smithgirlmoe
New Member
I received a summons for credit card debt in the amount of around $7,000 and I am not sure what to do now. I live in Michigan and we fell behind on bills because my husband was out of work. I don't deny that I owe this debt and had every intention of paying it back. The account was sent to an outside collector who was very harrassing. He would not accept the small $50-100 payments I offered to make until we were caught up on our house and Car payments he wanted something like $1000. He called my neighbor, he called my work. I told him he needed to stop. Everytime he left a message at my home I called him back the first chance I got (I work full time and go to school full time so it is very hard to contact me via phone which I explained to him) It was like banging my head against a wall becasue all he did was threaten me and he would not accept any payments.
I then received a letter saying that the account had been sent to a law firm for collections when I called them hoping that I would have better luck with making arrangements they informed me that they no longer had the account that the credit card company took the account back. I called the credit card company and they told me that they would be sending it to another lawyer but they weren't sure who yet and I would have to wait to get a letter from them. I've been waiting to find out what happened and in all honesty it slipped my mind as I try to catch up on all our other bills. Next thing I know I am being served a summons by another law firm (i've never even heard anything from them shouldn't they have tried to contact me before serving me with a summons?).
Now I am so worried. I don't know what my next step should be. Should I hire a lawyer? I contacted one and he wanted a $1500 retainer and then $200 per hour. If I had that kind of money I would just pay the CC company. How do I even answer the summons? The paperwork I got doesn't explain anything. Am I better off to just contact the Law firm collecting the debt and try to set payment arrangements? What are the chances of them making arrangements? I work for a local bank and I am concerned about a judgement being made against me and how that could potentially affect my employment but I don't have a huge amount to pay upfront. As I said we are trying to keep up on all our other bills. If they make a judgement against me what might happen?
I know this is long and I'm sorry but I really don't know what to do and I would appreciate any advice offered by anyone.
I then received a letter saying that the account had been sent to a law firm for collections when I called them hoping that I would have better luck with making arrangements they informed me that they no longer had the account that the credit card company took the account back. I called the credit card company and they told me that they would be sending it to another lawyer but they weren't sure who yet and I would have to wait to get a letter from them. I've been waiting to find out what happened and in all honesty it slipped my mind as I try to catch up on all our other bills. Next thing I know I am being served a summons by another law firm (i've never even heard anything from them shouldn't they have tried to contact me before serving me with a summons?).
Now I am so worried. I don't know what my next step should be. Should I hire a lawyer? I contacted one and he wanted a $1500 retainer and then $200 per hour. If I had that kind of money I would just pay the CC company. How do I even answer the summons? The paperwork I got doesn't explain anything. Am I better off to just contact the Law firm collecting the debt and try to set payment arrangements? What are the chances of them making arrangements? I work for a local bank and I am concerned about a judgement being made against me and how that could potentially affect my employment but I don't have a huge amount to pay upfront. As I said we are trying to keep up on all our other bills. If they make a judgement against me what might happen?
I know this is long and I'm sorry but I really don't know what to do and I would appreciate any advice offered by anyone.