How to Answer a Summons for Credit Card Debt
Friday, October 30, 2015, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
Everyone is susceptible to falling behind in debt, but the way a person handles it will make a huge difference in his or her life. A creditor will usually notify a person about a late payment several times before it resorts to taking legal measures.
Most creditors will give a consumer at least 90 days to become current on credit cards, auto loans and other loans. Such companies will eventually file a legal complaint for payment if the consumer does not respond or act in a timely fashion.
Creditors ask the courts for permission to collect their monies through various means. These tactics may include wage garnishment, property liens and bank account seizures.
It is imperative that a person respond appropriately to a summons for credit card debt.
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What Is a Summons for Debt?
A summons for credit card debt is a legal notice notifying the debtor of a creditor’s intention to collect a debt through legal procedures.
The summons will contain the name of the creditor, the amount of the debt, and the date that the consumer received the credit cards, auto loans or personal loans in question.
The debtor has a short amount of time to answer the summons, and that time is usually 30 days from the date of the notice.
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How to Answer a Summons for Credit Card Debt
A consumer can answer a summons about debt for auto loans, credit cards, and personal loans several ways.
The person can disagree with the entire account and claim that he or she has no knowledge of such.
The credit card company will then be left with the burden of proof. The consumer can partially agree to the claim. This could mean that the creditor has an error in the balance or some other part of the information.
Finally, the consumer can agree fully with the debt and come in to court to work out an agreement.
Sometimes, creditors are willing to drop the suit if a debtor agrees to make arrangements.
Alternatively, the debtor’s efforts may be too late at that point.
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What Happens When a Debtor Does Not Reply to a Summons?
Failure to appear in court to dispute a summons for credit card debt is an admission of guilt.
Not answering a summons is the same. The judge may then grant the company permission to recover the money from auto loans, personal loans or credit cards by any means possible.
