A good friend of mine just called me in tears. She was just visited by a law enforcement officer issuing a subpoena to appear in court in December over a credit card debt. The original amount of the debt including interest was about $1200 and now the law firm handling the collection has added another $600 for fees and such to bring the total to $1800. We live in Tennessee and she is wondering if this can be paid before it goes to court in December if she pays the full amount owed. I know nothing about laws concerning this but I told her I would ask some people here if they could help with advice on what be her best option. She accrued these debts while she was putting herself through college and raising three children by herself after a divorce. She knows she owes the debts and wants to repay it and she has a teaching job now where she is in a bit of better financial situation than she was before although still not fullhanded by any means. Also her kids are grown now and in college. This debt was made back in 2001. What are her options do you think?
I know this is a short diary and breaking a lot rules probably I guess but she needs our advice.
UPDATE I have my friend here with me now and I have the court papers in front of me.
There are three papers.
1st paper is a civil summons to court and says at the top in small writing that this is from a debt collector. It gives court dates times ect.
it gives the amount at $1280.
the second paper is an affidavit of support of judgement
signed by a legal clerk
and has a notary stamp on it.
the third paper is a some sort of disability disclaimer and says something about ADA on it.
The $1800 amount came from the law offices that are representing Arrow Financial an assignee of GE Money Bank.
I think I have it all correct.