How to write a letter back to the courts when being sued by a debt collection agency?

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How to write a letter back to the courts when being sued by a debt collection agency?

I have been served a summons for a debt from a fitness. My debt is now being collected through a debt collection agency and I have 21 days to report to the summons. I don’t know how I should respond I do admit fault to the debt but also I feel like I should not have to pay the amount they are asking because I only used their facilities once and then never went back. How to respond to a summons like this?

Asked on March 8, 2012 under Bankruptcy Law, Michigan

Answers:

S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

You will need to file an answer to the complaint with the court and serve it by mail on the opposing party within the twenty-one day deadline set forth in the summons.  The complaint is the lawsuit attached to the summons.  At the law library, look for answer to complaint in the index of Pleading and Practice,  This will give you the general format for an answer to a complaint, which denies the allegations in the complaint.  At the end of the answer is the verification which you sign and date under penalty of perjury.  The verification attests to the veracity of your statements in the answer to the complaint.  File the answer to the complaint with the verification and an attached proof of service with the court and serve a copy by mail on the opposing party or the attorney for the opposing party.  The proof of service verifies the date of mailing.  You can either use a court form proof of service or you can write your own.  If you write your own proof of service, it just says that you are over eighteen and the attached documents were sent via first class mail unless stated otherwise to _____________ (name and address of opposing party or opposing party's attorney) on _________ (date).  You sign and date the proof of service at the bottom.  The date you sign should be the same as the date of mailing and the same date you file your documents with the court.

If you don't timely file your answer to the complaint with the court and serve it by mail on the opposing party, the opposing party will get a default judgment against you.  A default judgment means you have lost the case.  If that happens, you will need to file a motion to set aside the default.  If the court grants your motion to set aside the default, the case will then be back on track and litigation will continue.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

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