Hi. I have been in a debt settlement program since Aug. 2006 and have just been served papers by an attorney's office that they are trying to collect the debt for my creditor. I have filed an answer in the clerk's office of the court and wait to hear from the attorney. I was told by my program that this generally is a scare tactic to get you to pay. I can not pay the total amount at this time because of medical financial hardship I incurred. I am paying the company into a "savings" to make a settlement. Will I still be sued and will this go to court? Should I get an attorney to represent me, tho' I can not affort the extra expense?

No one will have a for sure answer here but if you give us a little more info, we may be able to shed some light on the subject...

1. What state do you live in?
2. How long has it been since you late paid this account directly?
3. Was it a COLLECTION letter from an attorneys office or was it a SUMMONS from a court or what?
4. What creditor is it?

Debt Settlement programs are VOLUNTARY on the part of the creditors. There is no rule or law comperlling them to participate. So they have every right to dun you or even sue you outside the program. Most will ooperate with the settlement agency, but some won't.

This was a summons from the court to reply to the attorney, if I am understanding correctly. I have gotten letters from two attorneys stating they would be glad to assist me in this matter, so it must be on record at the court house that this is a civil action taken against me to collect the debt owed to TARGET National Bank/Visa. This is in Georgia. I don't have the statement with me, but I believe I last made a payment in June or July of 2006.