Does anyone have any good legal advice?

Question

I have to appear in court on Monday becasue a credit card company is suing me. They say that I owe them about $500 more than I believe I owe. Any good sound legal advice?

Answer 1

It is probably safe to assume the credit card company is correct in their numbers. If they are going through the trouble of court they have all their ducks in a row. If you read the fine print there are all kinds of fees and higher interest and their legal costs they can nail you with when you are in default. Not a whole heck of a lot an attorney can do for you in this case, except increase your costs.

If you owe the money you will be ordered to cough it up, plain and simple. Best you can do is show up in court and explain your financial situation and hope the judge cuts you some slack on the payment terms.

Answer 2

Collect documetnation to justify your claim. You can be darn sure they will have whatever they need. why are you waiting until 2 days befoer court to get started?

You show up without a lawyer and they will be like sharks smelling blood. Maybe you can beg mercy from the lawyers before the case is called, and get them to settle for $250, but if the CC company is paying for a court date for the lawyers, they might as well go for it all, and they probably will.

Best advice? Figure out how to come up with the extra 500, and be happy if somehow you get to keep any of it.

Answer 3

This is a small claim, so acting for yourself,
while not always the best plan, is not unusual.
Get all your records and receipts for the period
in question together and indexed so you can find
what you need.
Do all the arithmetic and have a written account so
that you can present your case.
Credit Companies and banks rarely make mistakes in
arithmetic, so the problem is probably a disputed charge.
Try to find out what it is and be ready to prove you didn't
make the charge in question.

Answer 4

Hire an attorney to represent you, or the judge will throw you out with the bath water.