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Sued by Selip & Stylianou LLP? 5 Steps to Settle Your Debt

Chloe Meltzer | December 10, 2024

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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
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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.

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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: To settle with Selip & Stylianou, verify the debt, make a reasonable offer, negotiate, get the agreement in writing, and pay on time. Use SoloSettle to help.

You may have received a call, a collection letter, or a lawsuit in the mail from Selip & Stylianou LLP. This is usually because they are attempting to collect on a debt that is owed on an account you have not paid in at least six months. When a debt collection agency or a lawyer representing an original creditor approaches you, knowing your rights as a consumer can make all the difference. If you do not respond quickly, you may be subject to wage garnishment or frozen bank accounts.

Here's everything you need to know about Selip & Stylianou LLP, your rights, and how to win in court.

Settle debt with Selip & Stylianou LLP

You can negotiate debt settlement at any stage of the collections process. SoloSettle makes it easy.

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Who is Selip & Stylianou LLP?

Selip & Stylianou LLP is one of the primary debt collection law firms in the state of New York. Formerly known as Cohen & Slamowitz, LLP, it is a third-party debt collection law firm that serves creditors in New York state and New Jersey.

Who does Selip & Stylianou LLP collect for?

Selip & Stylianou collects on behalf of many banks, financial institutions, and even debt buyers. More specifically, Selip & Stylianou collects for:

  • Capital One
  • Discover Bank
  • Midland Credit Management
  • Synchrony Bank
  • Truist Bank
  • TD Bank

This is not an exhaustive list of all the companies that the Selip & Stylianou law firm represents, but these are some of the firm’s most regular clients.

How to settle debt with Selip & Stylianou LLP

Ignoring a debt collector’s phone calls or letters will not magically make your debt disappear. This is why it is recommended that you respond promptly and communicate with Selip & Stylianou LLP. The majority of debt collection attorneys are open to negotiating a settlement on the debt without resorting to legal action. In many instances, filing a debt collection lawsuit is considered a last resort with settlement as the preferred method for reaching an amicable resolution. Engaging in communication may open the door to potential settlement options and avoid the hassle of going to court. Below are some steps you could take to negotiate a debt settlement with Selip & Stylianou LLP:

Step 1: Verify your debt

Prior to commencing settlement negotiations with the debt collector, make sure the debt is actually valid. If you have any reason to believe a portion, or all, of the debt is inaccurate, contact Selip & Stylianou LLP and ask them to validate it. While most debts are accurate, there is always the possibility of an error, especially if you have a common name like Susan Smith or David Jones. If the debt is not yours or the balance is not correct, you should immediately tell that to the collector or ask them to verify how the balance was calculated.

Step 2: Make a reasonable settlement offer

Once you receive confirmation that the unpaid debt is valid, calculate how much you can afford to pay off in a lump-sum payment. It is recommended to open with a settlement offer that is less than what you are actually willing to pay. Why? So you have flexibility to negotiate upwards. If you are doing a payment plan because you cannot afford a lump-sum payment at the moment, most collectors will want a payment plan to commence within 30 days of you making the offer. If you anticipate you will have the ability to do a lump sum in 6 months, one option would be small payments for 5 months starting in the next 30 days and then a lump sum payment at the end.

Use SoloSettle to negotiate with collectors online.

Step 3: Expect a counteroffer

Do not be shocked if Selip & Stylianou LLP declines your initial settlement offer. This is normal and to be expected. They will likely respond with a counteroffer. Be ready to explain the reason or reasons why you don’t want to pay the entire amount. It would be helpful to have at your fingertips your income and expenses because most collectors will need that information in order to settle the debt for less than the full balance. Some collectors may want to see proof of your expenses or may ask you to provide the name of your employer and bank.

Step 4: Get the settlement agreement in writing

If you are able to negotiate an amicable settlement with Selip & Stylianou LLP, make sure to get the debt settlement agreement in writing.

Get help with your settlement documentation.

Step 5: Pay the negotiated settlement

Once you have a written settlement agreement, pay the negotiated amount. Keep records of all payments. After settling, request a confirmation letter stating the debt is resolved and, if possible, monitor your credit report to ensure proper updates.

For more information on these steps, and other tips on how to settle debt, check out this video interview with a former debt collections attorney:

What happens when you are sued for debt?

If you have had an account sent to collections, it can stay on your credit report for up to seven years. This can continue to hurt your credit score for the duration, even after you pay it. It is actually possible to remove a collection from your credit report before that time period. However, you may want to work on fighting the lawsuit before it becomes an even bigger issue.

For example, if you are sued for an unpaid debt by Selip & Stylianou LLP and you do not respond, there is the possibility you may have your wages garnished. Though, it is important to note that this is only allowed in certain states. If you reside in a state that has strict wage garnishment laws and requirements, then it may be illegal for a debt collector to garnish your wages.

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Respond to a debt collection lawsuit against Selip & Stylianou LLP

How you respond to the debt collection Summons and Complaint filed against you impacts the final ruling on the case. If you ignore the court Summons, the court will pass a default judgment against you. As a result, the plaintiff or their attorney will ask the court to issue a wage garnishment order that allows them to collect part of your wages to recover their debt.

You need to take note of the time limit you have to respond to the court Summons. This time limit varies from one state to another and may be found on the paperwork you receive along with the court Summons and Complaint.

After confirming the deadline, follow these three steps:

  1. Respond to each complaint in separate paragraphs.
  2. Assert your affirmative defenses.
  3. File your Answer with the court, and send a copy to Selip & Stylianou LLP.

Now, let's break down each of these steps a little further. Don't like reading? Check out this video to learn more about these three steps to responding to a debt lawsuit.

1. Respond to each complaint in separate paragraphs

The complaint contains all the legal claims by the debt collector in paragraph form. You must read each claim and decide how you respond to it. Typically, there are three ways to respond to these claims.

  • You may admit a claim if you agree.
  • You may deny the claim if you disagree.
  • You may deny the claim due to lack of knowledge if you aren't sure.

In most cases, attorneys suggest that you deny as many claims as possible. Denying is kind of like stating, “Prove it.” This response will typically result in Selip & Stylianou LLP providing proper documentation and paperwork to prove their case. If they don't supply the necessary proof, the case could be dismissed.

You can use SoloSuit to draft an Answer in 15 minutes.

2. Assert your affirmative defenses

Affirmative defenses are the reasons why you believe the plaintiff has no case against you.

Examples of affirmative defenses include:

  • The statute of limitations on the debt has already expired.
  • The creditor canceled the debt agreement.
  • You filed for bankruptcy, thus, dismissing the debt.
  • You already cleared the debt.
  • The debt account doesn't belong to you.
  • You didn't receive a notice for debt validation from the plaintiff.

Remember to collect evidence of these affirmative defenses to support your claims. Since asserting affirmative defenses is a one-time chance, you need to explore all available defenses to improve your chances of winning the case. Once you file your initial Answer, you won't be able to bring up any defenses later on in the case.

Make the right defense the right way.

3. File Your Answer

After completing your Answer with your responses and affirmative defenses, the next step is filing your Answer. You have to make two copies of the Answer document. Mail one of the copies to the court and the other to the plaintiff or their attorney. Ensure that you use Certified Mail services to obtain proof of mailing and delivery.

Solo can file your Answer for you in all 50 states.

Contact Selip & Stylianou LLP

If you're trying to reach Selip & Stylianou LLP to request a debt validation, or for any other reason, you can use the following contact information:

Address:
P.O. Box 9004
Woodbury, NY 11797-9004

Phone number (NY office):
516-364-6006 or 866-848-8975

Phone number (NJ office):
201-368-2850 or 866-848-8975

Read Selip & Stylianou LLP reviews online to learn more about how to resolve debt

If you are curious about what other consumers have to say about their interactions with Selip & Stylianou LLP, then take a moment to read these reviews:

If you are a victim of aggressive or abusive debt collection tactics, you may be eligible for compensation. Knowing your rights can help you protect yourself.

Know your rights under the FDCPA

You have rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) that protect you from abusive debt collection tactics, such as:

  • Harassment of any kind.
  • Making early-morning or late-night calls (before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m.).
  • Telling anyone other than you, your spouse, or your lawyer about the debt.
  • Calling you at work after you have said it is not allowed.
  • Trying to speak to you once you have hired an attorney.
  • Contacting you after you have sent a cease and desist letter.
  • Using threatening, vulgar, or abusive language to get you to pay.
  • Lying about who they are.
  • Threatening to take legal action they cannot, or do not plan to, take.

If a debt collector is harassing you, then you may want to consider filing a lawsuit or counterclaim (if you're already being sued). You may be eligible for up to $1,000 per FDCPA violation.

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

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

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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.

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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 state guides

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote a guide on each state’s statutes. Check it out below.

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How to stop wage garnishment in your state

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 all 50 states.

Other wage garnishment resources

How to settle a debt in your state

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

How to settle with every debt collector

Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.

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Civil law legal definitions

You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.

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