My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: MICHIGAN
HI ALL. I WAS SERVED WITH A SUMMONS TODAY FOR THE COLLECTION OF A $6,000 CREDIT CARD DEBT THAT I OWE. THIS IS A CREDIT CARD I HAD BEFORE I WAS MARRIED. THE FIRST COLLECTIONS AGENCY THAT HAD THIS DEBT WAS VERY RUDE. THE GUY THAT CALLED ME, CONSTANTLY THREATEND ME, CALLED ME AT WORK, AND EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO CALL MY NEIGHBOR. I ASKED THAT HE NOT CALL ME AT WORK AS I WORK FOR A BANK AND IT COULD JEPORDIZE MY JOB. HE TOLD ME THAT I WAS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP IN TOUCH. I WORK FULL TIME AND GO TO SCHOOL FULL TIME AND I EXPLAINED ALL THIS TO HIM. MY HUSBAND WAS OUT OF WORK FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO LOOSING EVERYTHING. EVERYTIME HE CALLED, I DID RETURN HIS PHONE CALLS BUT IT WAS LIKE BANGING MY HEAD AGAINST A WALL. I OFFERED TO MAKE $50 PAYMENTS UNTIL THE HOUSE AND TRUCK WERE CAUGHT UP BUT HE REFUSED TO TAKE SUCH A LOW PAYMENT. HE THREATENED LEGAL ACTION ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IF I DIDN'T PAY SOMEWHERE AROUND $1000 RIGHT AWAY. I TOLD HIM HE WOULD HAVE TO DO WHAT HE HAD TO DO BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO PAY.
SHORTLY AFTER THAT I RECEIVED A LETTER FROMT HE CC COMPANY'S IN HOUSE LEGAL TEAM. I CALLED THEM TO TRY TO MAKE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS (HOPEING THIS TIME I WOULD HAVE SOMEONE A LITTLE MORE REASONABLE) BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY ACCOUNT WAS PULLED AND THEY NO LONGER HAD IT (I HAD MADE A $50 PAYMENT DIRECTLY TO THE CC COMPANY AND THOUGHT THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHY). I CALLED THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY DIRECTLY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHICH COMPANY THEY WERE SENDING THE ACCOUNT TO AND I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TO GET A LETER FROM THEM. i DID RECEIVE ONE LETTER FROM A LAW FIRM JUST STATING THAT THE ACCOUNT WAS SENT TO THEM (WASN'T CERTIFIED OR ANYTHING SO HOW DID THEY KNOW I GOT IT) I WAS WAITING GET SOMETHING MORE FROM THEM BUT NEVER RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER OR PHONE CALL FROM THEM. NOW I HAVE A LETTER SAYING THAT I AM BEING SUED!
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THIS? WE HAVE MANAGED TO SLOWLY BRING CURRENT ALL OUR OTHER DEBTS EVERY OTHER CREDITOR WAS WILLING TO WORK WITH US BUT THIS ONE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING THIS DEBT BACK IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS JUST LIKE ALL THE OHTER ONES BUT I DON'T KNOW THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT IT. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS:
CAN THEY HOLD MY HUSBAND RESPONSIBLE FOR MY DEBT?
WE HAVE JOINT ACCOUNTS THAT BOTH OF OUR PAY CHECKS GO INTO, SHOULD I MAKE HIM OPEN AN ACCOUNT ON HIS OWN SO THEY CAN'T TOUCH HIS MONEY?
WE HAVE A1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THAT IS PAID IN FULL AND A 2001 TRUCK THAT WE STILL OWE ABOUT $5000 ON. WE ALSO OWN OUR HOME WHICH WE PROBABLY OWE MORE ON THAN IT'S WORTH. CAN THESE BE TAKEN FROM US?
WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY IN SAVINGS BESIDES THE MONEY THAT WAS SET ASIDE TO PAY OUR SUMMER PROPERTY TAXES.
SHOULD I HIRE A LAWYER TO HELP ME? I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT ANSWERING THE SUMMONS. iT DOESN'T GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
SHOULD I CALL THE LAW FIRM DIRECTLY AND TRY TO MAKE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS? MY HUSBANSD IS FINALLY WORKING BUT, OUT OF STATE. IT IS QUITE COSTLY IN GAS AND FOOD TO HAVE HIM DOWN THERE SO WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO APPLY TO BILLS IS A LOT LESS THAN IT WOULD APPEAR. ALSO SINCE I WORK FOR A BANK, I AM WORRIED THAT IF MY WAGES AND ACCOUNTS ARE GARNISHED IT COULD PUT MY JOB IN JEPORDY. WOULD THE CC COMPANY TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN TRYING TO SETTLE. IF I LOOSE MY JOB BECAUSE THEY ATTEMPT TO GARNISH MY WAGES THEN THEY WOULD HAVE NO MONEY FROM ME.
I'M SORRY I KNOW THIS IS LONG BUT I WANTED TO TRY TO GIVE AS MUCH INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE RELEVANT. I AM REALLY WORRIED AND ANY ADVICE ANYONE COULD GIVE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU

