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What Happens If You Never Answer Debt Collectors?

George Simons | December 06, 2023

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: Bad things will probably happen if you never answer debt collectors—lawsuits, poor credit scores, anxiety, and more. But with the right tools, you might dodge a bullet. Use SoloSuit to answer a collector in just a few minutes.

When it comes to communicating with a debt collector, the old adage, “you can run, but you can't hide” is applicable. The truth is that, nowadays, it is virtually impossible to ignore a debt collector entirely.

Even if you let all of their phone calls go to voicemail, debt collectors are relentless and may try to contact you online through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Ignoring or blocking a debt collector will likely result in a collections lawsuit filed against you in court. You can avoid a lawsuit by requesting a debt verification and sending a Debt Validation Letter.

Once a lawsuit is filed, the debt collector hopes that you won't respond in time so they can file a motion for default judgment against you. If the court grants this motion, the debt collector can garnish your wages and seize your property. This is why you need to be proactive and respond to the debt collector or debt collection lawsuit immediately. You may discover that the debt collector is suing the wrong person or that your debt is past the statute of limitations.

SoloSuit makes it easy to verify a debt is yours and prevent a lawsuit.

This article outlines five reasons why ignoring a debt collector can hurt you. We will also discuss what happens if you never pay collections. Let's jump right in.

1. Your credit will take a hit

The credit bureaus are a dangerous weapon in debt collectors' hands. When a debt goes into collections, there is a high chance that the creditor will report it to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Your repayment history plays a massive role in determining your credit worthiness. As soon as the delinquent account appears on your credit report, you can expect your credit score to take a nosedive. Even if you work out a payment plan with the creditor, there is a chance that the delinquent account will still ding your credit, even if just for a limited time. A collection account, like other negative marks, will stay on your credit score for up to seven years.

With bad credit, every aspect of your financial life suffers. You may have difficulty renting an apartment, accessing low interest credit, convincing prospective employers, etc. Sadly, many consumers ignore collections for amounts as low as $25, allowing it to negatively impact their credit score and cause long-term damage to their financial health.

SoloSuit helps you force the collector to report the debt as disputed.

2. The amount of debt could continue to increase

If you ignore a debt collector and do not repay the debt, not only will the principal amount remain the same, but the amount you owe will probably continue to increase because of accruing interest, late fees and penalties. Some debt collection companies even tack on the expenses they've incurred in an effort to collect on the debt. If you're sued for the debt, you will also have to pay for court costs and attorney fees.

3. Family and friends might be contacted about your debt

If you ignore a debt collector, they do not disappear. In fact, some aggressive debt collectors will reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors. You may be asking yourself, “Is that even legal?” Well, the Fair Debt Collectin Practice Act § 805 (3)(b) states:

“Except as provided in section 1692b of this title, without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector, or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy, a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of any debt, with any person other than the consumer, his attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector.”

This means that a debt collector can only contact you, your attorney, the creditor that's suing you and their attorney, or the attorney of the debt collector suing you. That being said, a debt collector can contact third parties such as neighbors, relatives, or even your employer—but only in an effort to track you down. The law does not allow a debt collector to disclose the fact that you owe a debt or to discuss your finances with third parties.

If a debt collector has discussed your debt with family members or friends, they are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and you may be entitled to compensation. Report this behavior to the CFPB, FTC, or your state's attorney general.

4. Your stress and anxiety levels will probably increase

Trying to avoid communicating with a debt collector often makes people anxious, concerned, and stressed out. It can be difficult to speak with a debt collector, but actively avoiding contact with the debt collector can be just as stress-inducing.

5. You will probably be sued

What happens if debt collectors can't find you? If a debt collector is unable to find you, don't think you are in the clear. If you continue to ignore communicating with the debt collector, they will likely file a collections lawsuit against you in court. If you are served with a lawsuit and ignore this court filing, the debt collection company will be able to get a default judgment against you. Once a default judgment is entered, the debt collector can garnish your wages, seize personal property, and have money taken out of your bank account..

Like we said earlier, you can run, but you cannot hide from debt collectors. Here is the bottom line: ignoring a debt collector is almost always a bad decision. Why? Because, as we discussed above, ignoring the debt collector typically worsens the situation and does not lead to a resolution. Ignoring the debt does not make it go away. This is why it is important to take action if you are contacted by a debt collector or served with a debt collections lawsuit.

SoloSuit makes it simple to respond to a debt lawsuit the right way

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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.

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>>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.)

What if you are sued by a debt collector?

Here is an overview of what you need to do if you are sued by a debt collector:

  • Do not admit liability for the alleged debt since the burden is on the debt collector to establish that you, in fact, are responsible for the amount owed.
  • Be sure you file your Answer to the Complaint within the time the court provides. You have up to 35 days to respond to a debt collection lawsuit, depending on which state you live in.

In your Answer, make sure to raise any applicable affirmative defenses (e.g., the statute of limitations) and demand that the debt collection company prove that you are responsible for the specific amount owed. These are examples of strategies you can use to defeat a debt collector in court.

Watch this video to learn more about how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit:

What is the best way to respond to collectors?

The best way to respond to a debt collector is with a Debt Validation Letter. A Debt Validation Letter is a powerful document that stops debt collectors in their tracks by citing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and requiring them to show validation of the debt. In the letter, you can also dispute the debt, force the collector to report the debt as disputed to the credit bureaus, and force them to stop contacting you. It's powerful.

Make your own Debt Validation Letter in minutes with SoloSuit.

All of SoloSuit's documents are designed with the average consumer in mind. When dealing with debt collectors, pick the document that best works for your situation. If you are unsure which is right, you reach out to our customer support line at support@solosuit.com.

  • Debt Validation Letter: As soon as the debt collector contacts you, before they go to court, send the Debt Validation Letter. Requesting a debt validation buys you time (at least 30 days) before collectors can sue you.
  • Answer: The time you have to file an Answer with the court and respond to the debt collectors complaints is limited. Depending on your state, it can be as short as 14 days. You don't need a lawyer to draft an acceptable answer. Just use SoloSuit; it's free.
  • Motion to Compel Arbitration: The presence of an arbitration clause in your contract can help you force the lawsuit out of court.
  • SoloSettle: It's not too late to settle a debt that has gone to court. If you can afford to settle out of court, use SoloSettle to send and receive debt settlement offers and reach an agreement with debt collectors. It's fast and easy.

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