How to Respond to Apelles LLC Lawsuit and Win

Apelles LLC is a debt collection agency that uses aggressive tactics to collect debts. You have 14 to 35 days to respond to their lawsuit, depending on your state. Ignoring them leads to an automatic loss and wage garnishment. You can fight back and win.

What Is Apelles LLC?

Apelles LLC is a debt buyer founded in 2003. The company purchases unpaid debts from original creditors for pennies on the dollar. They then collect the full amount from you, keeping the profit.

Don't Let Apelles LLC Win by Default

You have limited time to respond to their lawsuit before they garnish your wages. Get your Answer filed properly and on time to protect your income.

Respond to Apelles Now

Apelles LLC buys charged-off debts across multiple industries. The company operates nationwide from its Columbus, Ohio headquarters.

Their services include:

Debt recovery
Accounts receivable outsourcing
Customer lifecycle management
Fraud management

Contact information for Apelles LLC:

3700 Corporate Drive Suite 240
Columbus, OH 43231
Toll-Free: (800) 825-4425
Local: (614) 899-7322

Complaints Against Apelles LLC

Apelles LLC has a troubling track record with consumers. The Better Business Bureau shows 15 complaints in the most recent three-year period. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports 36 complaints over ten years.

Many complaints cite FDCPA violations. Here’s one real example from the CFPB database:

“The debt collector is calling places of employment. I have co-workers now entitled to information that is not any of their business. Please ask the debt collector to only call my cell or home phone. My employer does not allow employees to accept personal phone calls.”

You’re not alone in facing aggressive collection tactics from Apelles LLC. Understanding your rights helps you fight back effectively.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects you from abusive collection practices. Apelles LLC must follow strict rules when contacting you.

Apelles LLC cannot:

Contact you before 8:00 am or after 9:00 pm your time
Contact you at work after being told your employer prohibits such calls
Discuss your debt with anyone except you or your attorney
Use profanity or abusive language
Call repeatedly to harass you
Threaten actions they cannot legally take
Misrepresent the amount you owe

If Apelles LLC violates these rules, file a complaint with the CFPB. The federal agency investigates FDCPA violations and holds collectors accountable. You can file your complaint online at the CFPB website.

How to Respond to an Apelles LLC Lawsuit

Ignoring a lawsuit from Apelles LLC is the worst mistake you can make. They win by default if you don’t respond. Default judgments lead to wage garnishment and bank account levies.

You must file an Answer to the Complaint within your state’s deadline. Most states give you 14 to 35 days. Our partner Solo makes responding simple with a step-by-step online form.

Follow these three steps to beat Apelles LLC in court:

Answer each claim in the Complaint
Assert your affirmative defenses
File your Answer with the court and serve Apelles LLC

Step 1: Answer Each Claim

Your Answer is your written response to Apelles LLC’s allegations. You are the defendant. Apelles LLC is the plaintiff.

The Complaint lists numbered allegations. You must respond to each one individually.

Use these three responses:

Admit: You agree the statement is true
Deny: You disagree and make them prove it
Deny due to lack of knowledge: You don’t have enough information

Deny any claim you’re unsure about. Apelles LLC must provide proof for denied claims. Never admit to claims about debt ownership or the exact amount owed.

Step 2: Assert Your Affirmative Defenses

Affirmative defenses explain why Apelles LLC cannot win their case. You must include these in your Answer document.

Statute of Limitations

Every state sets a deadline for debt collectors to sue you. The deadline ranges from three to six years in most states. The clock starts on the date of your last payment.

If the statute of limitations expired, Apelles LLC cannot legally sue you. You still owe the debt, but they cannot use the courts to collect it.

Check your state’s statute of limitations before admitting the debt is valid. You can find information at our statute of limitations guide.

Improper Service

Courts require proper service of legal documents. If Apelles LLC served you incorrectly, the court lacks jurisdiction. Each state has specific rules about how you must receive the Summons and Complaint.

Lack of Standing

Apelles LLC must prove they own your debt. Many debt buyers cannot provide proper documentation. Demand they produce the original credit agreement and proof of ownership transfer.

Account Stated

Apelles LLC must prove the exact amount you owe. They often inflate debts with excessive fees and interest. Challenge any amount that seems incorrect.

Step 3: File and Serve Your Answer

You must file your Answer with the court and send a copy to Apelles LLC’s attorney. The Summons lists the attorney’s contact information and the filing deadline.

Send all documents via USPS certified mail with return receipt requested. Save the receipt as proof you served Apelles LLC properly.

Every court has specific filing requirements. Some require electronic filing. Others charge filing fees. Our partner Solo handles filing requirements in all 50 states.

Missing the deadline means an automatic loss. File your Answer immediately after receiving the Summons.

Negotiate a Settlement With Apelles LLC

You can settle the debt for less than the full amount. Apelles LLC bought your debt for a fraction of what you owe. They profit from any amount above their purchase price.

Debt buyers typically pay 5 to 15 cents per dollar of debt. If you owed $1,000, Apelles LLC probably paid $50 to $150 for it. You have significant room to negotiate.

Start your settlement offer at 30% of the alleged debt. Many collectors accept 40% to 50% as a final settlement. Always get the agreement in writing before paying anything.

Your settlement agreement should state:

The total settlement amount
Payment terms and deadlines
Confirmation that payment satisfies the debt in full
Agreement to remove negative credit reporting

Never give Apelles LLC access to your bank account. Pay only by money order or cashier’s check. Keep copies of all payment receipts and correspondence.

What Happens If You Ignore Apelles LLC?

Ignoring Apelles LLC doesn’t make them go away. The calls and letters continue until they sue you or sell the debt to another collector.

If they sue and you don’t respond, they win a default judgment. Default judgments allow them to garnish your wages and freeze bank accounts. They can also place liens on your property.

Wage garnishment takes money directly from your paycheck. Most states allow collectors to garnish 25% of your disposable income. You cannot stop garnishment without filing bankruptcy or settling the judgment.

Responding to the lawsuit protects you from default judgment. You force Apelles LLC to prove their case in court. Many debt buyers cannot provide adequate proof.

How to Stop Apelles LLC From Calling

You can stop collection calls by sending a cease and desist letter. The FDCPA requires collectors to stop calling after receiving your written request.

Your cease and desist letter should include:

Your name and account number
A statement requesting they stop all phone contact
Your preferred contact method (usually mail only)

Send the letter via certified mail with return receipt requested. Apelles LLC must stop calling after receiving your letter. They can still contact you by mail and can still sue you.

Cease and desist letters don’t eliminate the debt. You still owe the money. The letter only stops phone harassment.

Check Your Credit Report

Apelles LLC likely reported the debt to credit bureaus. Negative marks damage your credit score for seven years from the date of first delinquency.

Request free credit reports from all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You’re entitled to one free report per year from each bureau at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Review the Apelles LLC entry for accuracy. Dispute any incorrect information with the credit bureau. Common errors include:

Wrong balance amount
Incorrect date of first delinquency
Debt belonging to someone else
Duplicate entries for the same debt

Credit bureaus must investigate disputes within 30 days. They must remove unverified information from your report.

When to Consider Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy eliminates most unsecured debts, including debts collected by Apelles LLC. Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans in three to four months.

Consider bankruptcy if:

You owe more than you can pay in three to five years
Creditors are garnishing your wages
You’re using credit cards to pay for basic necessities
Collection lawsuits threaten your financial stability

Chapter 7 bankruptcy has income limits based on your state’s median income. Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows higher earners to repay debts through a three to five year payment plan.

Filing bankruptcy immediately stops all collection actions, including lawsuits and garnishments. The automatic stay prevents creditors from contacting you or taking legal action.

Bankruptcy damages your credit score, but collection accounts already caused significant damage. You can rebuild credit and recover from bankruptcy in two to three years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Apelles LLC and why are they contacting me?

Apelles LLC is a debt buyer that purchases charged-off debts from original creditors for pennies on the dollar. They contact you to collect the full debt amount, keeping the difference as profit. They operate as a collection agency based in Columbus, Ohio.

How do I respond to an Apelles LLC lawsuit?

You must file an Answer to their Complaint within your state's deadline, typically 14 to 35 days. Your Answer should respond to each allegation and assert affirmative defenses like statute of limitations or lack of standing. File your Answer with the court and serve a copy to Apelles LLC's attorney via certified mail.

Can I negotiate a settlement with Apelles LLC?

Yes, you can negotiate a settlement for less than the full amount. Start your offer at 30% of the alleged debt. Apelles LLC bought your debt for a fraction of what you owe, so they profit from settlements of 40% to 50%. Always get the settlement agreement in writing before making any payment.

What happens if I ignore an Apelles LLC lawsuit?

Ignoring the lawsuit results in a default judgment against you. Apelles LLC can then garnish up to 25% of your wages, freeze your bank accounts, and place liens on your property. Default judgments are difficult to overturn and can only be stopped through bankruptcy or settling the judgment.

How do I stop Apelles LLC from calling me?

Send a cease and desist letter via certified mail requesting they stop all phone contact. The FDCPA requires them to stop calling after receiving your written request. They can still contact you by mail and can still sue you, but phone harassment must stop.

How to Respond to Apelles LLC Debt Collection Lawsuit