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North Carolina Collections Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: A civil judgment was placed against me on September 6, 2011.

A civil judgment was placed against me on September 6, 2011. I have not made payments on that judgment and still owe the money. Last week I received a civil summons regarding that judgment. I am assuming since it has been 10 years that they are “renewing” that judgment. If I do not respond... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Nov 13, 2021

Yes, you are absolutely correct. You should contact an experienced collection defense and consumer bankruptcy attorney for specific advice. Bankrupty may be the best option - or not. You need to understand all of your options, and a bankruptcy attorney will explain the pros and cons of all options.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: I need to reply to a summons, 6 1/2 hours away in anther sate. Debt is time bared. How do I deal with this?

I had a loan from a bank in Tifton, GA. I paid as promised until I lost my job. Even then I paid them $ 3,000 in Aug of 2013. At that time I asked for the debt to be forgiven. I NEVER heard from the bank again. No letter, no payment book as promised, if, it would not be forgiven. No registered... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Aug 27, 2021

You need to hire a lawyer in Georgia ASAP to handle this for you. If you do not answer, a default judgment will be entered against you, and you lose your right to plead your statute of limitation defense. Some loan contracts are signed "under seal", which gives a 10 year statute of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: Can I bring suit against a former business partner for outstanding & defaulted credit card debt tied to me?

I have statements showing charges tied to him, none of which were made by me. I need help recovering the funds and working with the credit card company to resolve this. After many hours spent on calls trying to determine how and when this happened (initially thinking the card was fraudulently... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Jul 12, 2021

What did your partnership agreement say about who was to be responsible for what? Was the debt incurred for business purposes or personal purposes? In very general terms, you would resolve the issue with the bank that issued the credit card. Then, yes you could sue the former partner for paying... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Small Claims, Employment Law and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: Can I take legal action to receive the total compensation I should have been paid while working there?

While interviewing for a chain restaurant GM position mid Dec of 2019 I was asked what annual salary I would accept to leave where I was currently employed and work there. I asked for 65,000 and the district Mgr at that time who was interviewing me agreed, but he said they would need to start me at... View More

Kirton M. Madison
Kirton M. Madison
answered on Jun 16, 2021

Yes. You can take action. You should hurry though because you are running up against the statute of limitations. You should be able to use the documentation and text messages that you already have in your possession. You may take the restaurant to small claims court for the difference in the amount... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Collections for North Carolina on
Q: I have been served with a civil summons that needs a written response and im not sure what i am supposed to be writing.
Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on May 25, 2021

You have to either admit or deny each paragraph of the Complaint. You also need to plead any affirmative defenses that you may have. If you are being sued for a debt, I suggest you speak to an attorney experienced in those matters for specific advice. You may have legal defenses that you are not... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: Can I file a satisfaction of judgement. Paid amount in full about a month ago and have written notice without response?
Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on May 17, 2021

Only the creditor can file a Notice of Satisfaction of Judgment. If you sent your demand for them to notify the Court about the payment of judgment in writing, and you have proof of receipt of your written demand, and they have not filed it, contact an experienced consumer law attorney. You need to... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Collections for North Carolina on
Q: The lien was released via debt cancelation, per the statute of limitations. Are they required to satisfy the judgement?

The judgment expires this October. The bank rep says they have the options of: 1)allowing the judgement to expire 2)extending the judgement for an additional 10 years and/or 3)requiring some type of payment to satisfy the judgement. She says they are not required to satisfy the judgement unless... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on May 11, 2021

If you made no payments but received a Form 1099C cancellation of debt, your Judgment was not "satisfied" or "resolved" or "paid off". They can still legally collect on it even though on their books they deemed it "uncollectible" and wrote it off of their... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: Does a judgment HAVE to remain in court records for 10 years in NC?

I had a lien on my property associated with a judgment. The lien was satisfied but the judgment remains in the court records. It expires in 5 months. Is there any way to have it removed immediately, or does it have to expire. The creditor said they will NOT extend the judgement.

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on May 10, 2021

If you paid the judgment directly to the creditor, send them a letter (use certified mail or priority mail so you have proof of delivery and save a copy of your letter) demanding that they advise the Clerk of Court about the payments you made and advise the Clerk that the judgment is fully... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for North Carolina on
Q: If I received a Motion for Summary Judgement do I need to show up to that court date?

I’ve been working with a debt settlement company for almost two years and my discover acct is the account that I received a Court Calendar and a Motion for Summary Judgement. I’ve almost been making payments to my debt settlement company for two years as well.

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Apr 29, 2021

You won't go to jail if you don't show up, but a judgment will be entered against you for the full amount owed. In order to keep a judgment from being entered against you, you need to file an Affidavit which controverts one of the facts necessary for them to get a judgment. That needs to... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: How can someone properly respond to a summons that is out of state?

My SO lives with me in North Carolina for almost two and a half years now. Her mother was served a summons & complaint at her home in New York regarding a debt collector attempting to get a judgement against her. A couple of questions:

1. Was she properly served?

2. The summons... View More

Mr. Albert Loch Saslow
Mr. Albert Loch Saslow
answered on Feb 12, 2021

1. Depends on more facts, but for a snap judgment I'll say probably not. However, burden is on you to establish that proper service hasn't been made. If you don't raise the issue properly with the court, the creditor will likely just proceed on and get what they want. This will... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Collections for North Carolina on
Q: I'm in NC. DO I have to sign a Confession of Judgment agreement with a bill collector? I have the debt & have agreed to

Pay $77/month until the debt is paid. I don't want to sign this court document.

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Feb 9, 2021

If you want to keep that particular settlement agreement and they require it, yes, you have to sign it to keep the settlement agreement. If you refuse, they will proceed with the court process and obtain a judgment against you. A Confession of Judgment is a better alternative than a Consent... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: How to renew a money judgment for back alimony in North Carolina when the defendant (debtor) is out of the country?

$50,000 plus interest judgment hits 10 year mark in 11 months. Debtor lives out of the country. Can I renew without serving them?

Mr. Albert Loch Saslow
Mr. Albert Loch Saslow
answered on Feb 1, 2021

No, "renewing" a judgment involves filing a new lawsuit. An essential part of any lawsuit is that you have to serve the defendant - regardless of whether the defendant is in the country or not. There are ways to serve someone who isn't in the country, but they can be complicated... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for North Carolina on
Q: I received notice of judgment regarding old credit card debt. What do I do next? I didn’t get the original summons.
Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Dec 20, 2020

I assume this is a lawsuit to renew a previous judgment that was obtained a little less than 10 years ago? You need to contact an attorney in your area directly for assistance. It would be very helpful to that attorney if you retrieved a complete copy of the court file on the original Judgment... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for North Carolina on
Q: I have a judgement from Midland credit in Winston- Salem NC, for $5000 on a credit card I could not pay .

I have now a note left on my door saying I need to contact and arrange a Notice of Rights to Have Exemptions Designated given to me. I do not know if I can do anything at this point because I never showed up to court when I was served on this issue and they ruled in favor of midland credit, I went... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Nov 6, 2020

We dont have wage garnishment in NC and if you file a Motion To Claim Exempt Property within 20 days after you accept that service of the Notice of Right, your assets will likely be protected. Contact a qualified attorney in your area (a consumer bankruptcy attorney is most likely to be able to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for North Carolina on
Q: I sent a check by certified mail to a collection agency for payment on a debt. I tracked it and they received it on Oct

1st 2020 at 9:58am. They claim it is not showing up. What should I do?

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Oct 8, 2020

Wait. If they attempt to collect on the debt again, explain the situation and ask them to send something in writing. Then, write back disputing you owe the debt and enclose your proof of delivery and hopefully a copy of the check you sent.

2 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Collections, Municipal Law and Small Claims for North Carolina on
Q: A tenant defaulted on rent and abandoned an office in NC. Their HQ is in GA. Can I use small claims court in NC to sue?

The abandoned office is in Charlotte NC and was their only NC office. There is nobody here to receive the summons. Their HQ is in GA, where we know the summons will be received. I tried to file but the small claims clerk led me to believe that serving the HQ in GA would be problematic and out of... View More

Ben Corcoran
PREMIUM
Ben Corcoran
answered on Oct 2, 2020

You cannot file in small claims court if the defendant is not a resident of the same county. Your only option is the district court, sorry.

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3 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: Being sued on a failed car loan, I turned the car in. how can I go about this? my bills take most of my pay as it is

N/a

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Sep 26, 2020

You should see a bankruptcy attorney for a personal consultation as soon as possible. I don;t know what kind of notice you received, but if it is from the Sheriff with a "writ of execution" this is extremely urgent and you should not delay the consultation. A qualified consumer... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Small Claims and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: I obtained a loan for 1,000 in Dec 2019 and unfortunately defaulted. With added I retest and fees balances went to almot

6,000. They offered a settlement of around 1500. I was able to send in $550 but was unable to settle as soon as they wanted. I continued to stay in contact but they voided the settlement. I am in NC but the loan originator is out of state. My question is will they automatically garnish my wages or... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Aug 28, 2020

More details are needed. Was this an internet "payday loan"? if so, they are unlikely to sue. If this was a local finance company or a bank, they might sue or they might not. We do not have wage garnishment in North Carolina. If this is an out of state lender they may sue you in that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for North Carolina on
Q: Can my home, vehicle, personal belongings and child support be taken to repay a judgement?

My previous landlord was granted a judgement against me for unpaid rent that was recorded in 2018 in Florida.

I was divorced a few months later and used my divorce settlement as a down payment on a 40 year old house in North Carolina. I have a mortgage than is just over a year old and I... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Aug 18, 2020

The judgment has to be recorded in North Carolina first. This is done by them filing a new lawsuit ehre in North Carolina seeking to have the Florida judgment recognized and having you served with the lawsuit. Once that is granted, your creditor has to send you a "Notice of Right To Claim... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Collections for North Carolina on
Q: I have a judgement that is in the clerk of courts, what should I do?

this judgement has been in existence since 2008, I thought it was no longer there, when I did not see it on my credit. I am in the process of purchasing a home. The clerk at the courthouse said I could pay it off or make payments. Is there a way I can contact the Law firm that this judgement was... View More

Paige Kurtz
Paige Kurtz
answered on Aug 12, 2020

Do not payment the judgment or make payments. If the judgment was entered in 2008, it has expired, unless the creditor filed an action to renew the judgment for an additional ten years. If the judgment was renewed, meaning there should be a new judgment with a more recent date, then you do need to... View More

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