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OK. So I am the defendant in a debt collection lawsuit. I sent my verified interrogatories, affirmations and demand for documents along with proof of service. The empty envelope was returned to the "proof of service" person with a stamp claiming the envelope arrived empty. The empty envelope was obviously opened, because they taped it closed. I am 100% positive the envelope contained all docs and I was with my "proof of service" person when she mailed them at the post office. What do I do about this? I am dealing with Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC. Thanks for all help! Calico

Background Moved out on my own about two years back. I had assumed all of my important mail was forwarded to my new address. To my shock, after a visit to my old residence, a member of my family hands me a packet of papers informing me that I'm being sued. This totally sucks... I'm lost and unsure of what steps I need to take to ensure I can resolve this. I've never been sued before so this a bit daunting to me. I have been reading a few forums on here and while it has been helpful I must say the information overload is very real and overwhelming. If anyone one has any advice on how I can proceed with putting this behind me my ears and mind are open. Additional Information 1. Who is the named plaintiff in the suit? - Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC 2. What is the name of the law firm handling the suit? (should be listed at the top of the complaint.) - Cooling & Winters, LLC / Cooling and Winters LLC 3. How much are you being sued for? - $1,200 4. Who is the original creditor? (if not the Plaintiff) - Synchrony Bank / Amazon.com 5. How do you know you are being sued? (You were served, right?) - I received papers from a family member. 6. How were you served? (Mail, In person, Notice on door) - A family member was served and I received the papers from them. 7. Was the service legal as required by your state? - Yes 8. What was your correspondence (if any) with the people suing you before you think you were being sued? - None, as far as I know, I had no idea who they were until I did a little bit of googling (more information below) 9. What state and county do you live in? - Georgia, Habersham County 10. When is the last time you paid for this account? (looking to establish if you are outside of the statute of limitations) - 2012-2014 11. When did you open the account (looking to establish what card agreement may be applicable)? - 04/ 11 /2012 12. What is the SOL on the debt? - 6 years 13. What is the status of your case? Suit served? Motions filed? You can find this by a) calling the court or looking it up online (many states have this information posted - when you find the online court site, search by case number or your name). - I was unable to find my case online but it says Suit on Account on paper. I've attached scans of the papers I received below blanking out personal information. 14. Have you disputed the debt with the credit bureaus (both the original creditor and the collection agency?) - No I have not disputed the debt with the credit bureaus both the original and current collectors. 15. Did you request debt validation before the suit was filed? Note: if you haven't sent a debt validation request before being sued, it likely won't help create FDCPA violations, but could be useful to show the court that you dispute the debt ('account stated' vs. 'breach of contract'). - No I have not requested debt validation. 16. How long do you have to respond to the suit? (This should be in your paperwork). If you don't respond to the lawsuit notice you will lose automatically. In 99% of the cases, they will require you to answer the summons, and each point they are claiming. We need to know what the "charges" are. Please post what they are claiming. Did you receive an interrogatory (questionnaire) regarding the lawsuit? - I was given 30 days to respond. I’m unsure if it’s from the 21st of March or the 23rd. I will include a scanned copy of the paperwork that I received but I’m going to assume the 21st since to be on the safe side. Also, there is an affidavit dated much earlier on the 9th of March would that actually be the deadline? If so I’m totally screwed… I am unsure if I received an interrogatory. What would that be? The “Charges” are: The Plaintiff says the defendant is indebted to the plaintiff as follows: Default on Account. That said claim is in the amount of: SEE ATTACHED COMPLAINT ( Complaint ) 17. What evidence did they send with the summons? An affidavit? Statements from the OC? Contract? List anything else they attached as exhibits. - The Evidence I was sent are as listed: - An Affidavit - A Statement of Claim - Exhibit 1 A Statement from 11/15/2012. - Exhibit 2 A Statement from 05/15/2012. - Exhibit 3 The Credit Card Agreement. - Exhibit 4 A Bill of Sale between Synchrony and PRA. - And for Reference the first page out of all the others in the packet with the serving date being 03/21/2018 0r 03/23/2018, but I'm going to assume the 21st. ( Serving ) My Questions 1. What actions should I begin to take? I have not filed an answer in fear that I may end up doing something wrong that is irreversible. 2. Please, If you anyone can point me to other threads with a similar situation as mine that can give me some kind of guideline on how I should go about this I'd greatly appreciate. 3. Would it be best for me to just go ahead and pay this off if I currently have the money or would I be better off fighting the case? 4. Is this just a hopeless effort in a losing battle? I'm totally drained. I really am kinda lost right now. If anyone's got any actionable advice I'm all ears. Thank you for taking a look. If any more information is needed on my side to help in understanding my situation please let me know. I work the graveyard shift but will do my best to respond as promptly as possible. Once again thanks for taking a look.

Hello, I'm new here. I'm being sued or summoned by PRA in California and I need your help please. I've been having problem after problem with my car, work, and with this lawsuit. Its made my life heavy and miserable. Any help would be greatly appreciated to take this weight off my shoulders. I was planning on ignoring it to be honest cause i dont have the money to hire an attorney. I've answered the questions necessary thats been requested by the admin/moderators. Thanks again ahead of time. *Note: I've left out specific info. If anyone needs more specific info I can message or email you. -Nehv 1. Who is the named plaintiff in the suit? Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC 2. What is the name of the law firm handling the suit? (should be listed at the top of the complaint.) Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC 3. How much are you being sued for? Less than $5,000 for principal balance, costs of suit and "any such other relief as the court may deem just and proper" 4. Who is the original creditor? (if not the Plaintiff) Synchrony bank 5. How do you know you are being sued? (You were served, right?) Not yet. Served with papers left at home while i was out and also got two letters from attorney services. 6. How were you served? (Mail, In person, Notice on door) Papers were dropped off on the floor. 7. Was the service legal as required by your state? I don't know. I'm not sure to be honest. Since the papers were just on the floor. Process Service Requirements by State - Summons Complaint 8. What was your correspondence (if any) with the people suing you before you think you were being sued? No contact what so ever with PRA before or after summons. 9. What state and county do you live in? Los Angeles, California 10. When is the last time you paid on this account? (looking to establish if you are outside of the statute of limitations) I believe in mid 2015. Never made a payment with the collection account with PRA. 11. What is the SOL on the debt? To find out: Statute of Limitations on Debts Well in California it says the most is 4 years. 12. What is the status of your case? Suit served? Motions filed? You can find this by a) calling the court or looking it up online (many states have this information posted - when you find the online court site, search by case number or your name). As if today: Unknown disposition. 13. Have you disputed the debt with the credit bureaus (both the original creditor and the collection agency?) No 14. Did you request debt validation before the suit was filed? Note: if you haven't sent a debt validation request, don't bother doing this now - it's too late. No 15. How long do you have to respond to the suit? (This should be in your paperwork). If you don't respond to the lawsuit notice you will lose automatically. In 99% of the cases, they will require you to answer the summons, and each point they are claiming. We need to know what the "charges" are. Please post what they are claiming. Did you receive an interrogatory (questionnaire) regarding the lawsuit? Here is an example of what the summons/complaint may look like: Sued by a Debt Collector - Learn How to Fight Debt Lawsuits I haven't been served yet. Where can I find the charges? I read all the paperwork. Can someone guide me? It says I "expressly or impliedly agreed to pay ... Balance" 16. What evidence did they send with the summons? An affidavit? Statements from the OC? Contract? List anything else they attached as exhibits. They attached two billing statements of the original account with Synchrony Bank.

Greetings. My circumstances are debt related; Credit Card and outstanding Debit Debts. Thank you in advance for your time. 1. Who is the named plaintiff in the suit? Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC 2. What is the name of the law firm handling the suit? (should be listed at the top of the complaint.) Machol & Johannes LLC 3. How much are you being sued for? Around $2k Plus Court Fees 4. Who is the original creditor? (if not the Plaintiff) Wells Fargo & Company 5. How do you know you are being sued? (You were served, right?) Earlier this month (February) sometime during the second week I was given a piece of mail that contained the above information. Earlier today I was told someone was looking for me in attempt to serve; they were not successful. My mailing address and my living address are different; I receive mail in a delayed fashion. The piece of mail was "Order to Issue Notice to Show Cause", issued by the County Court. The individual to serve left a note and did not serve the papers to those who addressed them. 6. How were you served? (Mail, In person, Notice on door) An individual is seeking me to serve; according to the below information I may not have been served. 7. Was the service legal as required by your state? According to the webpage below; a resident of Colorado one cannot be served by mail. I only have a note. More information needed. Process Service Requirements by State - Summons Complaint 8. What was your correspondence (if any) with the people suing you before you think you were being sued? None. I received but never replied to mail(s). 9. What state and county do you live in? Colorado; neglecting County until confirmed relevant to circumstances. 10. When is the last time you paid on this account? (looking to establish if you are outside of the statute of limitations) Never 11. What is the SOL on the debt? Not Sure 12. What is the status of your case? Suit served? Motions filed? You can find this by a) calling the court or looking it up online (many states have this information posted - when you find the online court site, search by case number or your name). "Order to Issue Notice to Show Cause" or "Notice to Show Cause Regarding Revivor of Judgement" Assuming the mail reflects the status of the case. Seeking to become more informed on this scenario. 13. Have you disputed the debt with the credit bureaus (both the original creditor and the collection agency?) No 14. Did you request debt validation before the suit was filed? Note: if you haven't sent a debt validation request, don't bother doing this now - it's too late. No 15. How long do you have to respond to the suit? (This should be in your paperwork). If you don't respond to the lawsuit notice you will lose automatically. In 99% of the cases, they will require you to answer the summons, and each point they are claiming. We need to know what the "charges" are. Please post what they are claiming. Did you receive an interrogatory (questionnaire) regarding the lawsuit? Not sure when those trying to serve me will act on the County Sheriffs Department. Attempting to become more informed on the scenario before taking action myself. 16. What evidence did they send with the summons? An affidavit? Statements from the OC? Contract? List anything else they attached as exhibits. I've been receiving mail from Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC for years. It's always proposed as some form of legal document; with various forms of deals to settle the debt. Never replied. Receive mail delayed; sometimes months varying relevance; but with every document the deal gets better. The amount owed in the "Order to Issue Notice to Show Clause" (Mail/Letter) is a medium of all the offers; being as familiar as the other mail, I added it to the top of the pile. I don't keep all the mail; a small percentage of them. @shellieh98 Answered a similarly structured topic from the same State. Don't believe I'm eligible for JAMS. Thread link below: My conditions are different. To be blunt: I'm an artist. Have no money; what very little money I do have isn't in a bank. I haven't been employed by any company that uses paperwork for over 4-5 years, I haven't received any food assistance for about 4-5 years, I've never received any form of unemployment or financial aid, and the last bank account I had was with Wells Fargo. For the last 3 years; I've practiced in keeping a very low profile, leaving little to no paper trail; online or physically. As far as the world knows I'm likely homeless, penniless, and many until earlier this year believed I was deceased. I'm totally indifferent about my credit. Let's admit: Not everyone works this way, not everyone can. I often find people terrified by these scenarios; but I survive and am only lightly concerned at the moment. I have a cellphone, roof over my head, unrestricted access to the internet, a full belly, and what other medium class United States citizens have. I even voted. I'd like to understand my options in this scenario before acting. I could use a legal pointer or two; lets assume I'm expecting to take losses. Found the best information detailing the topic on this very well structured website, with the forum and comprehensive replies. Considering this "Ground Zero" and will remain active on the topic. I'm open to answering further questions and participating as necessary. Thank you very much for whatever information can be provided.