collectors in their tracks by citing the
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and requiring them to show validation of the debt. In the letter, you can also dispute the debt, force the collector to report the debt as disputed to the credit bureaus, and force them to stop contacting you. It's powerful.
Make your own Debt Validation Letter in minutes with SoloSuit.
All of SoloSuit's documents are designed with the average consumer in mind. When dealing with debt collectors, pick the document that best works for your situation. If you are unsure which is right, you reach out to our customer support line at
[email protected].
- Debt Validation Letter: As soon as the debt collector contacts you, before they go to court, send the Debt Validation Letter. Requesting a debt validation buys you time (at least 30 days) before collectors can sue you.
- Answer: The time you have to file an Answer with the court and respond to the debt collectors complaints is limited. Depending on your state, it can be as short as 14 days. You don't need a lawyer to draft an acceptable answer. Just use SoloSuit; it's free.
- Motion to Compel Arbitration: The presence of an arbitration clause in your contract can help you force the lawsuit out of court.
- SoloSettle: It's not too late to settle a debt that has gone to court. If you can afford to settle out of court, use SoloSettle to send and receive debt settlement offers and reach an agreement with debt collectors. It's fast and easy.