What to Expect When You Sue a Collector or Credit Bureau
Small Claims Court is built for everyday people.
No lawyer is required. And no, it’s not hard, if you’re prepared.
This guide walks you through the full process so you can feel confident before you ever hit “Submit.”
Step 1: Case Prep (We Help You With This)
You’ll tell us your situation, we’ll send you:
A custom lawsuit complaint, tailored to your facts
An optional intent-to-sue notice for pre-court pressure
A list of potential legal violations (FCRA, FDCPA, etc.)
A breakdown of statutory + real damages you can claim
🟢 This is the stage where we do the heavy lifting. You’ll get a court-ready PDF with all the info needed to file.
Step 2: Filing at Your Local Court
You’ll file your lawsuit at the Justice Court / Small Claims Court for your county or city.
Average Cost to File: $30–$80 depending on location.
You bring the documents we prepared to the courthouse
The clerk processes it, stamps it, and sets a hearing date
You’ll get a case number and court date, usually 30–60 days out
Tip: Many clerks are helpful, they deal with self-filers all day. You do not need to explain your whole case to them.
Step 3: Serving the Defendant
Once the court accepts your case, you’re required to “serve” the defendant (the collector or bureau). This just means delivering the lawsuit officially.
Options to Serve:
Sheriff’s department ($30–$80)
Licensed process server ($50–$120)
Certified mail (return receipt) (cheapest, often $7–$15)
We provide clear instructions and sample wording for your jurisdiction.
⚠️ You can’t serve them yourself. It must be done by someone neutral, or the court may reject it.
Step 4: What Happens After Service
Once served, most collectors try to settle, fast.
Why? Because:
They rarely have a valid contract
You’re now a legal threat, not just a complainer
If they lose, they may owe $1,000+ in statutory damages, plus real damages, and the court can order the item deleted from your credit report
No court appearance is needed if they settle.
If they don’t respond within the deadline, you can file for a default judgment.
Step 5: The Hearing (If It Happens)
Most cases don’t make it this far, but if you do, here’s what to expect:
You’ll briefly explain what happened
You’ll show the judge your complaint, your damages, and any communication/proof
The collector must prove they have a legal right to collect (this usually means a signed contract with your name and theirs)
If they don’t show up or can’t prove it, you win.
What Can You Win?
$1,000 per violation under FDCPA or FCRA
Actual damages: stress, denials, fees, lost opportunities
Full removal of the tradeline if reporting was illegal
Early settlements (some never make it to court)
Timeframe
Prep & Filing: 2–5 days (with Ghost Legal)
Hearing Date: 30–60 days out (varies by court)
Settlement/Result: Sometimes within 10 days of service
Final Thoughts
This process may feel intimidating — until you realize how many people win simply because they took the first step. The system counts on your fear. They don’t expect you to push back.
We give you the tools.
You stay in control.
No middlemen. No waiting. Just action.