Got a lawsuit notice from Wells Fargo… what do I do now

Loans
1

Hey everyone, I’m 23F and I just got a civil lawsuit notice from Wells Fargo over an $8k credit card debt. I have 30 days to respond, but I have no idea what to do.

I’m the only one supporting my family and a single mom, so this is really stressing me out. I honestly didn’t take credit seriously when I first got here and now I’m paying the price for it. I kept ignoring their calls because I was scared, and now I’m being sued.

I don’t have any savings, but I do have a stable income. Should I try calling them to work out a settlement and see if they’ll drop the lawsuit? Any advice would really help. I feel like I messed up big time, and I just want to figure out my next steps.

Thanks in advance!

2

You should definitely call and try to settle, but don’t ignore the lawsuit. Make sure to file an answer with the court. What state are you in? Do you own any property?

If they get a judgment against you, they could garnish up to 25% of your income depending on your state. But that only happens if they win the case, so you still have time to negotiate. Is this your only unpaid debt?

3

@Reese
I just rent a room. I’m in California. This is the only debt I haven’t been paying, everything else is up to date.

4

Ainsley said:
@Reese
I just rent a room. I’m in California. This is the only debt I haven’t been paying, everything else is up to date.

That’s good. Hopefully, you can work out a settlement before things get worse.

5

@Reese
I really hope so. This has been keeping me up at night, and I have no one to talk to about it. I appreciate your help!

6

Ainsley said:
@Reese
I really hope so. This has been keeping me up at night, and I have no one to talk to about it. I appreciate your help!

No problem! Do you know which law firm filed the lawsuit?

7

@Reese
It’s from Collect At Law firm.

8

Ainsley said:
@Reese
It’s from Collect At Law firm.

Interesting, I’ve never heard of them and I work in this field.

9

Reese said:

Ainsley said:
@Reese
It’s from Collect At Law firm.

Interesting, I’ve never heard of them and I work in this field.

Yeah, it’s by Atty. Ashley Mulhorn. I think they handle a lot of Wells Fargo cases.

10

@Reese
The lawsuit doesn’t mention a law firm, just Wells Fargo, so I was confused at first.

11

Ainsley said:
@Reese
The lawsuit doesn’t mention a law firm, just Wells Fargo, so I was confused at first.

Never mind, I just found out who the lawyer is. They’re about six hours away from me.

12

The 30-day countdown doesn’t start until you officially receive the court documents. Check with your local courthouse to confirm any fees you might have to pay.

13

Heath said:
The 30-day countdown doesn’t start until you officially receive the court documents. Check with your local courthouse to confirm any fees you might have to pay.

Thank you, I really appreciate that!

14

Go to solossuit.com and file your response. You’ll need to pay the filing fee for your state. If you’d rather do it in person, you can go to the courthouse and file, then send a copy by certified mail to the law firm.

15

@Heath
Thanks! Is there a cost for using SoloSuit? I haven’t gotten a court date yet, just the paperwork saying the case was filed on 12/4/2024, but I only got it today.

16

Ainsley said:
@Heath
Thanks! Is there a cost for using SoloSuit? I haven’t gotten a court date yet, just the paperwork saying the case was filed on 12/4/2024, but I only got it today.

Look up your court’s Rules of Civil Procedure. If it’s Limited Civil Court, there might be different rules. Usually, the clock starts when you’re officially served.

17

@Dru
Thank you! That helps a lot.

18

Talk to a debt lawyer. They’re usually not too expensive, and they might be able to help you settle or fight it.