What is a debt buyer?

A company that purchases defaulted accounts from banks and lenders — typically for a small fraction of the balance — and then collects or sues in its own name. If the plaintiff on your papers is a company you never did business with, it is very likely a debt buyer.

How do I know if the company suing me in California is a debt buyer?

Check the plaintiff's name at the top of your court papers against the companies listed on this page. If the name is not your original bank or lender, the plaintiff bought the account. In court it must prove that purchase — every link from the original creditor to it — with admissible records.

Do debt buyers win most of their cases?

Most of their judgments are default judgments, entered because the person sued never responded. When defendants respond and require proof, debt buyers frequently dismiss rather than document the claim.

Debt buyers in California

Most collection lawsuits filed against California residents don't come from the original bank — they come from debt buyers: companies that purchase charged-off accounts in bulk and sue in their own name. Their business model depends on default judgments. When a defendant shows up and requires proof, the buyer must establish that it owns the specific account, through every link in the chain of assignment, and prove the amount with admissible records.

The major debt buyers

Sourced, factual profiles — who each company is, what public records say, and what it must prove when it sues:

Responding in California

California gives you 30 days after the summons is served to file a written Answer with the superior court (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 412.20(a)(3)); if the papers were left with someone else or mailed, service is complete on the 10th day after the mailing. The Answer goes on the court's pleading paper (or the court's Answer—Contract form, PLD-C-010), is filed with the first-paper fee or a fee waiver request, and is served on the plaintiff's lawyer. In most debt cases a general denial of every allegation is allowed; your defenses — including the statute of limitations — must be stated in the Answer.

Four years for an action on a written contract, a book account, or an account stated (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337(a)–(b)) — the periods credit-card suits are normally brought under; two years for an oral contract (§ 339). Once the period has run, no one may sue or start an arbitration to collect the debt (§ 337(d)), and a debt buyer specifically may not (Civ. Code § 1788.56). The statute of limitations is a defense you must state in your Answer. (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337)

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By county

Where these companies file in California, with the deadline that applies and where to find your court:

Questions people ask

What is a debt buyer?: A company that purchases defaulted accounts from banks and lenders — typically for a small fraction of the balance — and then collects or sues in its own name. If the plaintiff on your papers is a company you never did business with, it is very likely a debt buyer.
How do I know if the company suing me in California is a debt buyer?: Check the plaintiff's name at the top of your court papers against the companies listed on this page. If the name is not your original bank or lender, the plaintiff bought the account. In court it must prove that purchase — every link from the original creditor to it — with admissible records.
Do debt buyers win most of their cases?: Most of their judgments are default judgments, entered because the person sued never responded. When defendants respond and require proof, debt buyers frequently dismiss rather than document the claim.

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DebtDefense is not affiliated with any company named on this page; names are used to identify the companies factually. DebtDefense is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice — it is a self-help document-preparation and education tool. No outcome is guaranteed.