text: help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!? ok i have owed a credit card company for over 4 years now .. i old friend ( not a friend anymore ) used my name and got a card in my name well just today i got a summons in the mail saying i'm being sued for 1200 dollars . i have 21 days to file in court ...is it better off to call the company thats sueing me are should i just go too court and see what happens please help you have a couple of avenues:  someone recommended that you contact an attorney.  this will cost you at least $200 for an initial consultation.  then probably $1,000 or so for retainer. if you have the money and the debt truly is not yours, then i would fight it.  if the debt is yours, or you can not prove that it is not, then i would contact the collection agency and settle before court.  the collection will only be on your credit another 3 years, but the judgement will stay on for much longer, maybe 10 years.  plus you will incur court costs if you do not settle now.  hopefully this helps.  good luck.