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This is what it looks like to beat Paramount Recovery in court

Summary: Is Paramount Recovery suing you for a debt? SoloSuit can help you take a stand and win in court.

Debt collectors can go to extraordinary lengths to track you down, and their repeated phone calls can leave you feeling trapped and desperate. But don't panic. Even collectors like Paramount Recovery Systems are easy to deal with once you know how.

This guide will help you learn how to deal with debt collection calls from Paramount Recovery and put you on a path to clearing your name with your credit bureau.

Is Paramount Recovery Systems legitimate?

Obviously, in a world of scams, it's important to distinguish between scam artists and legitimate debt collection agencies. Paramount Recovery Systems is a legitimate, third-party collections agency based out of Texas.

Paramount specializes in medical debt collection. This means they may contact you about a debt owed to a private medical practice, hospital, dental office, or emergency service provider.

You have rights

The legal website Justia lists several notable civil litigation cases in which Paramount is listed as the defendant. If this is any indicator, Paramount has a bit of a reputation for aggressive tactics.

If you find yourself on the receiving end of high-pressure tactics, it's important to exercise your rights. Federal regulations set by the FTC as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB) prevent debt collectors from the following:

Calling before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
Refusing requests for debt validation
Contacting your family members, friends, or coworkers regarding your debt
Pretending to be a lawyer
Threatening you with arrest
Contacting you about a debt you've already paid

Do these items sound familiar? If so, you can report Paramount to the FTC online platform or by calling the commission at 877-382-4357. To report Paramount to the CFPB, simply use the bureau's website, or call 855-411-2372.

Next steps to take when Paramount Recovery contacts you

Of course, debt collectors may still persist in trying to reach you to settle a debt with a creditor. If you're receiving calls from Paramount Recovery, here's what you can do next:

Never admit fault

Don't panic during your initial phone call. Debt collectors will pull out all of the stops to make the case seem urgent. Admitting that you owe the debt could mean you'll lose your chance to negotiate a lower payment, and it could leave you on the hook for the full amount.

Send a Debt Validation Letter

One of the first things you should do is gather information. Send Paramount a Debt Validation Letter requesting clarification about the debt. In return, they will send you a document that outlines the nature and amount of the debt, as well as information about the original creditor.

You'll have 30 days to dispute the debt or to request additional information about the creditor. If Paramount is unable to produce this document, they are legally required to stop contacting you.

To learn more about how to draft and send a Debt Validation Letter, SoloSuit's CEO made this helpful video:

Send a cease-and-desist letter

A cease-and-desist letter will prevent the company from contacting you further. However, they may contact you one final time to explain their next steps.

Now that you have more information about the debt, you can use this reprieve from the phone calls to formulate your own response, whether that means paying the debt or dealing with the legal route.

What if Paramount Recovery Systems takes me to court?

Occasionally, debts can escalate to the point that collection agencies issue a lawsuit. Thankfully, you'll be able to represent yourself and handle the debt with minimum stress. Here's are 6 tips on how to draft an Answer to the lawsuit in court:

1. Keep your response brief

Don't feel the need to offer lots of detail about how you ended up as a target of debt collection. The more you say, the more opportunity Paramount will have to challenge your account. Save the full story for later, if needed.

2. Deny, deny, deny

It's up to Paramount to make the case against you, so don't make their job easier. Do not admit fault, and do not agree with any of the accusations against you. Remember those three important words: deny deny deny.

3. Include affirmative defenses

Your letter should include any affirmative defenses that would help your case. There are many categories of affirmative defenses. You may have already made an agreement to pay the debt, for example, or Paramount may have ascribed debt to you that you didn't actually incur.

In some cases, the statute of limitations, which sets a time limit on when a lawsuit may be filed, might make the suit invalid. There may be other technical reasons why the lawsuit can be thrown out, so make sure to raise any relevant defenses.

4. Use a standard style

Courts have generally-accepted formatting preferences, so make sure your document looks like a standard legal form. Fonts should be business-appropriate and the layout should be plain and easy to read.

5. Include a certificate of service

This certificate is a short sentence that certifies that the document was actually sent to the other party. You'll need to include Paramount's address and the manner in which you sent it (email, certified mail, etc.). Make sure to sign the document as well.

6. Sign the document

Don't forget to sign your Answer at the bottom of the document. Most courts rejects Answer documents without signatures, so this is a crucial step!

Learn more about these 6 tips from SoloSuit's CEO, George Simons, in this video:

Prepare your Answer fast with SoloSuit

Typically, you only have 14 to 30 days to file an Answer to a lawsuit. That's why you need SoloSuit's help. We can provide guidance to help you prepare an answer and emerge from your lawsuit with a set path toward clearing your name. To learn more, create an account, and take the first step toward addressing your legal challenge.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to respond to a debt collection lawsuit.

How it works: SoloSuit is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your answer. Upon completion, you can either print the completed forms and mail in the hard copies to the courts or you can pay SoloSuit to file it for you and to have an attorney review the document.

Respond with SoloSuit

"First time getting sued by a debt collector and I was searching all over YouTube and ran across SoloSuit, so I decided to buy their services with their attorney reviewed documentation which cost extra but it was well worth it! SoloSuit sent the documentation to the parties and to the court which saved me time from having to go to court and in a few weeks the case got dismissed!" – James

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