Three Things NOT To Do When Being Sued By a Debt Collector

UPDATED: Jul 17, 2023Fact Checked

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Jeffrey Johnson

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Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

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UPDATED: Jul 17, 2023

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UPDATED: Jul 17, 2023Fact Checked

Consumer Advocate Bud Hibbs, a debt collection expert and consultant for over 25 years who has written several books, is approved to teach CLE (Continuing Legal Education) courses through the State Bar of Texas and has appeared in numerous radio and television programs including The Oprah Winfrey Show, says that consumers should not do the following three things when being sued for a debt by a debt collector:

  1. Never give creditors access to your bank account. This is a major area in the “don’t” column – and it’s something that gets my blood boiling because I know that before the day is over, I’m going to get three or four calls about this. Many people will do that and say, ‘Well, he’s only going to take $100 out.’ But, then they’ll call and say, ‘Well, my check went in and he took $1,200 out instead.’ They’ll want to hire a lawyer and sue the company, but a lawyer can’t do much in that situation because you gave the company permission. So, now it becomes your word against theirs. If you don’t have anything in writing or didn’t record the call, you can’t do much. So, don’t trust them to do the right thing in the first place.
  2. Don’t assume creditors can take your money. I want to warn consumers about this, that if they receive social security, whether it’s due to being disabled or due to age, social security income is exempt from seizure under federal law. That means if they sue you and come after you, you have to make them aware of the source of your income. You have to make the bank aware, you have to make the collector aware; and once you make them aware that you’re on social security, they cannot legally touch it. If you do make them aware and they go after it, you can hire an attorney and take action against them and most of the time, you’ll collect some money. We have a huge army of aging seniors that baby boomers are taking care of today. Mom and dad are sitting at home. A lot of them have maxed out their credit cards to get medicines and things that their Medicare/Medicaid doesn’t pay for and the collectors are coming after them and just absolutely wiping them out.
  3. Never ignore lawsuits. The majority of lawsuits that are filed end up in default judgment because the consumer never shows up. The biggest thing I hear from consumers is, ‘I can’t afford a lawyer and, gosh, I did have a Visa or a MasterCard at some point, so I don’t have any defense.’ Yes, you do. You have a defense based on who’s suing you. If it’s the original creditor, like a Citibank, it’s one story; but, if it’s a junk debt buyer, a bottom feeder, it’s a different story altogether.

If you are being harassed by a debt collector, contact an attorney whose practice focuses on issues relating to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential. Click here, to contact an experienced debtor’s rights lawyer. We may be able to help.

Case Studies: Three Mistakes to Avoid When Being Sued By a Debt Collector

Case Study 1: Ignoring the Lawsuit

John Doe received a lawsuit notice from a debt collector but chose to ignore it, assuming it would go away on its own. He believed that by not responding, the debt collector would lose interest or lack the necessary documentation to proceed.

However, by failing to respond within the required timeframe, John inadvertently allowed the debt collector to obtain a default judgment against him. As a result, his wages were garnished, and his credit score significantly dropped.

Case Study 2: Providing Inaccurate or Incomplete Information

Jane Smith decided to represent herself in court without fully understanding the legal process. During the trial, she provided inaccurate or incomplete information to the judge, hoping to convince them of her innocence.

Unfortunately, her lack of legal knowledge and failure to present accurate evidence resulted in the judge ruling in favor of the debt collector. Jane lost the case and was held responsible for the debt, along with additional legal fees.

Case Study 3: Making Threats or Engaging in Harassment

Tom Anderson became frustrated with the debt collector’s aggressive tactics and began making threats and engaging in harassment. He believed that by intimidating the debt collector, they would drop the lawsuit or negotiate a more favorable settlement.

However, Tom’s actions backfired. The debt collector documented his threats and harassment, which led to counterclaims against him for violation of consumer protection laws. Tom not only lost the lawsuit but also faced potential legal consequences.

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Jeffrey Johnson

Insurance Lawyer

Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

Insurance Lawyer

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.

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