| You may want to check, I would assume you respond to the court or court clerk, not the sheriff department ( but could be wrong)
Well you choice is to appear and agree for arbitration or to not respond.
You agree to meet and then they will set up a metting. You do need an attorney, esp if you can't pay, since arbitation wil not go very far is they ask you how much you can pay or will pay and you say nothing.
They are trying to work this out prior to getting a judgement and a garnishment on your pay check, so you need to work with them. | 
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