How to Settle Debt With CCS Collections

George Simons | January 31, 2025

Fact-checked by Patrick Austin, J.D.

Patrick Austin
Attorney from George Mason
Patrick Austin, JD

Patrick Austin is a licensed attorney with a background in data privacy and information security law. Patrick received his law degree at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief for the National Security Law Journal.

George Simons
Co-Founder of SoloSuit
George Simons, JD/MBA

George Simons is the co-founder and CEO of SoloSuit. He has helped Americans protect over $1 billion from predatory debt lawsuits. George graduated from BYU Law school in 2020 with a JD-MBA. In his spare time, George likes to cook, because he likes to eat.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: Is CCS Collections suing you for a debt? Solo can help you respond with a written Answer to block a default judgment. This will make negotiating with CCS Collections more effective and avoid the additional costs of legal costs and court fees.

Has CCS Collections been contacting you about an unpaid debt? If so, you may be feeling anxious and frustrated. Do not give up hope. You have options and pathways to move forward and achieve a resolution to your debt issue, like negotiating a debt settlement.

Here's everything you need to know about how to engage with CCS Collections and resolve your debt.

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What is CCS Collections?

CCS Collections, also known as Credit Collection Services, is one of the world's largest debt collection companies with close to 700 employees. The company reportedly generates more than $53 million in revenue each year. This revenue comes primarily from purchasing delinquent accounts (also known as“charged-off” accounts) from other creditors such as financial institutions, credit card companies, auto lenders, and more.

Who does CCS Collections collect for?

CCS Collections focuses its debt collection efforts in the following sectors of the economy: banking, cable, education, financial services, healthcare, insurance, retail telecommunications, and utilities.

If you are on the receiving end of nasty phone calls and letters from CCS Collections, don't give up. You have legal rights.

Read CCS Collections reviews online

Learning what other people have said about their debt collection experience with CCS Collections is a wise decision, especially if you’re planning to reach out to the debt collector to discuss the matter. Solo is here to help. Check out these legit online reviews:

It’s fair to say the online reviews for CCS Collections are not all positive. Nevertheless, there are some reviews indicating people can have a generally pleasant and productive experience communicating with CCS Collections to try and resolve a debt collection matter.

Ignoring CCS Collections’ communications will not resolve the situation and, you should establish a line of communication to ensure the debt is legitimate.

Engage with CCS Collections to Negotiate a Debt Settlement

If you acknowledge the fact that you owe the debt, then you may want to consider negotiating an amicable debt settlement. This is a good option if you know that the debt is yours and you have sufficient funds to pay a percentage of the amount owed. There are many benefits associated with a debt settlement. For example, a settlement allows you to avoid going through the stress and hassle of battling the lawsuit in court. In addition, a settlement provides an efficient way to resolve the debt issue so you can move forward in your life.

Here are some recommended steps to try and settle your debt with CCS Collections:

  1. If CCS Collections sued you, make sure to file a timely response via a formal Answer. This is necessary to avoid a court entering a default judgment against you.
  2. Assess the amount you can actually afford to pay toward the debt, preferably in a lump sum (this is often the settlement structure that debt collectors are most amenable to). Your calculation should take into consideration your living expenses such as your rent, utilities, food, gas, and so forth. Conducting this analysis will help identify parameters for your settlement talks.
  3. Once you’ve calculated how much you can reasonably pay toward the debt, then you can reach out to the debt collector. Begin the negotiations by offering a lower percentage of the total debt, anywhere between 30% and 50% of the original amount.
  4. You should be prepared to negotiate upward in the event the debt collector declines to accept your initial offer.
  5. If negotiations go well, make sure to memorialize the settlement in a written agreement. This is commonly referred to as a debt settlement agreement. The agreement should state that the payment will settle the debt in full and that they will not pursue any further legal action or collections.

To learn more about these steps, watch our video guide below:

If you decide to engage in settlement talks, consider using smart tools to help you with the debt settlement negotiation process, like SoloSettle. For context, SoloSettle can help you begin the settlement negotiation process online when you are sued for a debt you owe.

Know our rights when CCS Collections contacts you

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a fairly simple law that outlines what a debt collector can and cannot do to get money for debts. Some of the many rules they must follow are:

  • Debt collectors are prohibited from contacting you at work.
  • Debt collectors cannot use vulgar or rude language when they communicate with you.
  • Debt collectors cannot threaten you with a lawsuit.
  • Debt collectors are prohibited from calling you at home before eight in the morning and after nine at night. If they communicate with you, it must be during business hours.

Make debt collectors leave you alone by responding with Solo.

Protect yourself if CCS Collections files a debt collection lawsuit

If CCS Collections sues you, it's good policy to respond as soon as possible. Please don't think you can ignore the lawsuit and it will go away. If you ignore your case against CCS Collections, you will lose by default. This gives CCS Collections the right to garnish your wages and even put liens on your property. But there are several things you can try to get the lawsuit thrown out as you write your Answer. Follow these three steps to respond to a debt lawsuit against CCS Collections:

  1. Respond to each claim listed in the Complaint, and deny as many as possible.
  2. Assert your affirmative defenses against CCS Collections.
  3. File your Answer with the court, and send a copy to CCS Collections.

Keep reading to learn more about these three steps, or check out the video below:

1. Respond to each claim listed in the Complaint, and deny as many as possible

The first step to beating CCS Collections in court is to respond to the lawsuit. You should respond by filing a written Answer into the case. In your Answer, respond to each claim that is listed in the Complaint document (also known as the Petition in some states).

Keep in mind that most attorneys recommend denying as many of the claims as possible. This requires CCS Collections to do more work to prove their case, and if they don't have the necessary documentation for evidence, the case may be dismissed entirely.

There are three ways you can respond to each claim:

  • Deny
  • Deny due to lack of knowledge
  • Admit

When you admit a claim, it means you're agreeing with what's being said. So if you admit to everything, you will most likely lose the case and have to pay the amount that CCS Collections is claiming. For this reason, you can make a stronger case for yourself by denying as many claims as possible.

Use Solo to draft an Answer in minutes.

2. Assert your affirmative defenses against CCS Collections

Do you want to defeat CCS Collections and not pay anything? You need to respond effectively to the suit and use some affirmative defenses. Point out any weaknesses in their case. Remember that CCS Collections is required to affirmatively prove you owe the money. So they have to prove a few things before they can legally claim the debt is yours.

  • The debt collection agency can sue you.
  • You are the person who owes the money.
  • You owe the amount that CCS claims in the complaint.

If the debt collection firm doesn't satisfy these requirements, the lawsuit may be dismissed.

Depending on the case, you might claim the company failed to file the lawsuit after the statute of limitations expired. This is how long someone has to sue you. It can range between one and three years in many cases. If the statute of limitations expired, you could file a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed with prejudice.

Also, you may even be able to get compensation and your legal fees paid by CCS if you can prove they violated federal law when they contacted you. If you are smart and aggressive, you can walk away without owing a dime AND have the company pay your legal fees!

Make the right defense the right way with Solo.

3. File your Answer with the court, and send a copy to CCS Collections

After your Answer is drafted with the responses and affirmative defenses, you should file it with the court. You have 14-35 days to file your Answer, depending on which state you live in. Make sure to submit it as close to the deadline as possible to avoid a default judgment.

Don't forget to make a copy of the Answer and send it, via USPS certified mail, to the attorneys representing CCS Collections. Use the address and contact information listed on the Summons document for this. You may also want to request a return receipt so that you have proof that you sent it properly.

What to do if sued by CCS Collections

We have covered a lot of ground, but here's a quick summary of what you should do if CCS Collections sues you:

  • Write down when the company calls you and note if they use bad language or call you before eight am or after nine pm. They are only allowed to call you during normal business hours and they cannot use vulgar language.
  • Reply to each claim listed against you in the Complaint.
  • Raise affirmative defenses in your answer, such as the company violated federal law when they called or wrote to you. You also should insist CCS Collections prove that you owe the debt and that you are the one who owes it.
  • File your Answer to the Complaint within the proper time limits.
  • Send a copy of the Answer to CCS Collections.
  • Contact CCS Collections to negotiate and settle your debt for less.

These are proven methods to engage with CCS Collections.

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The Ultimate 50 State Guide

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Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

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