Need Help ASAP!

[dnance]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CO

So i'm in a debt settlement program for about 3 months now. They told me to stop paying my bills so I did. I recieved a notice from an lawyer saying that if I don't respond within 30 days they will file a suit. So I called the debt settlers and they said to fax it to them and they will handle it. So I did and I just got served on Sat. So, now I am getting sued by the creditor. well i called my debt settlers and they told me that I need to send all this paperwork to them and if I don't hear back within 72 hrs, call and fax again. And I haven't reached my retainer fee anyways. I'm terrified. I just finished college, I'm 22 yrs old, and I feel like I will never get out of my debt. I feel like I can't trust anyone/any company. It's either debt consolidation, settling, or bankrauptcy. I don't know how to file an answer. Should I call and negotiate myself or wait again for the debt people (who are probably screwing me over)?? Is it too late? Am I going to get my wages garnished? I'm trying to do the moral thing and pay these people back but it seems a lot easier to go bankraupt. By the time I need a house I'll be out of the "hold" of bankrauptcy. I have no cars, house, etc that they could take. Aren't I already screwed because I'll have bad credit for 10 years??? What should I do about the lawsuit? Please help...thank you!

[seniorjudge]

I haven't seen a "debt settlement" outfit that wasn't a scam.

Hire a lawyer.

Or negotiate yourself.

[dnance]

Ok well that's what I heard about debt consolidation companies too so that is why I decided to go with the settlement program. If they're a scam, why are they still in business? So basically I can't get help from anywhere legit? Might as well just go bankraupt....screwed either way.

Does anyone know what I should do concerning the lawsuit? I'm calling lawyers, just debating the cost. Do I have to send an answer before going to court or can I go to court and give my answer? I live in CO.

Do you think they're automatically going to make me pay or do I have to give them an excuse such as, I'm going bankraupt, in consolidation, in settlement program? Is that what they want?

Thank you-

[creditorRights]

okay dude listen to me... it is absolutely essential that you follow the directions on filing an answer. Read the directions on the front every court has different rules and procuedures on the number of days you have an ETC but in general if you were personally served it is about 20 days if it was other service you have about 30 days.


FILE ANY KIND OF ANSWER EVEN IF IT A BASIC GENERIC ONE SUCH AS

"Defendant denies each and every allegation set forth in paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6"

"Defendant lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth or falsity thereof in paragrapsh 1 & 2. "

(obviously i have not seen your summons I dont know your paragraphs and what not) But anything that you cant know about, say you lack info, anything thats about you deny each and every allegation)

This will buy you time to either hire a lawyer to take over the case for you, reach some kind of settlement with them and negotiate a payment plan, and most importantly NO DEFAULT JUDGMENT WHICH CAN REALLY MESS UP YOUR LIFE

[eli4625]

First off take a deeeeep breath and relax, the world may seem like it is coming to an end, but it isn't. In fact this isn't that HUGE of a deal. No one is dying and you can't go to jail. First get rid of the "settlement" company, they are a joke. Second, contact the attorney's and see what kind of settlement they would be willing to accept. From that amount see what kind of payment plan they would accept. If you can not come to an agreed on amount, answer the summons. Appear in court and bring copies of all your bills and your income. If you are in real debt, then consider bankruptcy. It is not the end of the world, and doesn't mean you can not have credit again for 10 years. Life is to important to stress out over this, remember the attorney's use fear to their advantage, don't let them.

[angrytrucker]

All these con-artists that supposedly provide settlement understand one global truth....the best way to get into peoples wallets is to scare them...wheter it is used by homeland security, showing you picture of some bearded guy living in a cave... or the vacuum cleaner salesperson, showing you a big blown-up picture of a microbe living in your carpet.
These people want your money!
Don't be scared...you said that you have no assets, so i'm going to assume your loan was non-secured....(meaning theres nothing they can do to you, aside from screwing up your credit)
Why pay bancrupcy protection to some predator con-artist lawyer, when you can achieve the same result by simply not paying...i repeat....there is nothing they can do to you.... i have done it and many of the people i know have done it also....
They will be calling you for a while threatening you with everything under the sun, hoping you will buckle under pressure and agree to pay them...don't do it...tell them off...be firm and do not show hesitation or fear...these are ruthless professionals and they WILL exploit it...do not let them push you around and they WILL eventually back off...guaranteed.
Bancrupcy is a big industry stuffed with bottom feeding parasites...why feed them?
I know this first hand...
Ask yourself do you really need to spend the 1000 dollars on "bancrupcy protection", which will leave with bad credit for 5 years or do you save that 1000 dollars and have the same result...??

[creditorRights]

Originally Posted by angrytrucker

All these con-artists that supposedly provide settlement understand one global truth....the best way to get into peoples wallets is to scare them...wheter it is used by homeland security, showing you picture of some bearded guy living in a cave... or the vacuum cleaner salesperson, showing you a big blown-up picture of a microbe living in your carpet.
These people want your money!
Don't be scared...you said that you have no assets, so i'm going to assume your loan was non-secured....(meaning theres nothing they can do to you, aside from screwing up your credit)
Why pay bancrupcy protection to some predator con-artist lawyer, when you can achieve the same result by simply not paying...i repeat....there is nothing they can do to you.... i have done it and many of the people i know have done it also....
They will be calling you for a while threatening you with everything under the sun, hoping you will buckle under pressure and agree to pay them...don't do it...tell them off...be firm and do not show hesitation or fear...these are ruthless professionals and they WILL exploit it...do not let them push you around and they WILL eventually back off...guaranteed.
Bancrupcy is a big industry stuffed with bottom feeding parasites...why feed them?
I know this first hand...
Ask yourself do you really need to spend the 1000 dollars on "bancrupcy protection", which will leave with bad credit for 5 years or do you save that 1000 dollars and have the same result...??

It's not quite that simple, a judgment will remain on your credit for 7 years, bankruptcys are on your credit for 10 years. And there are things they can do, if they find out where you work (not hard to do) they can garnish your wages, if you have a bank account they can attach a levy and seize all the funds.

There is nothing they can do to you IF you meet all the following conditions:

1) you don't have any bank accounts (particularly major ones)
2) you don't keep a job for more then 8 months
3) having a clean credit score is important to you

[ucantbannme]

yes the above poster made a good point...you should deffinitelly clean-out all your bank accounts...

[dnance]

Thank you for your advice!

I went to the court to file my answer and I was told the summons was a fraud because it did not have a case number and it wasn't notorized. I have decided to go through bankruptcy. OK don't hate on me too quickly. I realized that I made some past mistakes and mark my words I will NEVER put myself through this again. I'm tired of the sleepless nights and empty savings account. I have received my degree and I've been in a full-time job for 8 months now. I tried doing it the moral way and kept getting screwed so I'm officially over it!!!!

Thanks again!