Up to this point, we have now distinguished the difference between credit reporting time limitations and statute of limitations. Today we will cover how debt collectors can use the court system to issue a judgment in their favor.
If you have been summoned to court, the last thing you want to do is ignore it. Pay close attention to your summons or complaint. Does it require a response? Does it already have an assigned court date? Every case is different, but you want to be sure you respond, as the last thing you want to end up with is a default judgment.
What is a default judgment? A default judgment, in this case, is a judgment in favor of the plaintiff (debt collector) when the defendant (consumer) has not responded to a complaint or has failed to appear before a court of law. No matter what the situation is, even if the debt was something that never belonged to you, by not responding or appearing in court you have handed the case right over to the plaintiff. Once the debt has entered into a default judgment, you can be forced to pay the debt. The debt collector can also garnish your wages or legally seize your property for the debt owed (depending on your state law).
Do not feel intimidated by these debt collectors. Even if you are summoned, you still have the right to state your case. Some of these debt collectors will use this tactic to scare consumers, knowing they are collecting unverifiable or time barred debts, and consumers are then faced with default judgments.
MSI Credit Solutions provides superior credit restoration and comprehensive consulting services that are reliable and affordable. For any questions or to schedule a free credit consultation, contact us at (866) 217-9841.
*The information in this article has been provided strictly for educational purposes.
