How to Deal With a Civil Summons With Asset Acceptance

Asset Acceptance is a limited liability corporation that specializes in debt collection. The company purchases old debts from retailers, credit-card companies, utilities and other creditors. Asset Acceptance, like any collection agency, will pursue any lead to find you, contact you and notify you of your debt. The company will pursue debtors through the courts to collect money if necessary in order to collect the money and make a profit. Always defend a summons from this company, never communicate directly with any Asset Acceptance representative except via certified mail, and never miss a court date.

Instructions

1

Review every piece of correspondence and every summons from Asset Acceptance as soon as it is received. Make a note of any deadlines and court dates on your calendar.

2

Check the statute of limitations for debts in your state. Compare the statute of limitations with the date of the original debt listed on the correspondence from Asset Acceptance.

3

Review your personal financial records to find evidence of the original debt. Look to see if it was ever yours. Pay close attention to the payment history in your records. Compare your information with that in the correspondence to check for accuracy.

4

Respond to the initial summons. Challenge every discrepancy you find in the information Asset Acceptance provided to you and the court. Challenge the statute of limitations if appropriate. Request that the court force Asset Acceptance to prove the validity of the debt as well as that company's claim to the monies.

5

Appear at court. Do not meet with representatives from Asset Acceptance for negotiations before the hearing. State your case clearly and honestly. Do not admit to owing a debt that is not yours. Do not let the Asset Acceptance attorneys confuse you into admitting or signing anything.

6

Ask the judge to dismiss your case with prejudice. That means that Asset Acceptance will never be able to take you to court for this debt again.