What is a debt buyer?

A debt buyer is a company that purchases charged-off debts from original creditors, often for a small fraction of the balance, and then tries to collect or sue on them. Common examples include LVNV Funding, Midland Funding, Portfolio Recovery Associates, and Cavalry SPV.

Can a debt buyer sue me?

Yes. A debt buyer can file a lawsuit, but to win a contested case it still has to prove it owns your specific account, that the amount is correct, and that the claim is timely and supported by records — it cannot rely on you simply not responding.

What does a debt buyer have to prove?

Generally: ownership of your specific account through an unbroken chain of assignment from the original creditor, the accuracy of the balance, and that the claim is within the statute of limitations — supported by admissible records and affidavits.

How do I respond to a debt-buyer lawsuit?

Find your response deadline on the summons, file a written Answer that responds to each allegation and preserves your defenses, and keep the ownership, amount, timing, and document questions in dispute. Answered is self-help software that can help if your case fits; it is not a law firm.

Debt buyer lawsuit directory

Find the debt buyer suing you and what they must prove.

Debt buyers like LVNV Funding, Midland Funding, Portfolio Recovery Associates, Cavalry SPV, Jefferson Capital, and Velocity Investments file lawsuits after buying charged-off accounts. Use this directory to identify the plaintiff, check state-specific lawsuit guides, and start a Full Defense Packet only if the saved case passes the readiness check.

Quick answer

If a debt buyer sued you, identify the plaintiff but do not stop there.

The deadline still controls. Once the plaintiff name is clear, confirm the court listed on your papers and preserve proof issues in the response before default risk grows.

Check now: plaintiff name, state, court type, service date, and any hearing or return date.
Then: start the Full Defense Packet path only if Answered confirms your saved case passes the readiness check.

Check your deadline free

Case fit check

Check your debt-buyer case fit

Choose your state, add the plaintiff if you know it, and carry the facts into a free case preview before choosing a paid packet.

$0 to start

StatePlaintiffCourt typeService dateThe day you were handed or mailed the court papers — it’s on your summons. Not sure of the exact day? Use your best estimate and confirm it later.

Start with your state.

Then add plaintiff, court type if known, and service date from your summons. Upload can come next.

Don’t have your service date handy? Start free and upload your papers — Answered reads the date off your summons.

No lawsuit yet — just collector calls or letters? Pre-suit letters start at $35 →

$0 to check. One paid unlock if Answered can build your defense: the Full Defense Packet - $99, one-time. Prefer it handled? Filed-For-You totals $149 with Mail Filing where available. 60-day court-acceptance guarantee.

You pay only after your deadline and a preview. Self-help software, not a law firm.

32-state Full Defense Packet eligibility

Consumer debt lawsuit defense in 32 states. Start free — Answered checks whether it can build your defense before you pay anything.

One unlock if your case fits: Full Defense Packet - $99 — everything included. Answered provides self-help legal information and document automation, not legal advice or representation.

What happens after payment

After payment, your saved case unlocks the packet download and a filing/service checklist. Your next job is clear: review the packet, download it, sign where required, file it with the court, serve the plaintiff, save proof, and calendar the next court date or deadline.

Deadline note: Your response deadline may already be running. If you do nothing, the plaintiff may ask the court for a default judgment. Preparing and filing a response helps you avoid silence, but it does not guarantee a win, dismissal, or that every court or collection consequence stops.

Filing confidence: The checklist also includes a clerk call script, what-to-bring list, service checklist, proof-saving steps, reminder timeline, and what to do if the clerk rejects the filing. Payment unlocks more than a PDF: a filing checklist, clerk call script, what-to-bring list, service checklist, proof-saving steps, reminder timeline, and rejection troubleshooting for the supported court path.

Refund promise: 60-day guarantee: if Answered cannot generate or deliver the supported self-help product you bought, or a court rejects your Answer because of a defect in the document Answered generated, we fix it free and refund you 100%. Refunds do not depend on the court result. The refund is about whether Answered delivered a working, court-acceptable document workflow, not whether you win, settle, avoid default, get a dismissal, reduce the debt, or like the court outcome. Refund requests do not pause, extend, reopen, or change court deadlines, filing duties, service duties, hearing dates, or court fees.

Download help: If payment succeeds but a download does not appear, keep the page open and contact support from the account email so Answered can trace the payment and case safely.

Data handling at checkout: Stripe handles card details; Answered never sees your full card number. Answered receives payment status and keeps your case details, uploads, and generated documents in private app storage for your workspace. Answered does not sell lawsuit papers or case data.

Self-help boundary: Answered is self-help software, not a law firm, and it does not represent you. You review, sign, file, and serve the documents yourself unless a separate eligible filing service clearly says otherwise. Attorney review, legal representation, settlement negotiation, and filing service are not included unless a separate eligible service clearly says so. Answered gives you plain-English filing and service checklists, clerk-call prompts, reminders, and proof-saving steps so the next move is organized instead of improvised.

Not for you if

Answered may not be right for you if:

You already have a default judgment.
Your estimated filing deadline is immediate, unclear, or already passed.
You need legal advice or representation.
Your case is not a consumer debt case.
Your case does not pass the readiness, court, or case-type checks.

Highest-volume plaintiffs

Priority debt buyers to check first

These are the debt buyers most likely to appear in high-intent searches and state-specific lawsuit guides. Start with the name exactly as it appears on your summons or complaint.

LVNV Funding LLC

Greenville, SC | Passive debt buyer

Common source creditors: Citibank, HSBC, Capital One, GE Capital.

Profile4 state guidesRegulatory history

Midland Credit Management Inc.

San Diego, CA | Debt buyer and collector

Common source creditors: Citibank, Chase, Bank of America, Capital One.

Profile4 state guidesRegulatory history

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC

Norfolk, VA | Debt buyer and collector

Common source creditors: Capital One, Synchrony Bank, Bank of America, Chase.

Profile4 state guidesRegulatory history

Cavalry SPV I LLC

Greenwich, CT | Debt buyer and collector

Common source creditors: Citibank, HSBC, Bank of America, Chase.

Profile4 state guides

Jefferson Capital Systems LLC

Saint Cloud, MN | Debt buyer and collector

Common source creditors: Fingerhut, FNBO Direct, Credit One Bank, CompuCredit.

Profile4 state guidesRegulatory history

Velocity Investments LLC

Wall Township, NJ | Debt buyer (fintech and marketplace loans)

Common source creditors: LendingClub (via WebBank), Prosper (via WebBank), Upstart (via Cross River Bank), Upgrade (via Cross River Bank).

Profile4 state guides

What matters in court

Debt-buyer cases usually turn on proof, ownership, and timing.

A debt buyer is usually not the company that issued the credit card or account. That creates proof questions that belong in your Answer, discovery plan, and case review.

Standing

The named plaintiff must have the right to sue on the specific account. In debt-buyer cases, that usually means proving a valid transfer from the original creditor through each later owner.

Chain of title

A generic bill of sale may not identify your account. Look for account-level schedules, transfer dates, seller and buyer names, and each assignment in the chain.

Account records

Debt buyers often rely on affidavits and summaries. The records still need to connect the balance, original creditor, last payment, charge-off amount, and claimed fees.

Limitations and timing

Debt buyers buy older accounts. The last payment date, charge-off date, filing date, and state limitations period can change the defense picture quickly.

Debt buyer proof guide Debt buyer lawsuit hub Statute of limitations hub Default judgment guide

All debt buyer profiles

Debt buyer directory

Each profile explains who the company is, common original creditors, regulatory history where relevant, and links into state-specific lawsuit response pages.

LVNV Funding LLC

Greenville, SC | Passive debt buyer

Regulatory historyDebt buyer profile

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC

Norfolk, VA | Debt buyer and collector

Regulatory historyDebt buyer profile

Midland Credit Management Inc.

San Diego, CA | Debt buyer and collector

Regulatory historyDebt buyer profile

Jefferson Capital Systems LLC

Saint Cloud, MN | Debt buyer and collector

Regulatory historyDebt buyer profile

Cavalry SPV I LLC

Greenwich, CT | Debt buyer and collector

Find the debt buyer suing you and what they must prove.

If a debt buyer sued you, identify the plaintiff but do not stop there.

Check your debt-buyer case fit

Priority debt buyers to check first

Debt-buyer cases usually turn on proof, ownership, and timing.

Standing

Chain of title

Account records

Limitations and timing

Debt buyer directory

Start with the state named on your summons.

How to tell whether the plaintiff is a debt buyer

Debt buyer lawsuit questions

Do not wait to solve every proof issue before answering.