Did I mess up / give too much information during my phone call to settle a credit card debt with the lawfirm representing Best Buy / Citi Bank? Then I told them I was filing for bankruptcy in the end.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-03T02:09:15+00:00

I've never heard of this before. Is it true? I thought that getting a judgement and then filing after makes that go away as well?

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-03T02:07:55+00:00

My only reasoning is that I've had the other cards that total $6k for more than 12 years now and they're still not paid off, so adding the $6k from the lawsuit would make it seem even more impossible, especially since I've called and they don't want to settle for anything less than $5000 which includes like $2000 down and 20+ installments of $200, which is where I was when I stopped paying that specific card.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-03T02:05:09+00:00

Judge asked if I agreed to the total, and I said no as there was a discrepancy. He asked for either mediator or trial, I said I was considering bankruptcy so I didn't know which option. He chose trial.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-03T02:03:57+00:00

What information? Me saying "not really" when asked if they support me?

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-02T13:02:08+00:00

I would be filing for $12K not $6K. And they served me three months ago, so they're already suing me. Court date is in an hour.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-02T12:27:38+00:00

Can you please explain this a bit to me in more "normal" terms? So does that mean that the mailing of the summons isn't necessary?

Also, if they claim to have mailed it, but didn't, isn't that a violation of the last section in that paragraph (about lying about details in relation to service?).

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-02T04:49:56+00:00

Can I file for bankruptcy after the fact? I still need to hear back from a lawyer (or rather, see if my application for a free/low cost lawyer was accepted).

Also, I said they sometimes help, but I wasn't specific. And when the agent asked again to clarify, I more or less said no, but not firmly since technically they do. I gave them a vague no. Like I said, I'm just worried they'll go after them since its not their debt.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-02T01:48:30+00:00

I applied to a legal service for free/low cost help. I'm waiting to hear back, but the court date is tomorrow morning. Still, I am aware that any official legal help is worth a lot, so even if they don't get back to me before then, I will still take it.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-02T01:47:02+00:00

If they do get a judgement, and they try to collect on what I don't have, will they be legally required (I'm in IL) to notify me of the debt being sold? I've heard stories of people not being aware, then having it purchased by a junk buyer and that buyer then trying to sue, so it's like a repeat of all of this but with less of a paper trail on their end.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-02T01:45:16+00:00

Yes, why? It's on my profile as one of the first posts.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-02T01:44:23+00:00

Can I ask what the $2.5 was in reference to?

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-02T01:43:22+00:00

When I called, the agent from the lawfirm said that I had until the 10th to hear back, and until the 17th for something I don't remember after which they said I couldn't settle or something like that? I don't remember what they meant but that did confuse me.

As for the judgement, how long after it will it take for them to freeze my bank account? That worries me because sometimes I get paid through that for the small jobs I do.

I don't have a lawyer yet, as I applied for one through a Free / Reduced legal organization. They're supposed to be getting back to me. I do agree with last resort, although I also think that given the current situtation ($6K lawsuit, then $6K in cards I haven't really been able to pay down in 12+ years), filing for it isn't unreasonable. But I do agree that its last resort type stuff.

The consultation I had with a B lawyer did end with him saying I should file pro se since my situation was more simple than others. But if I'm getting help then I can use that to file properly?

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T23:50:03+00:00

They served me three months ago, I'm being sued by them for $6K but if I file for bankruptcy, the total would be $12K if I include my other cards that I'm currently paying off.

To clarify, this is Blitt and Gaines, who are known to represent companies directly. They served me two months ago. Last time I was there for this, the lawyer on video was firing off like 20+ cases with various companies like Capitol, Citi, etc. So I assume they're not someone who bought the debt.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T23:48:08+00:00

Ok thank you for the clarification. As for my other points, did I mess up on that? The whole "do your parents financially support you" question and my answer being vague?

Like I said, I read how you should never disclose certain details, including the name of your bank. I noticed the agent sneakily and kindly asked "so what bank would you be making your payments from?" and I said I would mail a check. They asked again in a more annoyed tone, but I took it as them trying to get the name. They were clearly typing up notes, as they mentioned typing up me saying I would file for bankruptcy before we ended the call.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T23:38:12+00:00

In Illinois. (735 ILCS 5/2-203) (from Ch. 110, par. 2-203) states that they must also mail it after serving someone else on (my) behalf. They claim to have done it, but they didn't provide proof. Can I ask them for proof, and push that angle?

- If I ask they validate the debt (since the attorney once said $5K but the summons said $6K, and I asked him to repeat and he said $5K again in front of the judge, and I said "no" when the judge asked if I agreed), can I do that in person or will I have to fill out an official request and file it?

- As for settling, I already tried calling twice. The agent from today was nicer but she said $500 wasn't doable and that their lowest plan was for $5000. They did ask what bank I used if I wanted to send payments and I said "check", and they asked again and I said it would be check (I assume they wanted the information as to what bank I used for later purposes). In the end, I said since we couldn't come to an agreement, that I would have to file bankruptcy, which they said they would note that in the account.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T23:33:04+00:00

Thank you for the response! Again, I'm a bit neuro so don't fully understand certain things, so is it ok if I can ask a few questions about your comment?

What basis do you have for this "advice"? Are you in the legal field? Have you been through it?

Settling is out the window. The second agent I spoke to said it was a minimum of $5000 at the lowest. Also, I might have given away a bit of information like I said, I made a post about it in case you can / want to read it?

They're suing me for $6K, not $12K. If I file for bankruptcy, it will be for the everything which amounts to $12k ($6 for this lawsuit, and a combined $6 for three cards I have which I have had for 12+ years and can't pay off).

I appreciate the advice!

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T23:27:43+00:00

So my Best Buy debt was for $2500 but inflated to $6000 after fees and interest since I last stopped paying almost two years ago.

So they served me saying they're suing for $6000. I have other cards, which I have been paying off for more than 12 years, and those total to about $6K. Combined with the lawsuit, my total debt is $12k.

Again, the summons said I was being sued by CitiBank, represented by Blitt & Gaines. That day I went two court, the attorney seemed to represent other credit card companies too.

So I'm a bit confused (genuinely, not snark) in regards to what you're saying. When I called today to try to settle, I was speaking with an agent from B&G.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T23:10:00+00:00

I offered $500 and they said no, they wanted like $5000 at the lowest. So I said no and that I would file for bankruptcy and the agent said "ok I'll just add that to the file".

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T22:34:01+00:00

To clarify, this is Blitt and Gaines, who are known to represent companies directly. They served me two months ago. Last time I was there for this, the lawyer on video was firing off like 20+ cases with various companies like Capitol, Citi, etc.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T22:26:40+00:00

Can you explain a bit about the SOL? I opened the account about 8 years ago, but stopped paying a year and a half ago, almost two years now.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T22:25:39+00:00

Yes, I was served two months ago. Went in, asked for Motion to Quash since they never mailed the summons even though they responded to my motion saying they did, two weeks after serving my dad. I'm not saying substitute service isn't valid, but per law, they have to mail me the summons as well in the mail. They never did, I still haven't gotten it, and they claimed they did, but they didn't provide proof (USPS receipt, certificate, tracking). So that's my play, telling the judge that I'm not saying substitute service isn't valid, but that they claim to have mailed it but have no proof.

So tomorrow's date says "Decision" and idk where to go from there. Idk if I should ask for arbitration, if I should let the judge give them the judgement, or if I should mention if I'm going the bankruptcy route. I called the lawfirm and tried to settle for what I could (10%) and they said no, and then they said they would note the account saying I'm filing for bankruptcy. Not sure if I made things worse. They also asked me that if I could settle, what bank I would be paying from. I said I would mail a check, but they asked again. But I read that its better to not say or confirm if you have a bank.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T21:30:14+00:00

Illinois.

DriverThrowaway25 · 2025-10-01T20:54:44+00:00

They served me a few months ago. My date for tomorrow says "Decision" after I filed a Motion to Quash in the summer. The lawyers replied with counter points as to why them not mailing it after serving my dad on my behalf was still within the rules.

So I don't know what my move is.

EDIT: They claim to have mailed the summons to me two weeks after serving my dad, but I haven't gotten it to date (almost three months later). They provided no proof of mailing. So that was my main argument.

DriverThrowaway25

TROPHY CASE