Can a credit card company really take you to court?

[PaulW]

Been getting calls on my answering machine from a company collecting for an old credit card debit threatening to take me to court and take civil action against me.  Can they really do that?

[Axle]

If the balance is still outstanding and not getting paid then absolutely. 

[PaulW]

If the balance is still outstanding and not getting paid then absolutely. 

Maybe I should pay it then lol.

[Axle]

Pay it?  Why would you do that?  Just tell them they can get their money from Obama!   

[PaulW]

Pay it?  Why would you do that?  Just tell them they can get their money from Obama!   

bwahahahha

[kirksjeep]

A guy that used to work for me was getting similar calls, and he blew it off until the Navy did a back ground check.  I got a letter from NCIS saying that his clearance would be revoked in 60 days.  He took it a little more serious and called the companies he owed, and ended up working out a deal that was on average 50% less then what he owed.  The companies calling have already bought the debt from the original company for a fraction of what you owe.  Even if they only collect a percentage of what you owe they are still making money.

[PaulW]

A guy that used to work for me was getting similar calls, and he blew it off until the Navy did a back ground check.  I got a letter from NCIS saying that his clearance would be revoked in 60 days.  He took it a little more serious and called the companies he owed, and ended up working out a deal that was on average 50% less then what he owed.  The companies calling have already bought the debt from the original company for a fraction of what you owe.  Even if they only collect a percentage of what you owe they are still making money.

I've never a situation like this before.  I've been late on payments, but this is a card that I co-signed on with my ex-wife 5 years ago.  I thought she had it paid.  I guess it's coming back to haunt me now.  Time to call my divorce attorney again.

[rocket]

a divorce can haunt you for a long time!  esp. if all joint accounts are not closed

[PaulW]

a divorce can haunt you for a long time!  esp. if all joint accounts are not closed

i noticed.

[mallcrawl]

good luck with that, a buddy of mine ended up with a forcolsure on his record becuase his x didn't make the payments on the house the divorce papers gave her, fortunately the auction paid off all debt on the house or the bank would have kept coming after him for the balance.

It might be easier to make sure the account is closed and pay it off, then take her to court to recover the expense.

[PaulW]

good luck with that, a buddy of mine ended up with a forcolsure on his record becuase his x didn't make the payments on the house the divorce papers gave her, fortunately the auction paid off all debt on the house or the bank would have kept coming after him for the balance.

It might be easier to make sure the account is closed and pay it off, then take her to court to recover the expense.

they settled the account for $227 so it's not really a big deal.

[HOT-ROD]

i'd wonder how that affects you credit? and if it will show up for your future house buying? i pray it doesnt.

[PaulW]

i'd wonder how that affects you credit? and if it will show up for your future house buying? i pray it doesnt.

it will actually help, it shows up as a debt paid on my credit history.

[rocket]

i'd wonder how that affects you credit? and if it will show up for your future house buying? i pray it doesnt.

it will actually help, it shows up as a debt paid on my credit history.

It will show as greater than 120 days past due, then sent to collections, so not good, BAD!

[PaulW]

i'd wonder how that affects you credit? and if it will show up for your future house buying? i pray it doesnt.

it will actually help, it shows up as a debt paid on my credit history.

It will show as greater than 120 days past due, then sent to collections, so not good, BAD!

it was a debt from 5 years ago.  the collection company bought the debt and settled for just about 1/4 of the original.  it's the inquires on my credit that are killing me, not the past due accounts, most of the accounts from 3-5 years ago were just written off, and show $0 balance.  the ones that are showing up as new debt like this one which came on my credit report as of november, are the ones that keep fucking with me.