I received a summons from our county sheriff{Pennsylvania } saying I was being sued by Atlantic credit.Atlantic bought a charged off loan from a credit card company and say I owe them $20,000. I have several questions Id like answered please:
1st. How exactly do I respond to the court by filing a defense? How is this filing done?
2nd. I asked for debt verification but have not received any. Instead Atlantic filed suit. Does this give grounds for dismissal?
3rd.My research indicates that Atlantic typically buys this charged off debt for 9 cents on the dollar. They are the 3rd party to own it.How hard would they laugh at me if I offered $5000 to settle. I can get that much money from a friend.
4. How dangerous is it to go this alone without a lawyer. I can borrow money from the same friend for this too but he might balk at 2 separate money requests.
5. I have no money in the bank and after I pay all my bills, including other credit cards and college tuition I really don't have anything left. In Pennsylvania can my bank accounts be seized/frozen? Should I stop my work from direct depositing my checks and my kids SSI?

1. That depends on the court. $20K may be out of small claims court so you may need a more formal response. Esentially you just need to tell them you intend to defend against the suit.
2. You have to send a copy of your Intent to Defend along with the request for verification. Unless the plaintiff produces proof at the hearing you can request a dismissal.
3. If you offer $5K in a lump sum they may accept it.
4. This is one of the few places I think you can go pro se.
5. Yes, but you can wait until immediately after the hearing to see if they get a judgement.

By the way, the fact that this was charged off as no bearing on you.