Today, 09:26 AM
I wanted to share my story because when I first got that summons, I felt completely lost and scared. Maybe this can help someone else who's in the same spot right now.
How it started:
I had an old credit card debt that I honestly forgot about. Then out of nowhere, I started getting calls from Patenaude & Felix. They left voicemails saying it was "urgent" and about a "legal matter." I panicked and avoided answering. Big mistake.
A few weeks later, I got served with a Summons and Complaint at my door. My stomach dropped. I had no idea what to do.
What I learned (the hard way):
The absolute worst thing you can do is ignore that summons. I almost did, but a friend told me I had to respond within 20-30 days or they'd get a default judgment automatically. That means they can garnish your wages or freeze your bank account without you even getting to defend yourself.
So I filed my Answer. It was confusing, but I found templates online for my state's court. I basically said "I dispute this debt" and made them prove everything.
The settlement process that worked for me:
I wish I had talked to a consumer attorney sooner. I handled it myself, and while it worked out, I know now that lawyers who specialize in this can sometimes get violations thrown back at the collector and even get money in your pocket. If you're facing this, at least do a free consultation with one.
My question for others:
Has anyone else dealt with them? What percentage did you end up settling for? And did they actually follow through on removing the negative mark from your credit report like they promised?
TL;DR: Faced a lawsuit from Patenaude & Felix. Didn't ignore it. Filed my Answer, requested proof of debt, negotiated from a position of knowledge, and settled for about 45% of what they claimed I owed. Get everything in writing before you pay!
Resource I found really helpful for understanding the process:
https://consumerlawfirmcenter.com/how-to-navigate-and-settle-a-lawsuit-with-patenaude-felix/
Hope this helps someone out there. You're not powerless, even though it feels that way at first.
How it started:
I had an old credit card debt that I honestly forgot about. Then out of nowhere, I started getting calls from Patenaude & Felix. They left voicemails saying it was "urgent" and about a "legal matter." I panicked and avoided answering. Big mistake.
A few weeks later, I got served with a Summons and Complaint at my door. My stomach dropped. I had no idea what to do.
What I learned (the hard way):
The absolute worst thing you can do is ignore that summons. I almost did, but a friend told me I had to respond within 20-30 days or they'd get a default judgment automatically. That means they can garnish your wages or freeze your bank account without you even getting to defend yourself.
So I filed my Answer. It was confusing, but I found templates online for my state's court. I basically said "I dispute this debt" and made them prove everything.
The settlement process that worked for me:
- I requested debt validation – I sent them a written letter asking them to prove I owed the debt and that they had the right to collect it. This is your right under federal law, and you have to do it within 30 days of first contact.
- I looked for weaknesses – Through the legal discovery process, I asked for the original contract and payment history. They had some paperwork gaps, and I also documented a few calls that felt really aggressive and harassing. This gave me leverage.
- I made an offer – I started by offering 30% of what they claimed I owed as a lump sum. They came back with a counter, and we went back and forth. I ended up settling for about 45% of the original amount.
- I got EVERYTHING in writing – Before I paid a single dollar, I made sure I had a signed agreement that stated:
- The settlement amount was "payment in full"
- The lawsuit would be dismissed
- The debt would be reported as "paid" or removed from my credit
- The settlement amount was "payment in full"
I wish I had talked to a consumer attorney sooner. I handled it myself, and while it worked out, I know now that lawyers who specialize in this can sometimes get violations thrown back at the collector and even get money in your pocket. If you're facing this, at least do a free consultation with one.
My question for others:
Has anyone else dealt with them? What percentage did you end up settling for? And did they actually follow through on removing the negative mark from your credit report like they promised?
TL;DR: Faced a lawsuit from Patenaude & Felix. Didn't ignore it. Filed my Answer, requested proof of debt, negotiated from a position of knowledge, and settled for about 45% of what they claimed I owed. Get everything in writing before you pay!
Resource I found really helpful for understanding the process:
https://consumerlawfirmcenter.com/how-to-navigate-and-settle-a-lawsuit-with-patenaude-felix/
Hope this helps someone out there. You're not powerless, even though it feels that way at first.