How can I get out of a summons for credit card debt?
Isabella Turner
Updated on February 11, 2026
How to respond to a court summons for credit card debt
- Don’t ignore the summons. When you get a court summons for credit card debt, pay attention to it—and make a plan of action.
- Verify the debt.
- Consider debt settlement.
- Contact an attorney.
- Look at your budget.
- Request a payment plan.
- Make a lump-sum payment.
What happens if a debt collector sues you?
The creditor, collection agency or attorney representing it will then notify you of the lawsuit by “serving” you, which means delivering a copy of the complaint and a court summons. With a default judgment the creditor may be able to: Garnish your wages. Place a lien against your property.
What happens if you can’t pay a settlement?
Not being able to pay a judgment can subject you to the post-judgment collection process. These methods include wage garnishments, bank account levies, and judicial liens. Bankruptcy will potentially eliminate your lawsuit and judgment if you file bankruptcy in time.
What happens if you ignore a credit card debt summons?
If you ignore your summons, the court is likely to rule in the debt collector’s favor and your wages could be garnished until you pay back the amount of money that the court rules you owe. If you are sued for credit card debt, your first step is to verify that the debt is actually yours.
What happens when you get sued for credit card debt?
By the time an unpaid debt turns into a court summons, it has already passed from the initial creditor to at least one debt collection agency. Sometimes your debt has been handled by multiple debt collection agencies, each one selling or passing your debt along until one of the agencies decides to take you to court.
Can a credit card company win a lawsuit by default?
No, it’s because debtors usually do nothing when faced with a lawsuit. It is a rare debtor that will file an answer to a complaint to dispute even a valid debt. This allows the credit card company to win the lawsuit by default. Why is this important? As mentioned above, the judgment is the court’s determination that the debt is due.
Can you negotiate and settle a credit card lawsuit?
—Darby Yes you can negotiate and settle a credit card lawsuit. In some cases, if you cannot raise enough money to settle in a lump sum, you will be able to set up affordable payment arrangements to keep from being garnished, or your bank account levied.
