I checked the mail today and found at least 15 letters from different law firms offering assistance for a lawsuit filed against me by Velocity.
I’m aware of the issue and have been trying to save up even a little to pay it off, but with family health issues and the high cost of living, I’m constantly choosing between basic needs like housing and food over maintaining good credit.
The frustrating part is that I haven’t received any communication until now. My phone filters out spam calls, I haven’t gotten any previous mail, and there’s nothing in my email (not even in spam).
Thankfully, the amount owed is under $4k, and I still have the app for the card tied to the debt. To my knowledge, I should have been contacted beforehand so I could’ve had the option to set up a payment plan.
Should I wait until I’m officially served, or should I reach out to the office listed on the docket?
There’s no mention of the amount on the docket—my only reference is from the card app. I didn’t even know the debt had been sold.
I have a record of every debt I owe because I intend to pay it all off—not for my credit, but for my own sense of pride. But I’m genuinely shaking and freaking out right now.
I’ll have to handle this alone because my family consists of two younger siblings and a mom with cancer. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
If it helps, I’m in Georgia.
I would look for a lawyer. If you have one, you can easily deal with them as they are a trash debt buyer.
I appreciate the suggestion. I suppose I’ll get up early and look over every letter I received today to determine which ones I can pay and which ones don’t merely advise me to file for bankruptcy.
do you mind me asking if you’ve dealt with them previously or if you could refer me to some success stories if you have any off the top of your head? If this might give me even a small sense of hope, that would be great.
Ignore these fools who advise you to engage an attorney; you will end up paying more for the attorney’s services and the settlement they arrange than if you called them yourself and asked to have a portion of your debt taken care of. You could have obtained whatever settlement or bargain they achieved for you on your own.
AKittensMeow, have you ever been sued? The original poster (OP) just got served. If OP does nothing, there will be a judgment against them for the $4,000 owed, plus additional attorney fees and costs, which will accumulate post-judgment interest. OP could risk having their bank account or wages garnished.
Should OP spend $4,000 to defend a $4,000 claim? Absolutely not, but there are attorneys who specialize in defending credit card debt cases at scale. These lawyers aim to provide value by saving the client more money than what’s spent on legal fees.
This isn’t a case from the original creditor—Velocity claims to have purchased the debt. Velocity might struggle to prove this if challenged. They could have made mistakes in prosecuting the claim, or there may even be a Statute of Limitations issue. Only a specialized lawyer can explore these possibilities.
I agree that hiring a lawyer (aside from a bankruptcy attorney) is premature if no lawsuit has been filed. But once a suit is filed, some consumers need professional help.
Could Velocity settle for 50 cents on the dollar with an unrepresented borrower? Possibly. Would Velocity accept even less if dealing with a lawyer who has beaten them in the past? I believe so.
If someone points a gun at you and demands money, does it help to have your own gun? I’d say yes. I’ve settled credit card cases for clients with a mutual walk-away agreement, but it depends on the strength of each case.
Yes, so instead of hiring a lawyer, the op should call in and offer to pay $800 to settle.