Sued for Best Buy Credit Card Debt?

Legal Expert
Sarah Edwards, BS

Sarah Harris is a professional researcher and writer specializing in legal content. An Emerson College alumna, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the prestigious Boston institution.

Edited by 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 Best Buy suing you for unpaid credit card debt? Don’t ignore the lawsuit! You should respond to the case with an Answer and consider debt settlement if you know you owe it. SoloSuit can help you draft and file your Answer in minutes and negotiate a settlement plan.

Best Buy is known for selling just about any consumer electronics you might need, such as TVs, home theater equipment, computers, laptops, and washing machines. Many customers visit their local Best Buy store or website when they need a new device.

Electronics aren’t cheap. A laptop can cost over $1K, and smartphones can set you back at least $750. Many people don’t have much savings, so they use credit cards for help.

Best Buy offers two different credit card programs clients can use to purchase what they need. However, people who fall behind on their payments face repercussions, including lawsuits.

Why Best Buy sues people for credit card debt

Most of us can identify with falling behind on a credit card payment. Perhaps you confused the due date or simply forgot about your bill. A one-time missed payment isn’t something Best Buy will sue you for. Instead, it will apply a late fee to your account that you’ll be responsible for on your next bill.

However, problems arise if you stop making your payments altogether. Best Buy may attempt to work out a resolution with you, but it will give up if you don’t stick with your payment schedule. If that happens, you may face a lawsuit from Citibank, N.A., which manages the Best Buy credit card programs.

What to do if Best Buy sues you for your unpaid balance

You must follow a few steps if Best Buy decides to sue you for your outstanding obligation.

First, respond to the lawsuit with an Answer. You’ll want to file an Answer even if you plan to repay your debt before the court date or attempt to settle it. You shouldn’t admit any fault in your Answer. Instead, provide a defense that explains why you believe the lawsuit is unwarranted.

For instance, if your debt is past your state’s statute of limitations, indicate that in your Answer. Other potential defenses include lack of jurisdiction or identity theft, among many others.

Use SoloSuit’s Debt Answer template to file your Answer with your local court.

If you know the debt is yours and you don’t believe you’ll win your case against Best Buy or Citibank, it’s best to try to settle the debt before your court date. Settling the debt allows you to pay less than you owe while closing the matter with Best Buy.

You may be able to save as much as 40% off the amount due through debt settlement, and you’ll also avoid a judgment.

Not sure how to start the debt settlement process with Best Buy? Watch the following video to learn how to settle debt with Best Buy:

Avoiding a judgment is critical to protect yourself from other legal repercussions. If Best Buy obtains a judgment against you, it can garnish your wages or freeze your bank account. That’s not an ideal situation, and it’s one you’ll want to avoid to protect your assets and ensure you can pay your other bills on time.

If Best Buy is unwilling to settle, you’ll need to come up with the funds for the outstanding balance before your court date. If you repay Best Buy, it will drop the case against you and you won’t need to worry about a judgment.

Report Citibank, N.A. to the CFPB if it violates your rights

Sometimes, debt collectors don’t abide by the FDCPA credit collection policies. As a consumer, you have rights. You don’t have to accept abusive practices, regardless of whether you owe Best Buy money.

Best Buy and Citibank, N.A. can’t use any of the below tactics when trying to collect a debt.

Calling you at odd hours, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
Telling you you’ll go to jail for not paying your debt.
Threatening to harm your reputation if you don’t repay the obligation.
Contacting you at work if your employer asks them explicitly not to.
Calling you with the intent to annoy or harass you, such as letting the phone ring until someone answers.

If you think Citibank, N.A. is using abusive practices to collect a debt from you, don’t hesitate to report it. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate complaints about abusive collection activities.

Let’s consider an example.

Example: Suzy owes $750 to Citibank, N.A. for her Best Buy credit card. She had a severe medical issue that left her with many healthcare bills, and she stopped making payments. Citibank, N.A. starts calling Suzy throughout the day. It starts its calls at 6 a.m. and doesn’t stop until after 11:30 p.m. One agent tells Suzy she will go to jail if she doesn’t get up to date on her account. Suzy reports this behavior to the FDCPA who notifies her that she is eligible for up to $1000 in compensation per violation.

In this example, Citibank, N.A. violated Suzy’s rights according to the FDCPA, and she should file a complaint with the CFPB and FTC.

Know when to work with a lawyer

In some cases, working with a lawyer may be advantageous. However, legal fees can add up quickly, so a small matter involving a few hundred dollars probably isn’t worth an attorney’s attention. However, if you have several thousand dollars of debt on the line and don’t want to end up with a judgment or in bankruptcy, a lawyer can help.

If you’re in a difficult situation and time is of the essence, contact a local debt settlement lawyer in your area. They can advise you of the strategies available and represent you in court if necessary. Most attorneys provide free consultations so you can learn more about your legal options.

Avoid legal trouble with Best Buy and keep on top of payments

Protecting yourself from a Best Buy or Citibank, N.A. lawsuit is not always possible. Unexpected job loss or medical events can leave you financially unstable, and the company may pursue you legally if you don’t get back on track with payments. Respond to the lawsuit with an Answer and defend yourself against unwarranted claims.

Protect yourself from a Best Buy lawsuit. Take the first step with SoloSuit’s Answer template.

What is Solo?

Solo makes it easy to resolve debt with debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt. SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

SoloSettle can help you contact your debt collector or creditor and negotiate the debt to settle for less, all online. It simplifies and streamlines the process to settling your debt.

No matter where you find yourself in the debt collection process, Solo is here to help you resolve your debt.

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Debt collector guides

Are you being contacted by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

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

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a great way to legally resolve debt, but it's usually best to consider it as a last resort. Here are some bankruptcy guides to help you decide which debt resolution option is best for you.

Check your case status

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created state guides on how to check the status of your case throughout the US, complete with online search tools and court directories.

Credit

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt, along with other credit-related resources.

Debt collection FAQs

Find answers to some of our the most commonly-asked questions about debt collection below.

Debt collection documents and templates

If you're dealing with debt, these documents and templates will help you respond, protect your rights, negotiate, and resolve your debts.

Debt relief

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt settlement

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created state guides on debt settlement. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

Eviction

Facing an eviction? The following guides will help you navigate your situation with confidence.

Federal debt collection laws

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Legal aid

Helping people find access to justice is at the heart of Solo's misison. If you're dealing with a legal debt issue, the following guides will help you through it.

Medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing with medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Personal finance

Learn how to manage your finances and overcome crushing debt. Check out our personal finance guides below.

State debt collection laws

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote guides on each state’s statutes and more.

Stop collection calls

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Wage garnishment

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in your state, plus other wage garnishment resources.

The Debt Hotline

Hosted by Team Solo, The Debt Hotline breaks down debt and personal finance topics with help from attorneys, financial experts, and industry pros. We respond to real questions to help you navigate debt with knowledge and courage.

Other debt resources

It only takes 15 minutes.

And 50% of our customers' cases have been dismissed in the past.

"Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. I started researching on YouTube and found SoloSuit's channel. The videos were so helpful, easy to understand and encouraging. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it. Very professional, impeccably prompt. Thanks for the service!" - Heather

Get Started