Your answer can be a handwritten letter to the court saying you disagree with the lawsuit.
This debt collection toolkit has a sample answer form you can use that has spaces for all the required information like the case number, your mailing address, and any reasons you should not have to pay.
Reasons you do not have to pay the debt include:
- “The amount is wrong.”
- “The account isn’t yours.”
- “The debt is older than four years.”
- “I already paid the debt.”
This page has a sample Answer form, and the PDF version includes additional defenses.
When you go to court, the other side has to prove you owe the debt, and they have to show that they have the right to collect the debt. If they cannot prove it, they cannot get a judgment against you or collect it.
Resource!
This page has a sample Answer form you can use when responding to the lawsuit. It will help you to know what information is required and to think about whether you have any defenses.