Can a debt collector ever sue me?

Yes, debt collectors in California are legally allowed to sue you in certain circumstances. Generally, debt collectors only take legal action as a last resort. It usually occurs when you have defaulted on a loan for more than a few months. Once a debt collector decides to sue, they will try to obtain a court judgment against you that requires you to pay the debt plus interest and possibly other costs. The debt collector will typically notify you of the lawsuit in a document called a summons. The summons informs you of the date and time of the court hearing. You will need to appear in court to respond to the summons or a default judgement may be entered against you. A default judgement means that the court is granting the debt collector the right to collect the debt. You may be able to avoid going to court by negotiating with the debt collector. Negotiations could involve restructuring debt payments, or settling the debt for less than what is owed. You should consider consulting with a lawyer before negotiating or responding to the summons in order to ensure your rights are protected.

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Can a debt collector ever sue me?

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