Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania

Re: judgement for debt owed

You have most likely been served with a complaint, not a judgment.

You didn't indicate where the attorneys were from. Often, these types of folks file these matters because most people simply don't respond, and a judgment is entered if you don't request a hearing. Often it's a "shotgun" type approach, where they file a lot of them, and if 75% don't respond, they get all of those judgments and don't even appear for the hearings for those who request one, resulting in the complaint being dismissed against you.

If they do show up, they have to prove that the debt is yours. They often don't have that information, which is why they do the above.

You should request a hearing before the district judge, and you should speak with an attorney.

Re: judgement for debt owed

Immediately hire an attorney to file an answer. Otherwise they will get a judgment against you and, yes, it will be a lien on your house as well as any other property you own. If this is collection for a credit card you may have defenses based upon the interest rate that they are attempting to collect even if the suit is being brought within the period of the statute of limitations and they frequently are not filed within that time. You may also have other defenses which should be raised at this point.

Re: judgement for debt owed

It sounds like you have been served a complaint and not necessarily a judgment. If so you can force the creditor to prove you owe the debt. You should discuss this with a lawyer. I offer free initial consultations.