What happens if you ignore a summons for credit card debt?
Asked by: Toni O'Conner DDS | Last update: August 15, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (29 votes)
Default judgments can force you to surrender property or money to pay the creditor. They could also garnish your wages, which is when your employer is forced to withhold part of your paycheck and send the money to a designated agency that will forward it to your creditors.
What happens if a credit card company sues you and you can't pay?
If you default on credit card debt, you could be sued by the credit card company or a debt collection agency. And if you lose the lawsuit, it could result in a judgment that includes liens on your property or garnishing your wages.
What happens if you ignore a debt collector summons?
If you ignore the summons, a default judgment will be entered against you. It will automatically become a lien on the house you own. The credit card company can't force a sale to collect the judgment, but if you ever sell the house, it would have to be paid so you could convey clear title.
What happens if credit card debt is ignored?
If you ignore them, the debt will be sent to an agent acting on the creditor's behalf - usually a collection agency or a law firm. The agent will likely have your place of employment and banking information on file because you would've provided this information to the creditor when you had applied for credit with them.
What is the consequence of not responding to a summons?
One of the most immediate consequences of not responding to a court summons is the risk of a default judgment. When you fail to appear in court, the case may proceed without you, leading to a judgment that could result in financial liability or other penalties.
I Received A Summons From A Debtor, What Do I Do? #askadebtcollector #creditcards #court #summons
Can you decline a court summons?
Once you have been given the subpoena, you must legally oblige. If you don't understand your obligations, you should consult a federal criminal defense lawyer serving San Francisco, CA as soon as possible. There are a few conditions which may allow you to forego a court ordered testimony.
What happens if I ignore my summons?
But, if you ignore a summons, you will likely lose the case against you. The court will usually decide the lawsuit in favor of the person suing you. The court could decide that you have to pay money or that you must stop doing something.
Can you be jailed for not paying credit card debt?
Unpaid credit cards fall into the “civil debt” category and are not punishable by jail time. However, criminal offenses related to financial affairs, like tax evasion, could land you in jail. It's important to know that ignoring judgments against you could result in serious legal consequences, including jail time.
What's the worst a debt collector can do?
Debt collectors are not permitted to try to publicly shame you into paying money that you may or may not owe. In fact, they're not even allowed to contact you by postcard. They cannot publish the names of people who owe money. They can't even discuss the matter with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.
What is the 11 word phrase to stop debt collectors?
The phrase in question is: “Please cease and desist all calls and contact with me, immediately.” These 11 words, when used correctly, can provide significant protection against aggressive debt collection practices.
What happens if you never answer debt collectors?
If you don't respond in time, the judge is likely to enter a default judgment against you. This means you lose the case and the creditor has access to collection measures like wage garnishment or a bank account levy. They may also be able to put a lien on your property.
What credit card companies sue the most?
Original Creditors That Sue the Most
Capital One is known for filing lawsuits against consumers who default on their credit card debts. They do not hesitate to take legal action, even for relatively small balances. Once a judgment is obtained, they may garnish wages or freeze bank accounts depending on state law.
At what point can a debt collector sue you?
There's no single answer to how soon a debt collector can sue—it can be between weeks or months, but they'll usually take steps before it gets to that point. There's also a legal time limit, depending on your state, that prevents you from getting sued after a certain time frame.
How likely is a credit card company to sue?
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), credit card companies sue their customers about 12% of the time. On average, credit card companies sue to recover balances over $2,700—this isn't a set amount, but an average. Credit card companies can and do sue on debts both larger and smaller than $2,700.
What happens if someone sues you and you have no money?
The plaintiff might attempt wage garnishment or bank account levies. Some defendants might be considered “judgment proof” if they have no assets. Possible Outcomes and Future Collection: Judgments remain active for several years and could be renewed.
Is it illegal to not pay credit card debt?
Unfortunately, it is still technically possible to serve time in jail for credit card debt. However, it is not simply for having debt. It is not legal to criminally charge someone for not paying their debts. It is possible to go to prison for fraud for attempting to use a CPN, however.
What is the 777 rule with debt collectors?
Specifically, the rule states that a debt collector cannot: Make more than seven calls within a seven-day period to a consumer regarding a specific debt. Call a consumer within seven days after having a telephone conversation about that debt.
What are 2 things that debt collectors are not allowed to do?
Debt collectors cannot harass or abuse you. They cannot swear, threaten to illegally harm you or your property, threaten you with illegal actions, or falsely threaten you with actions they do not intend to take. They also cannot make repeated calls over a short period to annoy or harass you.
Can you go to jail if a credit card company sues you?
A debt collector can't threaten to or have you arrested for an unpaid debt. If you're sued and you don't comply with a court order, though, you could be arrested.
What happens if I don't go to court for credit card debt?
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.
Can your house be taken for unpaid credit card debt?
While credit card companies technically have the ability to pursue your home for unpaid debt, it's rare. A debt collector must go to court and get a judgment before it can place a lien on your home. There are limits and exemptions to how much of your home's equity a debt collector can claim.
What happens if you owe a credit card company money and never pay it?
After several months of non-payment, creditors may charge off your debt and sell it to a third-party collection agency. This can lead to more aggressive attempts to recover the money as well as damage to your credit score. In some cases, creditors or collectors may take legal steps to compel you to pay.
What if I don't go to a summons?
This is another reason why it's important to go to court when you are summoned. If you don't go to court and you don't show up for the summons, the Judge is going to issue a bench warrant for you. If there's a bench warrant issued for you, you'll get arrested when you're picked up on that warrant.
Should I avoid a summons?
It is true that if the plaintiff never serves you, the case will be dismissed. This doesn't mean that it's a good idea to dodge service of process. In fact, it's usually a tremendously bad idea to do so.
What happens if you dont answer the door for a summons?
Process servers typically follow specific protocols when no one answers the door. Usually, they'll make multiple attempts at different times and days to reach you at home. Their efforts may include visiting during evenings or weekends to ensure a higher chance of serving the court documents via personal service.