Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Maine

Re: Collections summons

From your query, it seems that the debt collector is in the initial stages of the formal legal proceedings that are required to collect a debt. You should have been served with a Complaint along with the Summons. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you must not ignore the Summons and Complaint. If you fail to respond to the Complaint, a default judgment will likely be entered against you.

To respond to the Complaint, you need to file a written Answer with the Court within 20 days of your service or you will be Defaulted and lose the opportunity to contest the debt. Typically, an Answer responds to the Complaint by utilizing numbered paragraphs that correspond to the numbered paragraphs of the Complaint and specifically answering each paragraph of the Complaint. For more information about the legal process of debt collection and your Answer, you should go to the Pine Tree Legal Assistance website at http://www.ptla.org/cliented/consumer/debt.htm#Have%20you%20been%20sued.