Indianapolis, IN asked in Collections for Indiana

Q: Can I settle out of court and who do I contact?

I just got served papers that being sued for owing a creditor money beginning back in 2005. The company suing me I believe is a collection agency and I have never received or heard of this company nor have I received any information, letters or phone calls stating that I owe this amount or about this debt.

I am assuming that it is from a student loan I took out while in school during 2005-2008.

Needless to say I would like to settle out of court and come to some form of an agreement with the Plaintiff.

Related Topics:
3 Lawyer Answers
Rachel Lea Hunter
Rachel Lea Hunter
Answered
  • Collections Lawyer
  • Cary, NC

A: Contact the attorney for the creditor. However, its not uncommon for bad debts to get bought up by a junk debt buyer, even bad student loan debt. So it is not remarkable that you have not heard of the company suing you.

Before you settle though, I would seek out an attorney specializing in defense of consumer debt/FDCPA violations. There may be a statute of limitations issue if this was a private student loan debt. There may also be issues concerning proof if the debt was bought by a junk debt buyer - they may not be able to prove its your debt at all. Without filing an answer and engaging in discovery, you will not know. So don't just pay without talking to a lawyer first.

1 user found this answer helpful

Rachel Lea Hunter
Rachel Lea Hunter
Answered
  • Collections Lawyer
  • Cary, NC

A: Contact the attorney for the creditor. However, its not uncommon for bad debts to get bought up by a junk debt buyer, even bad student loan debt. So it is not remarkable that you have not heard of the company suing you.

Before you settle though, I would seek out an attorney specializing in defense of consumer debt/FDCPA violations. There may be a statute of limitations issue if this was a private student loan debt. There may also be issues concerning proof if the debt was bought by a junk debt buyer - they may not be able to prove its your debt at all. Without filing an answer and engaging in discovery, you will not know. So don't just pay without talking to a lawyer first.

1 user found this answer helpful

Rachel Lea Hunter
Rachel Lea Hunter
Answered
  • Collections Lawyer
  • Cary, NC

A: Contact the attorney for the creditor. However, its not uncommon for bad debts to get bought up by a junk debt buyer, even bad student loan debt. So it is not remarkable that you have not heard of the company suing you.

Before you settle though, I would seek out an attorney specializing in defense of consumer debt/FDCPA violations. There may be a statute of limitations issue if this was a private student loan debt. There may also be issues concerning proof if the debt was bought by a junk debt buyer - they may not be able to prove its your debt at all. Without filing an answer and engaging in discovery, you will not know. So don't just pay without talking to a lawyer first.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.