What Credit Card Companies Sue the Most?
- Author: Mike Weston
- Last Modified: March 23, 2025
At Weston Legal we have defended over 80,000 debt collection lawsuits. Below, we break down the credit card companies and Debt Buyers that file lawsuits the most based on our cases and explain why they sue so aggressively.
Original Creditors That Sue the Most
- Capital One Bank
Capital One is known for filing lawsuits against consumers who default on their credit card debts. They do not hesitate to take legal action, even for relatively small balances. Once a judgment is obtained, they may garnish wages or freeze bank accounts depending on state law. - Discover Bank
Discover Bank is particularly aggressive in pursuing lawsuits. They often rely on internal legal teams and contracted law firms to file suits against cardholders who fail to meet their payment obligations. - Citibank
Citibank regularly sues consumers for unpaid credit card balances. They may attempt to collect through litigation and will often seek post-judgment remedies like garnishments. - Bank of America
Bank of America sues cardholders for delinquent accounts, regardless of the balance size. Like others, they actively pursue judgments and the enforcement of court orders. - Conns Appliances
Although not a credit card company. They file thousands of debt collection lawsuits. Known for financing large purchases, Conns Appliances aggressively sues consumers over missed payments on installment loans and credit accounts. - American Express
American Express has a reputation for aggressively suing its cardholders for unpaid balances. They often litigate through their in-house counsel or hire law firms to pursue delinquent accounts. - JP Morgan Chase Bank
Although Chase is not as aggressive as some others, they still file a significant number of lawsuits against defaulting cardholders. - Synchrony Bank
Synchrony Bank finances many retail credit cards and frequently files lawsuits against consumers who default, even on smaller balances.If your Bank was not on this list, it doesn’t mean you are off the hook. Many credit card companies sell to debt buyers, including most on the list above. Below is a list of the most common debt buyers that file debt collection lawsuits.
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Debt Buyers who File The Most Debt Collection Lawsuits
When creditors fail to collect on overdue accounts, they often sell the debts to third-party buyers at a fraction of the original value. These debt buyers specialize in filing lawsuits to recover the full amount of the debt. Below are the most common debt buyers who purchase delinquent accounts and frequently sue:
- Midland Credit Management
One of the largest debt buyers, Midland files lawsuits in bulk to collect on purchased debts. - Portfolio Recovery Associates
This company aggressively sues consumers and often purchases debts that are just a few years old. - LVNV Funding LLC
LVNV Funding is known for buying charged-off accounts and initiating lawsuits to recover the owed amounts. - Calvary SPV I
This debt buyer often sues consumers for older debts that they acquire at significant discounts. - Velocity Investments LLC
Velocity specializes in suing consumers over delinquent personal loans and credit card accounts. - Jefferson Capital Systems
Jefferson Capital purchases delinquent accounts and frequently files lawsuits to recover the debts.
How to Protect Yourself
If you are facing a lawsuit from a credit card company or debt buyer, it is important to act quickly. Many defenses may be available, including challenges to the validity of the debt. Contact us at Weston Legal if you are dealing with a Debt Collection Lawsuit or Judgment.
Don’t Ignore the Lawsuit Papers:
Ignoring the debt collection lawsuit will result in a default judgment against you followed by potential garnishment of your bank account or wages depending on state collection laws. This is more serious than a simple collection letter. It’s a Court process that could give The Creditor the power to take some of your assets or put a lien on property that you own. A debt lawsuit is much more important than simply having a negative mark show on your credit report. A low credit score is not nearly as critical as a default judgment for not responding to a debt collection lawsuit. You must have a debt collection defense strategy.
Hire an attorney on a Flat Fee
When legal action has been taken, navigating the Court process for a debt claim can be complicated when served with a debt collection lawsuit. Getting legal advice is key. Additionally, you will likely be required to appear in Court one or more times. If you hire an attorney they will likely be able to appear for you. You should know what the fee is going to be and avoid paying a lawyer by the hour since this could get very expensive. Being a defendant in a debt collection lawsuit is not a fun process.
File a Response to the Complaint:
When you are sued by a plaintiff on an alleged debt, You must respond to the lawsuit by filing an answer with the court within the specified deadline (usually 14-30 days from service). The deadline varies depending on what Court the case was filed in. In your answer, you generally must deny the allegations.
Plead Your Defenses:
Responding to a debt collection lawsuit is crucial, as it is with any debt-related lawsuit. In your response, you should assert any valid defenses, such as disputing the accuracy of the debt, claiming the debt is beyond the statute of limitations, or stating that you are not the responsible party. As the defendant, it is essential to properly assert your defenses. The Creditor might lack adequate documentation from the original creditor, and if this is the case, you need to clearly explain this to the judge
Attend Court Hearings (or hire an attorney):
When legal action has been taken against you by a debt buyer for credit card debt, the Court will likely set deadlines and hearings in your case. Make sure to attend all scheduled hearings and proceedings and handle all deadlines. This is another reason why it is wise to hire an attorney who focuses on debt lawsuit defense. Getting legal advice regarding consumer protection can go a long way in defending against a debt collector in a debt collection case.
Comply with Court Orders:
Follow any court orders or judgments. Failure to do so can result in additional legal consequences. This is different from the debt collection laws that creditors must follow prior to the debt collection lawsuit being filed.
Prepare for Trial:
A debt collection lawsuit often ends up in trial. If negotiations fail and the case goes to trial, work with your attorney to prepare a strong defense and gather evidence to support your position. This is why it’s important to get sound legal advice when faced with a debt collection lawsuit filed by a debt collector or original creditor. Many times they have not provided adequate documentation from the original creditor. When they buy debt as a debt buyer they are required to provide some documentation at trial.
Negotiate a Settlement:
Debt lawsuits are serious if you don’t handle them correctly. Your attorney may be able to negotiate a favorable settlement of the claim as opposed to leaving it up to the judge at trial. This is often a wise resolution to eliminate the risks of trial but you must make sure there is a valid written settlement agreement to ensure the bad debt is actually resolved. The last thing you want is to settle then have the Creditor come after you later claiming more unpaid debt.
Conclusion
Most credit card defaults usually end up with a debt collection lawsuit. Unfortunatly most consumers do not understand this until they are served with a lawsuit or their bank account is frozen due to a judgment being granted. If you find out about a debt collection lawsuit against you, don’t simply ignore it, consider hiring a debt defense law firm like Weston Legal.
Mike Weston is a seasoned debt lawsuit defense attorney and founder of Weston Legal. Since 2005, Mike has devoted his career to compassionately helping consumers struggling with issues involving their personal and business debts. Mike is grateful to have been able to help tens of thousands of clients become empowered with knowledge on the path to financial stability.
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