Contacted by Amazon?

If you’re behind on your Amazon credit card debt, you could be on the receiving end of a lawsuit. While a debt collection lawsuit can feel overwhelming, you have certain rights as a borrower, and there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Keep reading to learn what your next steps should be if you’ve been sued because of your Amazon credit card.

Who is Amazon?

Overview of Amazon

Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world. It was originally founded as an online bookstore in 1994 by Jeff Bezos and has since grown into an online retail giant where you can purchase just about anything you might need. As of 2017, Amazon is also the parent company of the popular grocery store Whole Foods Market.

Amazon Reviews and Complaints

All three of Amazon’s credit cards have generally positive reviews on its website. The Prime Visa has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, while the Prime Store Card and Amazon Prime Secured Card have ratings of 4.1 and 3.8, respectively. 

Reviews of the banks that offer Amazon’s credit cards aren’t quite as positive. For example, Chase has an average rating of 1.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot and 1.12 out of 5 with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), along with nearly 5,000 BBB complaints in the past three years. 

Similarly, Synchrony has a Trustpilot rating of 1.4 out of 5 and a BBB rating of 1.05 out of 5, with more than 8,000 BBB complaints in the past three years. Between the two banks, there are also thousands of complaints related to Amazon credit cards in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s complaint database.

What Happens If You Get Sued by Amazon

If you have an unpaid Amazon debt, you might be sued by your credit card company. It won’t technically be Amazon suing you — it would be either Chase Bank or Synchrony, depending on which Amazon credit card you have. It could also be a third-party debt collection agency if your card issuer has sold your debt.  Here’s everything you need to know if you’re sued because of your Amazon debt.

Reasons Amazon Might Sue You

The most common reason you might be sued by Chase or Synchrony because of your Amazon card is that you have an unpaid credit card balance. Don’t worry, you won’t be sued because of just one missed payment. Your card issuer will probably try other collection efforts first. They likely wouldn’t initiate a lawsuit until you’re at least six months past due on your debt. Unfortunately, by that point, your balance will likely also include racked-up interest and late fees.

Understanding How Amazon Collects Debt

After the first missed payment on your Amazon credit card, you’ll likely receive a late fee, and may get a phone call or letter from your credit card issuer. If you don’t pay your bill by the next month’s due date, you can expect your card issuer’s internal collections department to ramp up its collection attempts with phone calls and letters (not to mention added interest and fees).

If you still don’t catch up on your late payments, Chase or Synchrony may sell your debt to a third-party debt collector, typically for pennies on the dollar. Once that happens, you can expect the debt collector to resume collection efforts.

After about six months or more of non-payment, either Chase, Synchrony, or a collection agency may sue you for your unpaid credit card debt.

Keep in mind that while all of this is happening, your card issuer will also be reporting your non-payment to the three credit bureaus, meaning it’ll show up on your credit report. You’ll likely see your credit score decline significantly.

What Should I Do If I Receive a Letter or Call from Amazon?

If a lender contacts you about your unpaid Amazon credit card debt, the first thing you should do is verify the sender’s identity. Scams are, unfortunately, quite common in the debt collection industry, and you want to make sure the phone call or letter you receive is legitimate. 

You can confirm the sender’s identity by comparing the contact information to that on your card issuer’s website or on the back of your credit card.

Your next step should be to find out why the lender or a collection agency is contacting you. If they’re contacting you about your unpaid debt, ask them to send a debt validation letter to prove the debt is yours. While it may seem like a good idea to avoid debt collection calls and letters, that won’t fix the problem.

What Should I Do If I Receive a Summons or Judgment Against Me?

If you receive a summons from your Amazon credit card issuer, it means you’ve been sued due to your unpaid debt. Don’t ignore the summons — that could result in a default judgment against you, along with an order to pay the full balance, or even an order for wage garnishment or a frozen bank account.

Instead, here’s what you should do if you receive a summons about your Amazon debt:

1. Verify the debt: Lenders are required to validate borrowers’ debts in writing. Before you respond to the suit, ask for a debt validation so you can ensure the debt is yours and that the lender’s records match your own.
2. Consider settling the debt: You may be able to negotiate a settlement on your credit card debt before going to court. You can often settle for less than you owe by paying a lump-sum payment or installment payments.
3. Hire an attorney: Rather than attempting to go it alone, consider hiring a debt relief attorney who is experienced in these cases (and maybe even in dealing with Amazon debt) and can help guide you through the process.
4. Respond to the summons: No matter how you choose to proceed, make sure to respond to the summons by the due date (typically 20-30 days after you receive it). If you work with an attorney, they can help you draft your response.

Handling Communications from Amazon

Throughout your communications with your Amazon credit card issuer, it’s important to keep thorough records, including copies of all letters and emails, and notes of all phone calls. These records can come in handy for several reasons, including if you try to negotiate a settlement with your lender or if you end up having to go to court.

Knowing Your Rights Against Amazon

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates how debt collectors are allowed to communicate with borrowers about their debt. Here are some limitations the FDCPA places on third party debt collectors, including Amazon credit card collectors:

• They can’t contact you before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone, or at a time they know to be inconvenient for you.
• When you request in writing that the lender stop contacting you, they must do so.
• They’re limited as to who they can contact about your debt and what information they can share with third parties.
• They must validate the debt in writing within five business days of the first communication.
• They can’t engage in debt collection practices that are harassing, unfair, abusive, threatening, false, or misleading.

How to Negotiate with Amazon

If you’re sued by your Amazon credit card issuer about your debt (or you’re worried that you may be sued), then it may be a good idea to try to work with an expert debt collection attorney to negotiate a settlement and make the lawsuit go away. Though you’ll still have to pay some of your debt, you can often pay less than you owe, while also avoiding having to go to court. Here are some general rules of thumb:

1. Understand your debt: First, make sure you’ve thoroughly reviewed your debt records and any information you’ve received from your creditor to ensure you know the nature of the debt, including how much you owe, your missed payments, interest and fees that have accrued, and more.
2. Have a number in mind: When you go into your negotiations, have an idea of how much you’re willing to pay, either as a lump sum or a series of installment payments. The collector will probably propose a higher number than you will, so it’s in your best interests to make an offer you can afford.
3. Hire an attorney: While it’s possible to negotiate yourself or with the help of a debt settlement company, you may have the best results by working with an experienced debt relief attorney who understands the law and has negotiated similar settlements before.
4. Don’t ignore the lawsuit: Even if it seems like the negotiations are going well, you should still respond to the lawsuit by the date required. If you ignore the lawsuit, you could have a default judgment issued against you, which could cause the lender to stop negotiations and just go after your assets.
5. Document everything: Make sure to document every conversation while you’re negotiating with your lender, especially if you agree to any settlement terms.

How to Protect Against Amazon

If you’ve been contacted or sued because of your Amazon credit card debt, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself.

Steps to Take If You’re Contacted by Amazon

As a quick recap, here’s what you should do if you’re contacted by Chase, Synchrony, or a third-party debt collector about your unpaid Amazon debt:

1. Confirm the sender’s identity: Make sure the communication is legitimate and not from a scammer pretending to be a debt collector.
2. Validate the debt: The lender or debt collector must validate the debt in writing within five days of contacting you about it.
3. Weigh your options: Consider whether it’s in your best interests to pay the debt balance, negotiate a settlement, or go to court.
4. Consult an attorney: An experienced debt relief lawyer can provide personalized advice on your situation and represent you in either negotiations or court.

Filing a Complaint Against Amazon

If you believe your Amazon credit card debt collector has violated your rights as a borrower, you have some recourse. First, you can file a complaint through a number of channels, including:

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Better Business Bureau
• State Attorney General

Additionally, depending on the situation, you may be able to use the lender’s violation as a defense in court, or even as a counterclaim against the lender.

Amazon Phone Number

If you need to get a hold of your lender to talk about your unpaid Amazon debt, here’s where you should call for each type of Amazon credit card:

How Can a Debt Settlement Attorney Help?

Navigating the debt lawsuit process is often easier with an experienced debt relief attorney at your side. The right debt relief attorney can advise you on your unique situation, negotiate with your lender on your behalf, or represent you in court, if necessary. They may also have experience dealing with Amazon credit card debt and know how these card issuers operate.

Tayne Law Group is a top debt relief law firm and has more than two decades of experience helping borrowers like you navigate their unpaid debts. If you have concerns about your Amazon debt and need help, contact our offices by calling (866) 890-7337 or filling out our short contact form. We never share or sell your information, and all conversations are confidential.

FAQs

Does the Amazon card hurt your credit?

An Amazon credit card can hurt your credit score f you don’t make your payments on time or if your credit utilization is too high. But it can also help your credit if you use the card responsibly.

What happens when Synchrony Bank sues you?

If Synchrony Bank sues you for your credit card debt, you’ll receive a complaint and summons in the mail or by personal  service to you directly.  It’s important that you respond to the complaint timely to avoid a default judgment. You can then try to negotiate a settlement and if not then you might have to appear in court to argue your case.

What amount will a credit card company sue you for?

A credit card company can sue you for any amount of unpaid debt, but may not go through the effort for very small balances. The amount of credit card debt you may get sued for depends on the lender and how seriously they want to pursue debt collections.

Can I settle debt with Synchrony Bank?

Yes, if you have credit card debt with Synchrony Bank, you may be able to settle for a lower amount. If you’re planning to settle your Synchrony Bank debt, a debt relief attorney can help you navigate the process and resolve the debt for you in the best possible way.