One of the possible consequences for Wisconsin residents who do not pay off their credit card balances is being sued by their creditors. When someone fails to make any attempts to pay for their credit card debt, the credit card company may try to get a judgement against them. A judgement allows a creditor to have access to an individual’s property, their bank accounts and even their salary.
When people receive a summons from a creditor, they should be sure to respond to it. If someone does not reply within 20 to 30 days, there is an automatic judgement against them. The next step is to start developing a defense. There are a number of reasons that a creditor may lose a court case, including failure to apply payments to an account, lack of records proving someone owes the debt and a person only being an authorized user on a credit card.
It is not uncommon for a credit card company to sell a person’s debt to another company, and that company may not have paperwork that proves someone is responsible for charges to a credit card. Additionally, if people are not the credit card holders but only users, they may not be responsible for the balances owed.
Individuals who are going to court for debt may want to talk to a bankruptcy lawyer. These lawyers may help people understand the processes involved in these cases, and they may also be able to assist individuals in developing defenses. People in Wisconsin may find it helpful to consult bankruptcy lawyers because they may also clarify their rights and options and recommend courses of action.
Source: Fox Business, “Taken to Court for Card Debt? What to Expect,” Tamara E. Holmes, March 13, 2013
