Hello,
I have a question that I need help with.

I received a letter from an attorney stating that due to missing a pretrial conference they have made a final judgment. My debt was for 3000 but now I'm told that i will owe 4500 for interest and court fees. The problem was that I was never served with a supena to appear at no pretrial hearing. i have never signed anything to appear. I need to know what my options are? Do i contact this law firm? I have been unemployed for 8 months now and do not want the interest to keep building up on an account that was closed 4 years ago....... PLease help wth answers.

Are you sure it is from an actual law firm? Have you had dealings with or received notices from this firm in the past?

Some collection agencies have been known to send debtors notices that appear to be legal documents but they are not, trying to 'scare' debtors into 'paying up' (or more). It is an illegal but common tactic employed by collection agencies.

I would first Google the information you received and see what turns up. Search the law firm's name, any case numbers, case citings, etc. I would then call or write to the person(s) that sent you this letter and ask for more details, e.g., paperwork of any kind, copy of the original summons to appear, the reason you were not informed of this pretrial hearing, etc.

I am not a lawyer; but I am pretty sure if you are sued in terms of a collection account, by law, you have to be served papers by a registered process server in advance of any trial hearings.

If you did not receive any subpoena and you did not appear in court. They should be no jurisduction over you.

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Cuban Cigars