What to Do When Sued for Credit Card Debt

Drowning in credit card debt? Here is what to do!

What To Do When Sued For Credit Card Debt

If you have been sued by a credit card company for an unpaid account, do not ignore the lawsuit. Let’s take a look at the common steps of what to do when sued for credit card debt.

What to do When Sued for Credit Card Debt

1. Don’t Ignore the Lawsuit — Most of us have a tendency to bury our heads in the sand when we get bad news. But you need to take proper action immediately. If you don’t, then a default judgment could be entered against you. This means that the court automatically rules in favor of the creditor in your lawsuit, since you didn’t respond to the lawsuit. You lose right out of the gate if you ignore the lawsuit.
2. Identify Who is Suing You — Look for the name of the “Plaintiff” and note the name of the law firm representing the plaintiff. Although the credit card company is suing you, they hire attorneys to file the actual lawsuit. You are now fighting with the law firm and not the credit card company.
3. Determine Debt Amount You Owe is Correct — Look at the amount being collected and the amount that is being reported (on your credit report) as delinquent. You want to determine if this is correct and if there are any additional fees added on.
4. Talk to a Debt Attorney with a Free Consultation — When exploring the next step in yourcredit card debt lawsuit defense, you want to find an attorney who offers a free consultation. A debt relief attorney will let you know what your best options are and can represent you in court to defend you and your best interests. If you call an attorney and they want payment for an initial consultation, find another attorney. You want an ethical attorney with successful experience defending credit card lawsuits.
5. Organize Your Documents — When defending a credit card lawsuit, go through your files, bank account records and old mail to get any information you may have about the credit card debt. Even if you don’t think a document is important, it may contain helpful clues for your debt relief attorney to defend you in a lawsuit.
6. Show Up for Court — It’s important to make all calendared court dates. It is very unlikely the judge will grant you a continuance that would move the court date further out.
7. Pay Attention to Your Credit Reports — You’ll know if a collector has gotten a judgment against you, because it will usually appear on your credit report. Consult a debt attorney to see whether you may have some rights in terms of getting that judgment vacated.
8. Start Living a Debt Free Life — Follow these steps for what to do when sued for credit card debt and you will reach credit card debt relief FREEDOM! Congratulations!

What To Do If Sued For Credit Card Debt Infographic

Story originally published on GamezLawFirm.com. Daniel R. Gamez is an attorney serving clients nationwide and focuses exclusively in debt relief. He is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in California and Texas. Mr. Gamez owns and operates the Gamez Law Firm in San Diego and Los Angeles, and helps people with debt problems all over the country. For more information, please contact Daniel Gamez at 858–217–5051, daniel@gamezlawfirm.com or use our online contact form. Stay updated about the latest debt relief tips by following on Facebook and Twitter and read about client success stories on our website.