What are the chances of a creditor suing you?
Daniel Santos
Updated on January 22, 2026
A general rule of thumb is that if you owe less than $1,000 the odds that you will be sued are very low, particularly if you’re creditor is a large corporation. In fact, many big creditors won’t sue over amounts much larger than $1,000.
Can a credit card company sue you in Canada?
In simple terms: yes. A creditor has the right to take you to court and sue you if you have stopped making payments on a debt that you owe. However, depending on how old the debt is, they may not legally be allowed to do so.
What happens when a credit card company sues you?
If you stop making payments or you fail to pay your bills on time, the credit card company or a debt collector may file a lawsuit against you. If this happens, you must respond to the lawsuit or the credit card company will win a money judgment against you and can potentially garnish your wages.
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.
What happens when a credit card company files a judgment?
As mentioned above, the judgment is the court’s determination that the debt is due. In most states, obtaining this validation of the debt from the court system is a condition that must be met before the credit card company can attempt to change its position from unsecured creditor to secured creditor.
What happens if you ignore your credit card debt?
Ignore your credit card debt long enough, and your credit card company may sell your account to a collection agency or sue you in civil court for the balance. While it’s best to try to work with your credit card company before a lawsuit is filed, it’s also important to know what to expect if you receive a summons and how you can respond to it.
