How do you handle paying a creditor you owe and their lawyers are suing you?
929819
Under no circumstances should you fail to show up in court to answer the complaint.\n\nIf this is an old debt you should go to court and demand proof that you are the person who contracted the debt.  They must have the original paperwork showing you opened the account, with your signature, and that you are responsible for the debt.\n\nIf they are able to prove it's your account you should insist that the statue of limitations for collecting the dept has expired.  Google "debt statute of limitations (name of your state)"  Normally after a couple years, with no payments from you, the debt can no longer be collected.\n\nMany times bottom-feeders buy up old debt for pennies on the dollar.  Many times they don't have any of the original account documentation and many times the statute of limitations has expired.  They sue all the debtors knowing that most will not show up in court to contest it. They get judgments by default which can then be enforced whether the original debt was collectible or not.
1098728
The statute of limitations has run on that debt.  What you can do is contact the person and make them promise to pay anyway, and then another year will run from the subsequent promise.  You must sue before a year's time. Get your friend to agree to pay you back the money owed plus interest and fees.  Even is he/she makes a fake promise just to get you off their back, the courts will uphold.
1120421
Join the crowd.  There are millions of us.  \n\nFirst of all I would keep a close eye on my credit reports.\n\nI am not sure I would sue.  If it comes to that, more than likely there will be a class action suit.  Great!  Lawyers will get rich and you will get $4.22 for your efforts.\n\nCheck to see what kind of damage has been sustained if any.
193733
Go back and read emt815's answer again.  That is one of the most honest responses from a collection agent I've read to date!\n\nNow my turn...\n\nYou do not even have to deal with collection agents, unless they have purchased the debt.  Send them a letter to not contact you again.\n\nIf you contact the original debtor, they may be more receptive to working out a deal.  \n\nVERY IMPORTANT!  Do not pay a dime unless they agree to remove any negative report from your credit reports.  You are paying them in order to improve your credit, remember?  If that report stays there, it doesn't help at all.\n\nIf they don't want to deal with you, let them sue you.  They will probably win, but the judge will allow you to make payments that you can afford.  I had one person who owed $2000, and the collection agent was a total jerk.  It went to court and they won...the judge ordered $5 a month payments.
211125
First off this sounds like a threat.\n\nIf you owe a business or professional (Accountant, Lawyer, Doctor, etc.) they typically don't have the ability to report directly to a Credit bureau.\n\nThe only 2 ways they can do this:\n\n1) Send your debt to a collection agency who will try and collect from you. Each state has specific laws regarding how long they have to try before they can report to bureaus.\n\n2) The "Professional" can take you to court. If he wins he will get a Civil Judgment. That will most likely be reported to the bureaus.\n\nIt is always best to negotiate a settlement/payment plan with the original lender.\n\nIf you know the charge/debt is incorrect than I would let him either take you to court where you can present to the Judge your information and depending on your jurisdiction you can recieve a judgment for your costs if you win.\n\nIf he takes you to collection you can ask the Collection Agency to validate the debt and they have 30 days to provide you with the pertinent info (date of debt, how much, copy of invoice, etc.) to prove their debt. That will at least buy you 30 days.\n\nIf you are just being threatened and you know that the debt is invalid then send them a certified letter requesting validation(proof) of the debt.\n\nGood Luck
808926
Send them a letter via mail return receipt requested stating that the money is not owed and the reason why. If you have a receipt showing that you already paid the debt.  Inform them if they do not cease harrasing you, you will (1) report them to the better business bureau and any other state agencies that deal with unscrulous debt collectors and (2) institute a claim under the fair debt collection practices act, and you will seek treble damages. Request they send you a letter stating that you do not owe them any money.
774251
CarCraze --- you are wrong, sorry to say\n\nWhat you have there, my dear, is a bona fide Court Order for you to appear in court to answer to a Motion to Collect a Debt. If it is on Court paper and has a case number, call the Court to confirm the Docket Number, and find out when the hearing date is.\n\n\nYES, they do have that power.\n\nYES, That is the equivalent of a Subpoena.\n\nIf you "just let it ride", as you say, don't be surprised when you open up your paycheck and you find a good chunk of it GONE !\n\nWhat you should do:\n\nSeek legal counsel (get a lawyer) and come up with a manageable payment plan that is both satisfactory to your creditor, and workable for you.\n\nDON'T HESITATE - you will regret it.
673335
Contact them immediately and set up an arrangement to pay them or borrow from friends or family to pay them back.  They can garnish your wages.  When they do, it will be on their terms.
780597
citizens advice (debt advisor) they make the creditors an offer of £1. keep making the payments and after a few months the debts are more than likely squashed, providing u keep up to date on payments
733614
You need to sit down with the creditors that are suing you and propose a payment plan. Now this payment plan you have to be very strict to follow and never miss a payment like you did before. Creditors only want their money back so if you give them an offer they cannot refuse they will take it. Just see how much you can re-pay every month and tell them about it. If you are still scared or confused about the procedures contact a lawyer.
708076
Deana,\n\nContact the bank and advise  them that somone somewhere has screwed up really badly and put you back on the collection list for the same debt. Then contact the collection agency and tell them that the  loan has been paid already and that there has been a mistake and they should contact the bank.
1087483
he'll probably send your bill to a collection agency then if you don't pay yes, he can sue you.\njust pay the bill-even if you pay in payments.
129920
Follow the Steps\n\n1.   Go to the court house and file the papers that are needed... they are not coming to mind right now but there will be an office that is strictly for this....\n\n2.  after you fill out the papers they will send you a copy via the mail or an officer and send the person you are sueing a copy of the form...\n\n3.  The form will have the time and date that the court will be.\n\n4.  Make sure you have all reciepts and checks for proof that this person owes you...the judge will ask the whole story..\n\n5.  If won the person will be order to pay you so much a month until the dept is paid off...\n\n\nHope that helps you out....
246440
What?  Maybe that's true on the Planet of the Apes, but here on Earth.... yes.  If  you owe them money, the can sue you.  But if you work out an agreeable payment plan with them, they will choose not to sue -- most creditors just want their money back, they don't want to have to sue you.
693220
The only way to get this debt removed is fight it with the creditor.  That may require a court trip to sue your ex for the amount she charged, then paying off the debt.  Be sure to make the creditor remove the report before you pay them, otherwise they just may leave it on your record.\n\nCredit reporting agencies will not remove this listing.  The best they can do is include a statement of your dispute, but most lenders ignore this information.
783615
Depending on the amount, small claims court would probably be the best, especially if you have the agreement in writing.  Keep a good record of payments received (dates and amounts); this will show that he has violated the loan repayment.  Also, maybe send a letter stating that he is in violation and that legal action may be taken against him if he does not start a faithful repayment plan.
1025112
Most likely they won't try to sue, they will give you a chance to pay what they feel you owe and then they will sue. They have lawyers, they know what they are doing.\n\nWhat can I do? - \n1. If you believe you owe them the money, try to work out a settlement and arrangements\n2. If you don't, go see a lawyer