I got a summons!

what could I expect for a outcome for this?

The one thing you will want to do is show up or they will win by default. What is your defense to this, are you going to fight it or do you agree to the debt? You will want to answer the summons with the local courthouse, you will then get a date for the hearing and the process continues from there. If they decide to pursue it then you will go to court, a judge will decide who is right and who is wrong. You may get the opportunity to meet with an arbitrator at some point who can sit down and figure out what is fair payment amounts and what you can afford. You will need to gather up all your bills and prove your expenses. Keep in mind that this is only if you are going to show up to the hearing. If you don't they win and you will get a judgement against you. If you show up and they get a judgement, you may be able to work out arrangements that are more in your favor. If it were me, I would answer the summons and show up.

What about the debt settlement company i'm with? Shouldn't they help out in some way with the summons? After all i did hire them to pay help pay off debts.

If I choose to leave this debt settlement company what would I have to do?

You will likely loose in court and they will add the court costs to the debt. They then will be able to garnish your wages. Setteling on your terms is no longer an option, if you don't offer them a reasonable settelment they will get the percentage the state you live in will allow from your wage. You need to get serious about paying this debt. If you are able to you might offer them a cash settlement for about half the debt.

I too had this happen while going through a debt settlement company. Don't count on your company to help you with this. What I ended up doing is contacting the creditor myself and setting up a payment plan for the debt. I figured this was the best option for me. I did not want to take it to court. The creditor was more than willing to work with me. They didn't want to have to go to court either.

Give them a call. It couldn't hurt.

Now wait, did this company agree to work with the debt settlement company at any point? If so, did the debt settlement company hold up their end of the deal with the company?

If they did agree and then renig on the contract, you may have a chance in court, but if they did not agree to work with the debt settlement company then that is a different story.

Either way, I don't think the debt settlement company will go to bat for you, they usually stay out of it once it becomes a legal issue, at least this is what I think.

YOu could call them and ask them if they will go on your behalf, but I doubt they will, I could be wrong.

jos82003 is right. Be sure to file the answer in a timely manner, and show up. Make sure you're answer is notorized! If not, generally the plantiff will claim that it's just a general denial and move for a summary judgment, and you would lose before the court date even happens.

I have a freind going through it as we speak, it is a headache for him.