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Can Credit Card debt collectors take you to court?

Author

Emma Miller

Updated on January 21, 2026

Often, you work with the creditor or debt collection agency, to decide on a payment plan, or come to some sort of agreement. However, if you are still unable to pay your debt, refuse to cooperate, or do not return calls or correspondence, the creditor or debt collection agency can take you to court.

Can a credit card debt collector take my car?

If you have a personal vehicle, a debt collector can legally take your car, sell it, and use the money to settle the debt. There’s one crucial thing to keep in mind. If your debt is related to a property like a piece of land or defaulted on a car loan, these possessions can be repossessed to settle the debts.

Can debt management take you to court?

Can the debt collector take me to court? If you do not make payment, the debt collection agency is within their right to take you to court. This essentially orders you to make payments towards the debt, and if you ignore this, then further action may be taken.

What happens if you never pay a debt collector?

If you refuse to pay a debt collection agency, they may file a lawsuit against you. Debt collection lawsuits are no joke. You can’t just ignore them in the hopes that they’ll go away. If you receive a Complaint from a debt collector, you must respond within a time frame determined by your jurisdiction.

Can a credit card debt go to court?

Settling a judgment can be in the creditor’s best interest as well as your own. It costs a creditor time and money to recover a judgment. For one thing, the creditor will have difficulty collecting the judgment and related court costs if you have no assets or if you have more liabilities than assets.

What should I do if my creditor takes me to court?

If you don’t, your creditor might start legal action without you knowing. You should check if you have to pay the debt before responding to your creditor. What you should do depends on which documents you’ve got from your creditor. You’ll have 2 weeks to make any missed payments you owe.

Do you have to answer a civil summons for credit card debt?

If you settle the debt out of court, the creditors and their lawyers can withdraw the case. You can avoid the hassle of filing an answer formally with the court. If trying to reach a settlement does not work out or you decide you prefer to go to court, you must file an answer to the served summons.

Can you pay off debt before a court date?

Can I Pay Debt Before a Court Date? Yes, you can pay off debt before a court date – and you should absolutely do so if you can. If you have defaulted on a credit card, you should start working on debt settlement as soon as you know you can’t make payments. And if you receive notification of a lawsuit, then it becomes particularly important.