Avoiding court for debt owed

In a way, it is. I have received a few summons. I contacted the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, told them I wanted to settle before the court date, and got my settlement company to contact them and negotiate an agreement. You can do this on your own, if you aren't in a program with a company. In each case, an agreement was reached. I did go to court, but only to confirm that a settlement was agreed upon, and received a document that was called AGREE TO DISMISS, WITH LEAVE TO REINSTATE meaning it was dismissed as long as I paid as agreed, or else I could be hauled back there. This way, there was no judgement against me either. In and out of there in five minutes. When the settlement was finally paid off, I received a final dismissal from the attorneys stating as such, and that the account was settled as agreed. But you have to talk to the plaintiff's attorneys, tell them your story, and hope they are having a pleasant day and will take pity on you. No guarantees, but it works for a lot of people.