what kind of attorney to get if sued by credit card

If you believe you’ve been defrauded or discriminated against by a credit card company, you can contact an experienced consumer protection attorney today to find out if your claim is serious enough to warrant the filling of a lawsuit.

Full Answer

How to win a credit card lawsuit?

If your credit card company sues you, you'll need to decide if it's worth paying an attorney to help you.In most cases, it is. Studies have shown that debtors with legal representation in a debt collection suit are much more likely to get a better outcome, like winning their case outright or reaching a mutually agreed settlement with the plaintiff, than those who don't.

Can I pay my attorney with a credit card?

Aug 26, 2020 · Collection on Defaulted Credit Credit Card Debt. If you wait too long before making a payment, the credit card company may use a collection agency to attempt to collect the debt. The credit card company might give up on you and sell your debt to a debt-buying company. Collection agencies will continuously call you.

What type of lawyer handles credit card debt cases?

Jun 21, 2021 · Indicate any income (like Social Security) exempt from garnishment. Sign the bottom of the page and keep a copy of the complaint and your answer for your records. Along with your answer, you’ll have to include a filing fee to the court clerk. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you may qualify for a waiver.

Can a credit card collection lawsuit be settled before trial?

Jan 25, 2017 · Contact a lawyer referral service in your area and ask for an attorney with experience in consumer law, debt collection defense, or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). You may be able to find lawyer referrals in your area by checking the American Bar Association website or your state bar association.

How can I settle a credit card debt when a lawsuit has been filed?

A debt collection lawsuit can potentially be resolved with debt settlement. You can do this on your own or hire a debt settlement attorney to help. You can make a payment plan with the creditor to pay off the sum of the debt or partially pay the sum in a lump-sum settlement.Nov 29, 2021

How do you respond to a credit card lawsuit?

Here are some other tips for properly filing your Answer to a debt collection lawsuit:Print a copy out your Answer.Personally sign and date the Answer.Make two copies of the Answer; one will be submitted to the Court while the other should be sent to the attorney of the person suing you.More items...•Mar 5, 2022

What happens if I don't show up to court for debt?

If you don't respond, the creditor will be awarded a default judgment. This means that you lose the case automatically, and they then have the legal ability to garnish your wages, and even take money directly from your bank account, or seize your property.Nov 3, 2021

How do you beat a debt collector in court?

How to Beat a Debt Collector in CourtRespond promptly to the lawsuit. ... Challenge the debt collector's right to sue. ... Bring up the burden of proof. ... Review the statute of limitations. ... File a countersuit. ... Decide if it's time to file bankruptcy. ... What is SoloSuit? ... How to answer a summons for debt collection in your state.More items...•Sep 29, 2021

What happens if you don't respond to a lawsuit?

If you don't respond to the suit, the court will most likely enter a judgment against you for the amount the creditor claims you owe. Courts routinely order debtors to pay accrued interest plus court fees, which can exceed the original amount owed. Other harmful consequences can include garnishment of wages, directing your bank to turn over funds from your account, and the seizure of personal property. An attorney can explain the specifics about what might happen in your situation.

What can an attorney do for you?

An attorney can advise you about what you should and should not say (or do) in regards to an old debt. And, if you decide to hire the attorney to represent you in the matter, the lawyer can deal with all communication to and from the creditor or debt collector.

How long does it take to get a lawsuit dismissed?

This deadline is called the statute of limitations. The time limit varies from state to state, but it's generally from three to six years. If the statute of limitations has passed, you have to assert this defense by responding to the lawsuit and providing supporting evidence to get the case dismissed.

Do you need an attorney to defend a lawsuit?

You Have a Defense to the Lawsuit. If you believe you have a defense to the lawsuit, you'll probably need an attorney to help you raise that defense in court. For example, some defenses that could require the assistance of an attorney include: The statute of limitations has passed.

What happens if a creditor wins a lawsuit against you?

If the creditor wins its debt lawsuit against you, they will receive a judgment from the court. The next step for the creditor is to use the judgment to collect money from you. The most common method of post-judgment collection is wage garnishments.

What happens if you don't answer a lawsuit?

If you fail to answer your lawsuit's complaint, the court will enter a default judgment against you. To use a sports analogy, a default judgment is like forfeiting a game. In other words, if you don't file your answer within the time allowed, you lose automatically.

What is Upsolve for bankruptcy?

Upsolve is a nonprofit tool that helps you file bankruptcy for free. Think TurboTax for bankruptcy. Get free education, customer support, and community. Featured in Forbes 4x and funded by institutions like Harvard University so we'll never ask you for a credit card. Explore our free tool

How long does it take for a debt collector to send a written notice?

Debt collectors must send this written notice within five days of the first date they have contacted you.

What happens if you default on a credit card?

If you fail to make your credit card payments, credit card companies will make your life more expensive by charging late fees and higher interest rates. These creditors will report negative information to the credit bureaus, which will then be entered into your credit history.

Is it better to file bankruptcy before a lawsuit?

If filing for bankruptcy is the best option for your situation, it's better to file before a lawsuit is reduced to a judgment. If your bankruptcy case is simple and straightforward, Upsolve has a free tool to help you file your own Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

What happens if you wait too long to pay a credit card?

If you wait too long before making a payment, the credit card company may use a collection agency to attempt to collect the debt. The credit card company might give up on you and sell your debt to a debt-buying company. Collection agencies will continuously call you. They will send a lot of collection letters.

What to do if a credit card company sues you?

There’s a sports adage that the best defense is a good offense. If a credit card company sues you, one strategy is to challenge its right to do so. It’s the plaintiffs’ responsibility to prove that you owe them money. Make them do it. Debt often gets sold, so ask for documentation of a credit agreement that you signed and proof that the paperwork is accurate and came from the original creditor. This can be done without a lawyer.

What happens if you default on credit card debt?

Debt has consequences, some of which will surprise the average American. For example, if you default on credit card debt the major consequence could be a lawsuit. Hold on.

How much credit card debt will be in 2021?

According to the Federal Reserve, U.S. credit card debt stood at $770 billion in early 2021. Understand, too, that credit card companies don’t sue capriciously. But if you fail to make the minimum monthly payment and carry a high balance, you’re going to get the dreaded phone call or court summons.

When will the CFPB take effect?

The CFPB issued new guidelines about debt collection that will take effect at varying points of 2021. While some of the guidelines are geared to help consumers, some advocates feel the guidelines do not go far enough.

What happens if you don't show up for court?

If you don’t show up for the court proceeding, the judge automatically rules against you and will order you to pay the full amount. Credit cards are unsecured debt — meaning there’s no collateral at stake, such as a home or car — so the lender has limited options for collection.

How long does it take to recover from bankruptcy?

Understand: Bankruptcy has a considerable impact that can take years to recover from, but it can be a first step toward getting out from under overwhelming debt and move you toward rebuilding your credit. Talk to a lawyer immediately about whether filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy is right for you.

Do lawyers work for free?

Lawyers don’t work for free, and court cases cost everybody money. So the credit card company has some incentive to avoid going to trial. The company might initially put up a fight, but the attending supervisor likely will be interested in simply recovering as much of the debt as possible.

Who is Serena Siew?

Serena Siew is an attorney with a specialty in immigration defense and legal writing for the general public. She is a member of the State Bar of California and admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Central District Court of Cali... read more about Attorney Serena Siew

Can you file a bankruptcy claim against a credit card company?

You may even have a claim against the credit card company or debt buyer for having violated either the automatic stay or bankruptcy discharge injunction.

How to respond to a credit card lawsuit?

Talk to an Attorney. If you need help responding to a lawsuit for nonpayment of a credit card debt, consider hiring a lawyer . But keep this in mind: If it costs more to hire a lawyer than what the creditor seeks in the lawsuit, it might not make sense to seek attorney assistance. Talk to a Lawyer.

What happens if you don't defend against a credit card company?

If you don't defend against the suit, you will automatically be held legally liable for the full amount stated in the lawsuit.

How long can a debt collector sue you?

Each state defines how long a debt remains collectible and this typically ranges from three to ten years .

What is failure to state a claim?

Failure to State a Claim. Most states require credit companies or the debt collector collecting on the account to attach to the complaint a complete set of documents. These documents usually consist of the original contract and any document showing that the company suing you actually owns the debt.

What happens if the court rules in your favor?

If the court rules in your favor, the credit card company loses and can't collect against you for the debt. You should consider requesting damages from the court against the credit card company to help pay for your attorneys' fees. The court dismisses the case. The court may dismiss the case for many reasons.

What happens if you stop paying your credit card?

If you fall behind on your credit card payments —or stop paying altogether—your credit card company has a right to file a lawsuit against you.

What is a discovery request?

Filing discovery requests forces the credit card company share relevant information to your case. If you believe the credit card company possesses documents or other information that supports your arguments, file a request with the court. The request should specifically describe the items you seek and why you believe they're relevant to your case.

What does it mean to be sued for credit card debt?

Being sued for a credit card debt merely means that someone is claiming you borrowed money, that you failed to pay, that the balance is what they claim it to be, and that you are legally obligated to pay this company. Do nothing, and the court will assume the debt buyer is telling the truth.

Why do debt buyers avoid lawsuits?

Many people think debt buyers prefer to avoid lawsuits to collect old credit card debts because it requires them to pay lawyers and incur costs of litigation. If this were true, however, credit card lawsuits would be far less common than is the case. In fact, there were nearly 200,000 credit card collection lawsuits filed in New York in 2011 alone. ...

What happens if you fall behind on credit card payments?

To many people, falling behind on credit card payments means a ruined credit score and an endless string of calls and letters from collect ors. If you let those calls and letters go unanswered for long enough, however, the credit card company may decide to file a lawsuit.

What happens if you file for bankruptcy?

Those consequences can include wage garnishment, funds seized from bank accounts, liens on property, and even the forced sale of automobiles and other assets to pay the debt.

What happens if you don't file a debt collection lawsuit?

If you don’t do what you’re required to do, the creditor wins a judgment against you. That’s why it’s important to always show up – there’s no legal excuse for forgetting to file papers with the court or for failing to hire a debt collection lawsuit defense lawyer on time.

Is Encore Capital Group publicly traded?

Encore Capital Group, Inc., the largest publicly traded United States debt buyer by revenue and parent company of Midland Funding, reported revenue of $1.19 billion in 2017. These numbers have caused thousands of smaller players to enter the market, each one buying thousands of credit card accounts and employing people all over ...