Beating a Credit Card Lawsuit can be difficult, especially when you’re unable to net up with the regular monthly bill payment. If you’re sued by credit card issuers, you have to make plans for your defense.
There is a chance of beating the lawsuit. According to a report, up to 90% of all plaintiffs in a credit card lawsuit do find it difficult to prove that the defendant owes them. For a start, read the document sent to you by the credit card company and then seek some legal advice.
Being Sued for Credit Card Debt
Seventy million Americans are struggling with debt in collections status as stated in a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. So, if you have your very own, it might make you happy to know that you are not alone.
Getting Sued by a creditor or collection agency can be an unsettling experience especially if you do not know what you are looking for. yet, no matter how overwhelmed you feel, ignoring a courthouse summons is a mistake. here I will be giving you details on how debt collection lawsuits work and discover the steps that you can take if a company sues you for unpaid credit card debt.
Summons for Credit Card Debt
The filling of the summons signifies that the credit card company has elected to sue the account holder to recover the debt owed on the Credit card account. The summons sets forth the name of the court in which the case has been commenced, and the index Number and filing date.
The summons is expected to be accompanied by:
- notice of the nature of the lawsuit
- an endorsed complaint
- the complaint. The complaint should set forth the relevant allegations regarding the debt to allow for a meaningful response
Lawsuit for Credit Card Debt
If you are delinquent on your credit card payments, the credit card company or a debt collector hired by the credit card company might sue you in other to recover the money that you are owing.
The credit card company could sue you if you break the terms of the contract. when the credit card is originally obtained, you sign an agreement either electronically or in writing.
This agreement defines both your and the credit card company’s rights and responsibilities. lacking behind or failing to make the payment on the credit card would typically constitute a violation of that agreement and might sue you then.
How to Get a Credit Card Lawsuit Dismissed
your case can also be dismissed when the credit card company does not actively chase the claim they have against you. If your case sits a long time without any activity by the debt collector, the court will dismiss your case. This is called a “dismissal for want of prosecution.”
How To Beat A Credit Card Lawsuit
Read Through the Complaint document
In this case, the credit card issuers will be the ones to file a lawsuit complaint in court. Here, the issuers are now the “plaintiff” as a party that brings in the lawsuit. The complaint is a legal document with the facts that bring about the lawsuit.
Then read this document in detail. It is possible that you were sued by a debt collection company that brought the debt. This determines the defenses that you can build depending on who is suing you.
Take Note of the Duration for Responding
A Summons comes with a complaint. The duration of responding to the lawsuit so take note of the time frame.
- If you fail to respond to the lawsuit, then the plaintiff will have a default judgment. That means you have lost the chances of defending yourself. In some states, the plaintiffs can increase their wages.
- Having a default judgment is not easy to set aside. It is important to keep in mind your answer and all your defense details before the deadline of the court.
Get a Legal Advice
To get a strong and good defense, you need to get legal advice from a qualified lawyer. A lawyer will hear your end of the story and offer legal advice that will be by the law. If getting a qualified attorney will be difficult, contact your local bar association for assistance.
You may also visit the National Association of Consumer Advocates website. There’s an attorney search feature to assist you. Perhaps, you do not have money to pay for the services of an attorney, just give it an initial consultation, some lawyers do offer half-hour consultations for a small few. At the time of consultation, ask the lawyer for advice to defend yourself
Reply to the Complaint
You need to respond to the complaint filed against you. In your response, you have to admit or deny every allegation. You can state that you do not have adequate knowledge to admit or deny any allegation. Get to the court and ask for a ‘fill on the blank’ answer form already printed by your courthouse or a sample answer as a guide to fit in your circumstances.
However, in your answers, ask if you can get a jury trial or not. If the plaintiff has chosen a jury trial, then you will not need to make such a request. Vice versa, it largely depends on the plaintiff if they have not chosen a jury trial in their complaints, it is then left for you to choose a jury trial or not.
Enter Any Affirmative defenses
Your response also includes affirmative defenses meaning that you’re arguing that the plaintiff should lose even if what he says in the complaint is true. Here is some affirmative defense clue.
- If the plaintiff took a long time to sue. The status of limitations for debt collection differs from one state to another. In such a case, the judge can dismiss the case.
- When the plaintiff has not stated a valid debt. For instance, when the debt collection agency must show strong and valid evidence that it brought the right to sue on a valid debt. In case the plaintiff did not attach these documents, you can use it against the plaintiff who has not made a valid claim and as a defense.
- When you bit to serve the complaint properly. Each state has a peculiar way of serving the complaint document. Using New York as an example, the person filing the lawsuit should serve the copy to the person directly or leave the complaint with someone in their home and mail the second copy. Or the plaintiff should mail the complaint and summons or leave a copy with a neighbor next door. If you did not serve the complaint properly, you can then raise it as a defense.
Counterclaim
As you are drafting your answer, you can also include any claims that you’ve against the credit card issuers or debt collectors. Federal law prohibits debt collectors from engaging in abusive behavior. Behaviors such as the following:
- Calling at inconvenience hours.
- Threatens violence or uses violence
- Use of abusive, profane, or obscene language
- Contact third parties about your debt. Exception of your attorney.
- The debt collector does not identify as the debt collector as of when calling you.
If the plaintiff does any of the above violations you can bring it as a Counterclaim for $1,000 for each violation.
File Your Answer
When you are through with your answer, that is responding to the summon, make enough copies and take them to the court clerk. Ask to file. You will be required to pay a fee, ask the clerk, it depends on the court. Or a waiver firm if you’re not able to pay.
Serve a copy of the plaintiff by mail or personal service and file a proof of service firm and duly sign where necessary.
Build your defense
- Go through your financial records
- Read your card agreement
- Request for documents from the plaintiff
- Get evidence of identity theft
- File a motion for summary judgment
Defending Yourself at Trial
- Dress appropriately
- Pick a jury
- Deliver your opening statement
- Testify at trial
- Deliver your closing argument
- Await the verdict from the jury
- In case you lose the file for an appeal