How to Answer a Summons for Debt Collection in Oregon (2025)

Getting sued by debt collectors creates stress. You can fight and win your debt collection lawsuit. This guide shows you exactly how to respond to a summons in Oregon.

We cover critical deadlines, filing fees, required forms, and what your response must include. You have options to protect yourself and potentially settle for less than you owe.

Oregon Deadline to Answer a Debt Collection Summons

Respond to your lawsuit before Oregon’s deadline or risk losing automatically. Missing the deadline allows collectors to request a default judgment against you. They can then garnish your wages and seize property to collect the debt.

Don’t let this happen to you.

Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 7 C(2) states you have 30 days to respond to a debt collection lawsuit. The clock starts from your service date.

Small Claims cases work differently. You have only 14 days to respond if the claim is under $10,000 and no attorney is involved.

Mark your deadline on your calendar immediately. Our partner Solo can help you respond in minutes.

Oregon Answer to Summons Forms

You need an Answer document that responds to the Summons and Complaint you received. Your Answer addresses each allegation made against you.

The fastest way to create your Answer is using our partner Solo. You can complete your Answer online in 15 minutes.

Oregon courts provide helpful forms:

• Oregon Small Claims court response form
• Oregon circuit court response form
• Consumer complaint form

These forms require you to fill them out yourself without guidance. You must ensure you include all required defenses or lose them forever.

Oregon Courts Charge Answer Filing Fees

You must pay a fee to file your Answer. Yes, you get sued and still have to pay just to respond.

Oregon has some of the highest filing fees nationwide.

Small Claims fees:

• $57 for cases under $2,500
• $102 for cases between $2,500 and $10,000

Regular Civil fees:

• $170 for cases under $10,000
• $283 for cases between $10,000 and $50,000
• $594 for cases between $50,000 and $1 million

Example: Maria gets sued for $1,500 in small claims court. She pays $57 to file her Answer. If the same case were filed in circuit court, she’d pay $170.

Can’t afford the fee? Apply for a fee waiver using Oregon’s fee waiver application. Prove financial hardship and the court will likely excuse the fee.

Steps to Respond to a Debt Collection Case in Oregon

A lawsuit begins when you receive the Summons and Complaint. The Summons notifies you of the case. The Complaint lists specific claims against you.

You must create an Answer document to respond. Follow these four steps:

1. Respond to each allegation in the complaint
2. Assert your affirmative defenses
3. File the Answer with the court and serve the plaintiff
4. Settle outside court or attend scheduled hearings

Our partner Solo increases your chances of winning by 7x.

1. Respond to Each Allegation in the Complaint

Read every numbered paragraph in the Complaint. Most debt collection complaints contain 10 to 30 numbered paragraphs.

You have three response options for each paragraph:

• Admit: You agree with everything stated
• Deny: You disagree with anything stated
• Deny due to lack of knowledge: You don’t understand or lack information

Many attorneys recommend a general denial. You deny everything and force the collector to prove their case. This strategy works well in most debt collection lawsuits.

2. Assert Your Affirmative Defenses

Affirmative defenses explain why the collector doesn’t have a valid case against you. You must list these defenses in your Answer now or lose them forever.

Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 19(B) requires you to assert defenses including:

• Statute of limitations expired
• Payment or partial payment
• Account doesn’t belong to you
• Contract was canceled
• Debt already discharged in bankruptcy
• You weren’t informed of co-signer rights

Being unable to pay the debt is not a legal defense. Focus on technical and procedural defenses.

3. File the Answer and Serve the Plaintiff

Your Answer means nothing until you file it properly. Filing requires specific steps:

• Print two copies of your Answer
• Mail one copy to the court
• Mail one copy to the plaintiff’s attorney

The attorney’s address appears in your Summons and Complaint. The court’s mailing address is often different from its physical address.

Oregon offers statewide electronic filing. Our partner Solo handles e-filing in all Oregon courts and can file your Answer in minutes.

4. Settle Outside Court or Attend Hearings

Filing your Answer blocks a default judgment. You still must follow up or you’ll lose at trial.

Contact the law firm immediately to negotiate settlement. Time matters. Settling before your hearing gives you better terms and lower amounts.

Be proactive about settlement negotiations.

Oregon Assigns Cases Under $50K to Mandatory Arbitration

Oregon automatically assigns civil cases of $50,000 or less to mandatory arbitration. A neutral third party decides your case at a hearing.

You’ll pay hundreds of dollars in arbitration fees. Missing the arbitration hearing means you automatically lose. Collectors can then garnish wages or place liens on property.

Avoid arbitration costs by settling before the hearing. Contact the law firm as soon as you file your Answer.

What Is Oregon Mandatory Arbitration?

Arbitration simplifies the court process. An arbitrator reviews the case and decides the winner. Arbitrators are lawyers with at least five years of Oregon experience.

Both parties receive a list of potential arbitrators. You can select one together or let the court assign someone.

Oregon Mandatory Arbitration Costs

Each party pays $500+ to the arbitrator within 14 days of assignment. You also pay the arbitrator’s hourly rate of $150 to $200 per hour.

Can’t afford arbitration? Apply for a fee waiver or deferral at least 14 days before your hearing. Submit proof of financial hardship with your application.

Example: Portfolio Recovery Associates sued Kathy for $8,500 in Clackamas County. She used our partner Solo to file an Answer. The court assigned her case to arbitration. Kathy contacted Portfolio Recovery through settlement negotiations to avoid arbitration costs. They agreed to settle for 70% of the debt. The case was dismissed after payment.

Negotiating settlement saves you arbitration fees and reduces your debt. Settlement is almost always better than arbitration.

How to Settle Debt in Oregon

Debt settlement saves you from endless collection calls, lawsuits, and wage garnishment. Collectors often accept 50% to 70% of what you owe.

Don’t ignore calls from debt collectors. Respond with a Debt Validation Letter requesting proof the account is yours, accurate, and within the statute of limitations.

You can settle even after getting sued. Follow these steps:

1. Respond with a valid Answer. File within Oregon’s deadline to avoid automatic loss.
2. Make an offer to start negotiations. Analyze your finances and determine a reasonable offer. Contact the law firm before your arbitration hearing.
3. Get the settlement in writing. The agreement must state the payment amount, forgiven balance, and the creditor’s promise to withdraw the lawsuit.

Intimidated by negotiating? Our partner Solo handles settlement negotiations online without stressful phone calls.

Oregon Debt Settlement Laws Protect Consumers

Oregon limits fees debt management companies can charge:

• $50 initial consultation fee
• $50 educational fee
• Maximum monthly fee of 15% of payments, capped at $65
• 7.5% of the amount reduced by creditors

Violations result in $25,000 penalties and minimum $200 damages to consumers.

Statute of Limitations on Debt in Oregon

The statute of limitations sets a deadline for collectors to sue you. Expired debts give you a winning defense if you assert it in your Answer.

Oregon’s Procedure in Civil Proceedings § 12.080 states that actions on contracts must commence within six years.

The statute of limitations on most Oregon debt is 6 years. Collectors cannot sue you after six years from your last payment.

Collectors still sue after the deadline expires. Many succeed because debtors don’t assert the statute of limitations defense.

You must mention the expired statute of limitations as an affirmative defense in your Answer. Otherwise, you can’t bring it up later.

Never make payments on old debts past the statute of limitations. Payments restart the clock and make you sueable again.

Additional Debt Collection Laws in Oregon

Oregon heavily regulates debt collection to protect consumers from abusive practices. You can use these laws to your advantage.

• The Oregon Unlawful Debt Collection Practices Act (OUDCPA)
• The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
• Statute of limitations laws (ORS § 12.080, 12.050, and 12.070)
• Fair Credit Reporting Act’s Furnisher Rule requiring accurate credit reporting

Collectors cannot sue you if they know the statute of limitations has passed. ORS 646.639(r) prohibits filing lawsuits on time-barred debts.

Knowing these laws protects you from illegal collection practices.

Oregon Eviction Laws

Oregon’s Residential Landlord and Tenant statutes govern evictions. Requirements vary based on tenancy type and eviction reason.

Eviction for Rent Arrears

Landlords have two notice options:

• Three-day notice if you’re eight days late: pay within three days or face eviction
• Notice five days after rent is due: you get six days before eviction proceedings begin

Eviction for Month-to-Month Tenants

Landlords must provide 90-day notice for no-cause evictions of monthly tenants.

Tenants occupying property over one year cannot receive no-cause eviction unless it’s owner-occupied property. Owner-occupied properties require 60 to 90 days’ notice.

Eviction for Lease Violations

Landlords can terminate leases for:

• Non-payment of rent
• Lease agreement violations
• Intentionally dangerous behavior

24-Hour Eviction Notice in Oregon

ORS 90.396 allows 24-hour notices for:

• Serious injury or threats to others on the property
• Intentional substantial property damage
• Repeated substantial pet damage
• Lying about criminal history
• Prostitution on premises
• Distributing, delivering, or possessing illegal drugs
• Making unlicensed cannabinoid extracts
• Bias crimes
• Burglary

Landlords cannot issue 24-hour notices to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, or stalking.

Find Debt Relief in Oregon

Consider debt relief if:

• You have little hope of repaying unsecured debts
• Your unsecured debt exceeds half your gross income
• Creditors are threatening or have sued you

Choose the best option for your situation.

Debt Management Plans

Credit counseling agencies negotiate reduced fees and lower interest rates. You make payments to them, and they pay your creditors.

Closing accounts reduces your credit score. Programs may require surrendering access to credit until completion.

Choose legitimate companies complying with Oregon debt relief laws.

Debt Settlement

Creditors often accept 50% to 70% of what you owe. You must explain why you cannot repay the full amount.

Some debt settlement companies ask you to stop paying creditors. This strategy can backfire when creditors refuse to negotiate.

No creditor must accept settlement offers. Research thoroughly before working with settlement companies.

Consider negotiating yourself. Communicate through email or certified mail. Record phone conversations with permission.

Bankruptcy as a Last Resort

Bankruptcy may result in losing non-exempt property. It can wipe out unsecured debts and offer a fresh start.

Stop Wage Garnishment in Oregon

Creditors with money judgments can petition to garnish your wages. Oregon residents can stop wage garnishment by understanding the rules.

Oregon’s wage garnishment laws state:

• Maximum amount: Creditors can take up to 25% of disposable income or the amount exceeding 30 times federal minimum wage weekly
• Exemptions: Some income like unemployment benefits is exempt
• Notice requirement: Creditors must provide written notice at least ten days before garnishment
• Employer notification: Employers must notify you immediately of garnishment orders
• Garnishment priority: Child support precedes creditor debts

You can object if garnishment violates these laws. Stop the order if the debt amount is wrong, garnishment exceeds limits, or earnings fall below Federal poverty line.

Fill out an exemption form to stop creditors from taking exempt earnings.

Find Your Court Case in Oregon

Oregon provides online access to court records and dates. You can access any public records information.

The Oregon court system has four levels:

1. Supreme Court: Highest judicial level handling appeals from Court of Appeals
2. Court of Appeals: Handles civil case appeals from Circuit Court
3. Circuit Court: Resolves civil cases without monetary limit, small claims up to $10,000
4. Justice Court: Handles small claims cases up to $10,000

Your debt collection case gets filed in Circuit Court or Justice Court depending on the amount.

How to Find Your Court Case

Use free online records search. Provide case number or party names.

Subscribe to OJCIN OnLine. This option has substantial fees and suits attorneys better.

Visit the courthouse in person. Provide the clerk with case information:

• Estimated filing date
• Party names
• Case number
• Hearing dates
• Attorney names

Find your case number at Oregon’s Find a Court page. Select your county and enter party names to access the court file.

Oregon Legal Aid Organizations

Oregon provides free legal services to qualifying residents:

Legal Aid Services of Oregon
520 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 1130
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 224-4094
Website: lasoregon.org

Oregon Law Help
Find your office by county
Website: oregonlawhelp.org

Public Benefits Hotline
1-800-520-5292

Oregon Court Mailing Addresses

Filing your Answer requires getting it to your court. Mailing addresses can be difficult to find online.

Use the Oregon courts page to find court clerk information and mailing addresses for your courthouse.

File in Small Claims Court in Oregon

Small claims court handles cases worth $10,000 or less.

Use our partner Solo to file your Answer if you’re responding to a debt collection lawsuit. Ensure your response is valid and timely. Assert your affirmative defenses now or lose them forever.

You may also:

• Request a jury trial
• File counterclaims (transfer to appropriate court if over $10,000)

You must pay filing fees based on lawsuit value for your Answer to be accepted.

File in Deschutes County Circuit Court

Deschutes County Circuit Court handles criminal, civil, domestic relations, traffic, small claims, violations, and probate cases.

Oregon has statewide filing fees whether initiating cases or responding to lawsuits.

Non-attorneys can file in Deschutes Circuit Court by:

• Mailing documents to 1100 NW Bond Street, Bend, OR 97703 with filing fee check
• Personally dropping documents at the courthouse with filing fee
• Using OJD eFile electronic filing system

Your first document as defendant should be a written Answer.

Pay filing fees using major credit cards, debit cards, eChecks, checks, or cash.

Bring your government-issued ID, paperwork, evidence, and payment method to circuit court.

Debt Consolidation in Eugene, Oregon

Debt consolidation combines several debts into one. You take one large loan, repay all existing debts, and service the new loan.

Consolidate debt in Eugene by:

• Analyzing and categorizing your debts
• Analyzing your monthly income (works best with regular income)
• Creating a realistic budget
• Developing a repayment plan

Consolidation options include:

• Home equity loans
• Personal loans
• Credit card balance transfers
• Lines of credit
• Credit union or bank loans
• Finance company debt consolidation
• Savings or retirement accounts

Success tips:

• Set separate dates for loan payments and major expenses
• Use budgeting apps to track habits
• Grow savings while paying debt
• Pay more than minimum amounts

Research thoroughly to avoid loans with high interest rates and lengthy repayment periods.