Served with a summons? You have a short, strict window to answer — and answering is what forces the collector to actually prove its case. Here's exactly what to do, step by step.
Hard inquiries can ding your score; soft inquiries never do. The difference, how long hard pulls last, and how to dispute unauthorized ones.
Answer deadlines run 14–35 days depending on your state and court. How to count the days, what counts as service, and why the date is everything.
You are entitled to free credit reports from all three bureaus. How to get them, what to look for, and why checking all three matters.
A default judgment can sometimes be undone. The grounds — improper service, excusable neglect — and how to file a motion to vacate.
Many states require debt collectors and debt buyers to be licensed. Suing without a required license can be a defense — how to check.
A mixed file blends your credit data with someone else's. How mixed files happen, the damage they do, and how to force a correction.
Court rulings, regulator actions, and dispute strategy — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.