Sued by a debt collector? Find your answer date
You got a summons and complaint because a debt collector sued you. Your deadline to answer is the date printed on the summons. Call our debt help line before that date to talk with a consumer lawyer about the case.
Talk to a consumer lawyer about the lawsuit
You have court papers from a debt collector in your state, with an answer date printed on the summons. Miss that date and the collector can ask the court for a default judgment. Call our debt help line before your answer date and decide whether a consumer lawyer hears about your case.
Talk to a consumer lawyer about this debt
Call (844) 393-5856- You call during business hours and say which debt it is.
- You answer a few questions about the debt and any court date.
- You decide whether a consumer lawyer sees your details.
Calls go to our debt help line during business hours. The call costs you nothing, and you give up nothing by calling. Debt Collector Lookup matches people with consumer lawyers; we are not a law firm or a debt collector.
Send your answer date
You have court papers about a debt in your state, with an answer date on the summons. Missing that date lets the collector ask for a default judgment. Send the collector's name and your answer date below, and you decide whether a consumer lawyer sees them.
Sending this costs nothing and commits you to nothing. We keep your answers with the collector's name, and you decide whether a consumer lawyer sees them. Debt Collector Lookup is not a law firm or a debt collector. The form does not schedule a call; to talk, call our debt help line during business hours.
30 days
California example: deadline to answer.
So in California your answer is due 30 days after you are served; elsewhere, use the date on your summons.
Write the answer date from your summons on a calendar today.
$225
Lowest California answer filing fee.
So filing an answer costs money, but the court can waive the fee.
Ask the court clerk for the fee waiver forms if you cannot pay.
$1,000
What a court can award you if the collector broke the law.
So a collector that broke the rules while suing you can end up paying you and your lawyer.
Tell the consumer lawyer about every call and letter from the collector.
What is your deadline to answer?
The date is printed on the summons. In California you must file an answer with the court within 30 days and pay a filing fee of $225 to $450. If you cannot pay the fee, the court can waive it.
Other courts use their own dates. Ask the court's self-help office how they count the days.
- Find the answer date on the summons and write it on a calendar.
- Check whether the debt is past the time limit in your state.
- File a written answer with the court and send a copy to the collector's lawyer.
- Go to every hearing, even if you plan to settle.
What happens if you don't answer?
The collector asks for a default judgment. The FTC warns that the case goes ahead without you, and you lose by default.
A judgment lets the collector ask the court to take money from your pay or your bank. It can also put a lien on your home. Court costs, interest and fees can be added to the balance.
What can I say in my answer?
Answering does not mean you agree you owe it. It makes the collector prove the debt to the court. These defenses come up most:
- Too old. The debt is past the time limit. Suing on it breaks federal law.
- Not yours, or the wrong amount. The papers must match your account and your balance.
- No proof they own it. A debt buyer has to show the chain from the bank to itself.
- Already disputed. If you sent a validation letter and got no answer, say so.
Can I settle after I answer?
You can still settle after you answer. The California courts' guide explains how to negotiate.
Get any deal in writing, with the case number, before you pay. Ask that the case be dismissed once you pay. Our settlement calculator shows what an offer costs.
Who pays the lawyer?
If the collector broke the law while collecting, a consumer lawyer can sue it back. A court can award you up to $1,000 plus attorney's fees and court costs, so the collector pays your lawyer. You have one year from the violation to file.
What changed in Illinois in 2026?
Illinois SB 1738 took effect January 1, 2026, and it automatically protects $1,000 in a bank account from consumer debt judgments. New consumer debt judgments last 15 years and cannot be revived. Read the official notice.
Questions people ask
What happens if a debt collector sues me?
You get court papers called a summons and complaint, with a date to answer. If you answer, the collector has to prove the debt to the judge. If you do not, the court can rule for the collector without you.
Is it worth fighting a debt collection lawsuit?
Often, yes. Filing an answer makes the collector prove it owns the debt and that the amount is right. You can still settle for less after you answer.
What if I have no money and get sued?
A judgment can still be entered, and the collector can then try to take money from your pay or bank account. Each state protects some income and property. Ask the court clerk or a consumer lawyer what your state protects.
Can a debt collector sue me for an old debt?
Not if the time limit in your state has passed. You have to raise that limit in your answer. See the time limit by state.
How do I get a debt lawsuit dismissed?
Answer on time and raise every defense that fits: wrong person, wrong amount, or a debt past the time limit. If the collector cannot prove its case, the judge can dismiss it.
Sources
- California courts: respond to a debt lawsuit (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov).
- FTC: if a collector sues you (consumer.ftc.gov).
- CFPB: if you are sued (consumerfinance.gov).
- California courts: negotiate with a collector (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov).
- FTC: debt collection FAQs (consumer.ftc.gov).
- BillTrack50: Illinois SB 1738 summary (billtrack50.com).
Last checked October 2026.
What to do now
Find the answer date on your summons and count the days you have left. Call our debt help line before that date and decide whether a consumer lawyer sees your details. Have the summons in front of you when you call.
Talk to a consumer lawyer about this debt
Call (844) 393-5856- You call during business hours and say which debt it is.
- You answer a few questions about the debt and any court date.
- You decide whether a consumer lawyer sees your details.
Calls go to our debt help line during business hours. The call costs you nothing, and you give up nothing by calling. Debt Collector Lookup matches people with consumer lawyers; we are not a law firm or a debt collector.