I’ve been trying to get in touch with free legal services, but we keep missing each other. I’ve called the lawyer who’s suing me and left messages, but no response yet. My court date is on the 17th, and I’m not sure if I should just attend the zoom hearing, admit the debt is mine, and try to set up a payment plan? I owe the money, but I’d love to negotiate for a lower amount, though I don’t know how to approach that. I’m not good with confrontation, and I don’t have anyone to talk to about this. I also can’t pay it off all at once, so a payment plan is my only option.
Has anyone been through something similar? I’m not even asking for advice, just want to know what to expect from the process to help calm my nerves. Thanks!
Definitely show up and tell the judge that you’ve been trying to contact the attorney, but they haven’t responded. Ask for either an extension to get the documents you’ve requested or even dismissal if they can’t prove it’s your debt. You’ve been trying to resolve this, and they’re not cooperating.
If your communication with the lawyer has only been by phone, make sure you have a record of your calls to show the judge. These debt attorneys usually want easy cases where people don’t show up.
Also, check your credit card terms. Sometimes, they have an arbitration clause, which means you can argue that court isn’t the right place for this.
Exactly! Just make sure you’re there and don’t come off as helpless on the zoom call. Take responsibility and tell the court you’ve been trying to settle the debt. Explain your financial situation and what you can afford, like $30 a month. Ask them what they’re willing to accept. Good luck!
Definitely show up. I filed an answer to a creditor’s lawsuit, explaining that I was on SSDI and couldn’t pay. I thought the lawyer would drop the case or the judge would dismiss it. Instead, the judge gave the creditor a default judgment, even though they can’t garnish my income. It felt pointless, but at least I showed up.
I’m feeling pretty lost. I know it’s a civil case, but beyond that, I don’t understand much. I plan on attending the zoom hearing, but I’m nervous about pleading guilty and how that will affect me. I really don’t know what it all means moving forward.
How much do you owe? Just go to court and ask the judge for a new court date. Lawyers usually want to settle instead of coming back to court. If you have some money with you, you might even settle for less than you owe.
I owe less than 3k, but I can’t pay it all now, so I’ll need a payment plan. What’s the point of asking for a new court date though? Will that help me?
Delaying it costs the lawyer time and money, which might push them to settle with you. Once you get a new court date, they’ll be more likely to offer a better deal.
I went through this last year. Do the zoom call. You don’t need a lawyer. If the company’s lawyer is there, you can have a quick meeting with them, agree on a payment plan, and then they’ll inform the judge of the agreement.
Don’t go without a lawyer. The saying ‘a person who represents themselves in court has a fool for a client’ is true. Lawyers are expensive, but going without one could cost you more in the long run.
You’ve made some bad decisions to end up here, don’t make another one.
What can I do to get a lawyer in 2 days? Have you actually gone through this or are you just giving general advice? Without real options, this doesn’t really help.
If it’s civil, they might have someone to assist. Even if it’s zoom court, make sure you dress nicely, keep your phone steady, and act professionally. Most judges are reasonable as long as you show you’re taking it seriously.