Candy wrote to me through the GetOutOfDebt.org site and asked the following question. If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.
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“Dear Steve,
This is really on behalf of my mother in law. she has been served a summons for an old credit card debt. With penalty and interest fees, the debt is now at over $20,000.
Her only income is widows benefits which is around $1100.00 per month. She’s only got 8 more days before her time to answer the summons is up. She does not want to go to court if possible. Any suggestions?
How can we resolve credit card debt without going to court after a summons has been issued?
Candy”
The Answer:
Dear Candy,
She should go to court and explain her situation. Take proof that her only income is retirement benefits. Not going to court does not change anything except she will be guaranteed to lose. While going can be scary and stressful, it is her only opportunity to provide her side of the story and her situation.
The court may rule in favor of the creditor simply as a matter of law, but then again the judge could tell the creditor to take a hike. You have everything to lose by ignoring this and nothing to lose by responding and going.
Otherwise, she can always pay the bill in full before the hearing or negotiate a mutually satisfactory payment with the lawyers.
