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Sued by Rausch Sturm for Debt? — How to Settle It

George Simons | August 09, 2024

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: Rausch Sturm (RSIEH) is a debt collection law firm that represents creditors and collectors in court. If you get sued by Rausch Sturm, you must respond within 35 days (depending on where you live) or you will automatically lose. Use SoloSuit to draft and file your Answer to the case in minutes.

If you have been served with a lawsuit from Rauscm Sturm LLP, do not panic. This might seem like a scary time, but you do have the option to settle it.

The first mistake that many people make when being sued for debt is to ignore it. Whether this is because they assume they will lose or simply do not have the money, this is always a bad idea. If you do not respond to the lawsuit, then you will automatically default and lose your case. Instead, you should file an Answer into the case and give yourself a fair chance to reduce the debt and get the case dismissed.

In this article, we’ll explain everything you should know about RSIEH, how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit, and how to increase your chances of winning your case.

Settle debt with Rausch Sturm LLP

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

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Who is Rausch Sturm?

Rausch Sturm LLP, formerly known as RSIEH, is a debt collection law firm. RSIEH is an acronym for Rausch, Sturm, Israel, Enerson, and Hornik, but the company has gone by Rausch Sturm for quite some time now. Based in Wisconsin, this law firm helps financial institutions and creditors collect debt. The firm was established in 1997 and incorporated in 2008. According to its website, Rausch Sturm LLP assists credit issuers and consumers in resolving financial setbacks.

Below is Rausch Sturm LLP's contact information:

Rausch Sturm LLP
250 N. Sunnyslope Road
Suite 300
Brookfield, WI 53005
866-456-3744
rsieh.com

Negotiate with Rausch Sturm LLP to settle your debt

Rausch Sturm debt collectors will work with you to resolve debts. In fact, they'd probably rather settle the debt outside of a court setting to save time, money, and resources. Debt settlement can be a win-win situation for you as a debtor, but also for debt collectors: it allows you to save money and clear your name of the debt, and it guarantees that the creditor gets paid something.

Here are some tips, from an attorney, to help you negotiate debt with Rausch Sturm LLP:

  • Determine how much you can afford. Before you send an offer to settle the debt, be sure to calculate the best amount for your current financial situation. Use the formula Amount available to settle = (monthly income – monthly costs) + savings) to help with this process.
  • Make a realistic offer. It's best to start with an offer that's lower than your limit, but if you're initial offer is too low, Rausch Sturm LLP probably won't take you seriously. For example, if you owe $10,000 and offer to settle for $10, a Rausch Sturm debt collector might not even bother responding to your offer.
  • Don't expect Rausch Sturm to accept your first offer. This is totally normal, and it's okay to go through several rounds of negotiating before you reach an agreement. Don't set your expectations so high that you get disappointed when Rausch Sturm counters your offer. Be ready to negotiate, and keep a positive mindset.
  • Be honest about your ability to pay. Tell your story and what lead to the inability to pay. If you had unexpected life events that created financial hardship, demonstrate that hardship. You can send bills, paystubs, or other evidence to prove that your offer is the best option for settling the debt.
  • If you're considering bankruptcy, mention it. Debt collectors would rather collect a settlement than lose the opportunity to collect at least some money due to the debtor filing bankruptcy. However, don't use bankruptcy as an empty threat. Rausch Sturm LLP colletors will probably see right through that.
  • Record your conversations with Rausch Sturm representatives. This will help you keep a track of settlement offers and counteroffers and could potentially serve as proof if a settlement is reached and then retracted.
  • Get the agreement in writing. Once you've settled, Rausch Sturm LLP should draft and send you a debt settlement agreement that confirms the terms and conditions of the settlement. You should review this document carefully and sign it. It will be filed into the court case with a declaration to dismiss the case upon settling.

Does calling a Rausch Sturm debt collector sound scary to you? Try using SoloSettle to move the negotiation to a digital platform and streamline the process.

To learn more about the tips and tricks listed above, check out our interview with a licensed attorney on how to negotiate debt settlement with collectors like Rausch Sturm LLP:

If you have received a letter from Rausch Sturm LLP, it means that a bank or creditor has stated you owe a debt. If you get sued by RSIEH, knowing your rights will help you protect yourself from any unfair collection practices.

Know your rights

The FTC, known as the Federal Trade Commission, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This act makes it illegal for debt collectors to abuse you, and use unfair, or deceptive practices when they collect debts.

Under the FDCPA, debt collectors cannot:

  • Call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
  • Call you at work if your employer doesn’t allow such communications.
  • Discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your lawyer.
  • Harass you. Meaning they cannot physically threaten you, use obscene language, or call you to annoy you.
  • Lie to you about your debt. They may not state you owe an amount different than you owe or lie about being someone other than who they are.
  • Falsely claim that you will be arrested if you do not pay the debt.
  • Collect interest or fees on top of what you owe, unless it is in your original contract.
  • Take or threaten to take your property unless they have a warrant to do so legally.

If Rausch Sturm LLP breaks any of the practices within the FDCPA, you can sue them in either a state or federal court. This can be done within one year of the date the law was violated. Suing means you can get back damages, which includes lost wages and medical bills. If you can not prove damages, then you may be awarded up to $1,000, as well as reimbursement for any attorney 's fees and court costs.

Read Rausch Sturm LLP reviews online

Rausch Sturm LLP is a legit debt collector that is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with a A BBB rating. With more than 27 years of experience in the debt collection litigation industry, Rausch Sturm LLP has a strong reputation for representing creditors and collectors in court. Despite the firm's positive BBB rating, its customer reviews score is less than 2 out of 5 stars on its BBB profile.

Read about consumer experience when working with Rausch Sturm LLP on the CFPB's consumer complaint database.

Send a Debt Validation Letter to RSIEH before they sue

Often if you have an old debt, it has been purchased, sold, and turned over by multiple companies. This means that by the time it reaches the desk of Rausch Sturm, it will have been in the hands of many other companies.

What this means for you is that they may not have any evidence or proof of how you acquired the debt.

You should submit a formal debt verification request to ask Rausch Sturm to prove they have the right to collect the debt and that the amount in question is accurate. You can request a debt verification by sending a Debt Validation Letter to Rausch Sturm LLP.

If you send the letter within 30 days of getting the debt notice, then they are legally obligated to send you written verification of the debt. If they do not have a contract or receipt for how the balance was calculated, then they cannot prove that the debt belongs to you.

The bottom line is that if they cannot prove that you agreed to take on the debt, they cannot legally pursue you for the payment. This means that the first words out of your mouth should always be “show me the evidence of my debt.”

Send a Debt Validation Letter to RSIEH in minutes.

Now, let's consider an example.

Example: Freddy receives several letters, calls, and emails from RSIEH claiming that he owes a debt. Freddy isn't familiar with the debt amount, and he wonders if it's even real at all. After doing some research online, Freday uses SoloSuit to send a Debt Validation Letter to RSIEH. It turns out, RSIEH was trying to contact the wrong person, and when they couldn't validate the debt, they stopped contacting Freddy.


If RSIEH is able to verify the debt is yours and accurate, then there is a chance they will take you to court to force you to pay it off. When you get sued by a debt collector like Rausch Sturm, the first step to beating them in court is to respond.

Follow these steps to respond to a Rausch Sturm lawsuit

If you are worried about going to court and defending yourself in a lawsuit, this is normal. If you have never stepped foot in a courtroom, then it can be an emotional experience. Despite this, we cannot stress how important this is. Most debts can be easily fought and then either eliminated or reduced. Do not risk losing your case because you are scared.

When RSIEH sues you, you should receive the court documents in the mail known as the Summons and Complaint. The Summons notifies you of the lawsuit, and the Complaint lists the specific claims that RSIEH is making against you.

You need to respond to the Summons and Complaint with a written Answer before your state’s deadline, otherwise you run the risk of losing the case by default. With a default judgment, RSIEH can garnish your wages and put liens on your property. You can avoid a default judgment by responding. Here’s how.

Follow these three steps when you draft an Answer to a Rausch Sturm lawsuit:

  1. Respond to each claim listed in the Complaint document. The first section of your Answer should focus on responding to each claim against you. You can admit, deny, or deny due to lack of knowledge. Most attorneys recommend that you deny as many claims as possible, which forces RSIEH to prove each claim individually.

  2. Assert your affirmative defenses. The next section of your Answer should list off your affirmative defenses. An affirmative defense is any legal reason that you should not be held liable for the debt. A common affirmative defense for debt collection lawsuits is that the statute of limitations on debt has expired. We’ll discuss this more below.

  3. File the Answer with the court, and send a copy to the opposing attorney. After you’ve drafted your Answer with your responses to each claim and affirmative defenses, you’re ready to submit the document to the court. You can send it in the mail, drop it off at the courthouse, or have SoloSuit file it for you. Just be sure to make a copy and send it to the opposing attorney.

Learn more about these three steps in this video:

Draft and file an Answer in all 50 states with SoloSuit.

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The statute of limitations could be your best defense in a debt collection case

Similar to needing evidence to pursue a debt, the same goes for the statute of limitations. After a certain amount of time has gone by, the statute of limitations will have expired. This leads to another reason why RSIEH cannot legally enforce you to pay the debt.

The day you fail to make a payment on a debt is the day your statute of limitations begins. This means that you should not make any payment on a debt, nor admit guilt, after being served. If you do, the statute of limitations will start over again.

Time-barred debts

Once the statute of limitations is over, the unpaid debt is considered “time-barred.” This is a great defense option when responding to a RSIEH lawsuit. You may need to bring this up in court during your lawsuit.

If your debt is time-barred, you have two options:

  1. Pay nothing: It is good to note that although the collector cannot sue you anymore, you still may owe the debt. They do also have the right to continue to contact you. To end this contact you will need to send a letter by mail asking for contact to stop.
  2. Pay off the debt: If you would like to remove the debt once and for all, you can stand up for your rights and attempt to pay only some of the debt. This is called a settlement. Be sure to request a signed letter that states how much you are paying, and that they are releasing the debt.

Be aware that although your debt may be time-barred, you still need to respond. In this case, if you ignore a lawsuit, the collector then may be able to obtain a court judgment and garnishment against you. If you go to court with RSIEH and tell the judge the debt is time-barred, then you have a better chance of winning your case.

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.

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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

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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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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.

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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.

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Civil law legal definitions

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