Summons

[Phoenix79]

Well, my hubby just told me there was a note on our front door from the sheriff's office regarding a summons. I called them, and they will be bringing it to me this Friday (I have the day off).

I have a feeling it is from a credit card I haven't been able to pay on in the last year. They've tried calling me, and I'm ashamed to admit it - but I've been avoiding them because I just don't have any money right now.

My question is this - what happens once I get the summons? Do they usually have a phone number I can call to try and work out payment arrangments with the creditor, or will I have to go to court? The balance is around $1000 . . . and I don't have their phone number any longer so I'll have to wait for the summons and hope the number to contact them is on there.

I know this is a rather personal subject . . . but I've never had this happen before and was hoping that someone could give me an idea of what I'm in for. I'm just having one of those weeks . . . thanks for any suggestions/comments you may have!

Phoenix

[Caveat Emptor]

It sounds like this may be a prelude to a levy being place on your bank account. Don't quote me on that, but I know for certain from my work in banking CS that a levy has to be placed by a court.

[dispatch]

you can probably find a contact number on the company's website, from there someone should be able to direct you to collections

maybe it's a jury summons or something not as severe, my brother got a summons to appear as a witness to an accident his freind was in that the freind was challenging in court

[hawkchick11]

My sister had this happen to her. With the summons was a paper to fill out and send back to the clerk of courts, it said something along the lines that it was your debt, and it gave you a place to put down how much you can pay each month/week/etc. You have to fill that out or you will get a default judgement against you and they can then levy your accounts, or garnish your wages (I believe).

[NightAngel]

My ex had to go to court under similar circumstances.

We went in- the judge said: "Why haven't you paid?"
Ex said: "I'm poor and broke."
Judge said: "Okay- you and *guy from collections* go out in the hall and work out a reasonable monthly payment."

They came back in a few minutes later and the guy from collections tells the judge they agreed to $50 a month. Judge said, "Okay." It was over.

If you can prove you're bad off you may be able to get a payment arrangement with the credit card company for the amount without the intrest.

(Excuse typos please- I'm really fumble fingered tonight._

[blas]

Don't be scared by the big bad summons........remember my drunken cousin Jed? He forgets that credit cards have limits and that they need to be paid every month.

He worked out a payment plan very similiar to NightAngel's ex when it finally all caught up to him. His wife worried that there would be levvies and that they'd have to declare bankrupcy, he proclaimed to all of us at a family reunion that it was the Commies after him again.......

We tried to tell him and his wife that adding 2 bedrooms to their house so that their 16 and 17 year old daughers' boyfriends could move in was a bad idea and an even worse investment. Since he spends 24/7 inebriated and incoherent......he thought it was a grand idea.

I would imagine if a no good drunk got a second chance and no levvies and no other legal troubles, a decent hardworking person like yourself would definetly get a clean slate and a second chance.

[Phoenix79]

Thank you all so much. I knew you would make me feel better!!

I can afford about $50 a month, so I guess I'll just wait to get the summons on Friday and go from there!

Phoenix - Who's not nearly as worried now!! :D Ladies and Gents - :yourock: