[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/i-am-being-sued-by-a-debt-collector-what-happens-if-i-ignore-it-and-do-not-show-up-in-court#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/i-am-being-sued-by-a-debt-collector-what-happens-if-i-ignore-it-and-do-not-show-up-in-court","headline":"What Are the Consequences of Ignoring a Debt Collector’s Lawsuit?","name":"What Are the Consequences of Ignoring a Debt Collector’s Lawsuit?","description":"Loan Lawyers, LLC is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida. If you have a legal matter that you would like to discuss and you are NOT located in Florida, please contact your state\u2019s Bar Association to get the information of a lawyer that can assist you in...","datePublished":"2022-01-24","dateModified":"2025-09-19","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/attorneys\/matis-h-abarbanel#Person","name":"Matis Abarbanel","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/attorneys\/matis-h-abarbanel","identifier":55,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/matis-abarbanel_avatar-96x96.png","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/matis-abarbanel_avatar-96x96.png","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Loan Lawyers, LLC","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/icon-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/icon-logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/debt-relief.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/debt-relief.jpg","height":667,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/i-am-being-sued-by-a-debt-collector-what-happens-if-i-ignore-it-and-do-not-show-up-in-court","about":["Credit Card and Debt Defense"],"wordCount":742,"articleBody":"Loan Lawyers, LLC is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida. If you have a legal matter that you would like to discuss and you are NOT located in Florida, please contact your state\u2019s Bar Association to get the information of a lawyer that can assist you in your home state. Thank you.In Florida, most debt collection cases are brought in small claims court.\u00a0 When the case is filed, the court immediately sets a date for a pretrial conference for each party to appear and try to resolve the case with an agreement.\u00a0 Other cases that involve debts are $8,000 or more are filed in either county or circuit court.\u00a0 In these cases, the court does not have an automatic court date set up.\u00a0 The defendant has 20 days from the date of service of the lawsuit to file a legally sufficient response to the lawsuit and raise any defenses are counterclaims that they may wish to assert.Click to learn: Will Filing Bankruptcy Stop a Civil Lawsuit?If a defendant fails to show up for the pretrial conference in a small claims case or if a defendant fails to respond to the lawsuit within 20 days in a county or circuit case, the court can enter a default and award the debt collector a judgment for the full amount of the debt, plus interest, court costs, and in some cases, attorney\u2019s fees.\u00a0 I am amazed at the number of people I see being sued who just ignore these lawsuits and allow the debt collectors to get a final judgment.\u00a0 This is a HUGE mistake.In Florida, a judgment is collectible for 20 years and the court can extend that for another 20 years.\u00a0 Many of these judgment sits for years, sometimes 19 years with no collection activity.\u00a0 By that time, the defendant barely remembers being sued, but they still owe the money in the judgment, but now so much interest has added up, the amount due can be 3 or 4 times the amount when the judgment was entered.\u00a0 Out of nowhere, we see people\u2019s bank accounts and wages being garnished for judgments that are many years old.The absolute worst thing you could do is to ignore that debt collector\u2019s lawsuit.\u00a0\u00a0 If you find yourself being sued by a debt collector, call us for your free consultation.\u00a0 If a debt collector is suing you, we can almost always get those cases dismissed without you having to pay a penny.\u00a0 If we uncover a debt collection violation, we may be able to turn the tables on the debt collector and sue them on your behalf.Whatever you do, do not allow the debt collector to get a judgment against you.\u00a0 There are many ways to fight these cases.\u00a0 If you have been sued by a debt collector, call Loan Lawyers at 1-888-FIGHT-13 for your free consultation, and let\u2019s talk about what you can expect if you hire us.\u00a0 Even if you think you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, please call us.\u00a0 First of all, we may end up taking your case on contingency (meaning no fees or costs up front) if we uncover a debt collection violation.\u00a0 Even if you must pay us something, our fees are reasonable and we will give you a payment plan.\u00a0 We will bend over backward to help you and to help create a payment structure that works for you.\u00a0 You have nothing to lose, so do not just bury your head in the sand.\u00a0 Call Loan Lawyers right now at 1-888-FIGHT-13 for your free consultation.\u00a0 You will not be sorry you did.About the AuthorLatest PostsMatis AbarbanelMatis Abarbanel is the founding partner and senior attorney at Loan Lawyers in South Florida. He focuses his practice on consumer rights, helping homeowners navigate issues such as foreclosure and financial hardship. Matis also brings a wealth of experience from his previous work in personal injury law. As a devout Chasidic Jew, he is committed to making a positive impact in his community and dedicates his efforts to charitable initiatives through his non-profit organization, The Center, which aids at-risk Jewish youth. Matis actively serves clients across South Florida and is passionate about empowering individuals to secure their rights and achieve a better future.When Foreclosure Errors by Lenders Lead to Legal Remedies for Homeowners in Fort LauderdaleWhat Homeowners Can Do When Loan Documents Contain Forged or Altered SignaturesUnderstanding Florida\u2019s Debt Forgiveness Programs and IRS Rules"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"What Are the Consequences of Ignoring a Debt Collector’s Lawsuit?","item":"https:\/\/www.fight13.com\/i-am-being-sued-by-a-debt-collector-what-happens-if-i-ignore-it-and-do-not-show-up-in-court#breadcrumbitem"}]}]