How to Resolve a Debt with a Unifin Debt Collector

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Fact-checked by Greg Anjewierden, J.D.

Receiving a debt collection notice is the absolute worst. You’re going about your day one minute, and the next minute, BAM! Someone claims you owe money you might not have the funds to repay.

Unfortunately, if your debt ends up with Unifin, you can expect lots of collection notices, emails, and phone calls until you resolve the situation. If you don’t repay the bill or set up a payment arrangement, Unifin may decide to take further action with a debt lawsuit.

We’ve created this guide to help you resolve your debts with Unifin and move on with your life. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.

Sued by Unifin? Settle your debts with the help of SoloSettle.

What to know about Unifin

When Unifin contacts you, you might wonder whether it’s a legitimate biz or a sly scam company out to steal your money.

Unifin is an entirely legitimate debt collection agency with an office in Skokie, Illinois. It partners with creditors and other businesses that hold outstanding consumer debts. Unifin will contact you if you have an outstanding obligation with one of its clients.

The mailing address for Unifin is P.O. Box 4519, Skokie, IL 60076. Unifin’s toll-free number is (888) 572-3987. The company has other offices in Guatemala, Jamaica, and the Philippines.

You can tell a lot about a company from its Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile. Unifin is an accredited company with the BBB and has a current B rating, with hundreds of complaints submitted by consumers concerning harassing communications, like unwanted texts and phone calls. Others complain that the debts that Unifin is chasing them for aren’t valid.

Luckily, there are laws in place to protect consumers, like you, from unfair debt collection practices. Keep reading to learn more.

The FDCPA protects you

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prevents debt collectors from specific actions it considers abusive or harassing. If Unifin’s collection efforts include any of the following, don’t hesitate to file a complaint with the FTC:

• Calling you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
• Repeatedly calling you from different phone numbers throughout the day
• Telling you it will send you to jail if you don’t repay a debt
• Contacting you at work, if you send a written notice asking the collector to refrain from calling you there
• Telling your friends or family you owe money

Debt collectors must follow these and many other restrictions included in the FDCPA. If you’re unsure whether Unifin’s actions have violated your rights, you can contact the FTC for clarification.

Make Unifin validate your debt

If you receive notice of a debt from Unifin, review the letter closely to determine whether you recognize the obligation. Under the FDCPA, you have 30 days from receipt of a collection notice to demand validation of the debt.

Once Unifin receives your Debt Validation Letter, it must provide you with evidence that it has the right to collect the obligation and that you owe the money. Unifin must stop all collection efforts against you if it can't substantiate its claims.

Not sure where to start with your Debt Validation Letter? Watch this video to learn more:

Unifin is suing me for unpaid debt. What should I do?

If you ignore Unifin’s attempts to collect money from you, it probably isn’t going to take the hint and hit the road. Instead, it will grab a figurative megaphone and file a debt lawsuit against you.

A debt lawsuit is a consumer’s worst nightmare. Once Unifin starts the legal process against you, you’ll have just a few weeks to take action to avoid a judgment. A judgment will give Unifin the right to make additional efforts to collect the money you owe, like garnishing your wages or freezing your bank account.

You’ll know Unifin is suing you when you receive a Court Summons, which will include your hearing date and a copy of Unifin’s Complaint. The Complaint, also known as a Petition in some states, will list the reason for the lawsuit (nonpayment of debt) and the amount you owe. It might contain other information about the obligation, which you should read carefully and verify.

The worst thing you can do is ignore Unifin’s Complaint. Instead, you should respond to the Complaint with an Answer. An Answer is your formal response to Unifin and includes any reasons you have for not paying the debt. If aspects of the lawsuit are inaccurate, you should list the inaccuracies in your Answer.

Respond to a Unifin debt lawsuit

If you’ve been sued by Unifin for debt, it’s best to respond to the lawsuit with a written Answer document.

An Answer stops Unifin from asking the judge for a default judgment during the hearing. Instead, the judge must listen to your side of the story before deciding on your case’s outcome. The judge can’t just bend to Unifin’s will and grant it the right to take harsher measures against you.

In your Answer, you should address each claim against you that was listed in the Complaint. You should also assert your affirmative defenses, because it will be your only chance to do so in this case. An affirmative defense is a set of facts or legal arguments that, if proven, would undermine the Unifin’s case or provide a legal justification for your actions.

Filing an Answer is simple if you know where to start. Watch our video below for six tips on drafting the perfect Answer.

Settle your debt with a Unifin debt collector

Your next step is to resolve the debt before your court date. You can either repay the debt or attempt to settle it. Repaying the debt is ideal if you have the money. Once it receives the money you owe, Unifin must drop its lawsuit and report the debt paid.

However, settlement may be an option if you can’t afford a complete repayment. In a settlement, you offer Unifin a portion of the debt in a one-time, lump-sum payment. Unifin will drop the lawsuit and release you from the remaining balance if it agrees to your terms.

Let’s consider an example of how to settle a debt with Unifin:

SoloSettle, powered by SoloSuit, is a tech-based approach to debt settlement. Our software helps you send and receive settlement offers until you reach an agreement with the collector. Once an agreement is reached, we’ll help you manage the settlement documentation and transfer your payment to the creditor or debt collector, helping you keep your financial information private and secure.

Dealing with Unifin is frustrating but worth the effort

No one likes unexpected bills. However, if you’ve forgotten about a debt and it resurfaces to haunt you, you’ll need to take action quickly. You don’t want a debt collector like Unifin reporting negative items on your credit report, and you definitely don’t need a judgment. Try to resolve the matter before it gets out of control. Your future self will thank you!

Let's consider a real example of a consumer who was contacted by Unifin and tooks steps to resolve the issues before it got out of hand.

Robert first encountered Unifin when he received a phone call one morning, during which the Unifin representative claimed to be contacting him regarding a personal financial matter but did not disclose the creditor’s name or the amount of debt involved. Feeling uneasy about the vagueness of the call, Robert responded that they must have the wrong number and reported the call as junk.

Two months later, on May 2, 2024, Robert received a text message from Unifin. This time, the message was more direct, stating that Unifin was a debt collector and provided a reference number, a phone number (800-276-3744), and a link to visit their website for more details. Unfamiliar with the debt, Robert once again reported the message as junk.

Robert believed this debt dated back nearly 20 years, possibly linked to a time when he was unable to make payments due to legal issues, including a period of incarceration. Now, as Unifin’s attempts to collect become more persistent, he’s left wondering what steps they might take next, particularly if they escalate the situation by taking legal action in court.

His primary concern is understanding the next steps before things progress toward a court judgment and knowing what actions he can take to protect himself. Robert wants to learn more about his rights and how to resolve the issue, either through disputing the debt, validating its legitimacy, or seeking legal help.

In this situation, Robert's case highlights several important aspects of dealing with a debt collector like Unifin:

• Old Debt (Potentially Time-Barred): Robert suspects the debt is nearly 20 years old. Depending on the state’s statute of limitations, this debt could be time-barred, meaning Unifin might not be able to sue him for it. However, they could still attempt to collect on it, so understanding the statute of limitations in Robert's state is crucial.
• Communication with Debt Collectors: Initially, Robert flagged the phone call and text as junk, but Unifin’s repeated contact suggests they are actively pursuing this debt. It's important to keep records of all communications and seek legal advice if there is uncertainty about the validity of the debt or the next steps.
• Validating the Debt: Before proceeding, Robert should request Unifin to validate the debt in writing, which will give him more information about the creditor and whether the debt is still valid. If Unifin can’t provide this information, they may be violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
• Next Steps Before Court: If Unifin were to pursue a lawsuit, Robert would need to respond to any legal documents promptly to avoid a default judgment. Using tools like SoloSuit, he could file a response or negotiate a settlement before the case reaches court.

Are you ready to settle a debt with Unifin? SoloSettle can handle the process for you.

>>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 your state

Here's a list of guides for other states.

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