Sued for Credit Card Fraud? How I Beat American Express in Court
You can win against American Express and Zwicker & Associates even with fraudulent debt. Responding to the lawsuit is your critical first step. Solo helps you create a personalized response and file it in court quickly.
Answer the LawsuitGetting sued for debt creates massive stress. Being taken to court over fraudulent credit card debt feels even worse.
One person fought back against American Express and won. Her coworker stole her credit card information and racked up over $35,000 in fraudulent charges. American Express sued her anyway.
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Respond to Zwicker NowShe responded to the lawsuit and won her case. Here’s her story in her own words.
Names have been omitted for privacy. The following has been edited for clarity.
The Coworker Stole Her Credit Card Information
American Express held the debt. They tried multiple collection attempts before filing the lawsuit.
“An old business colleague attached my American Express business card number to an Apple Pay account. They racked up more than $70,000 in debt.”
She tried recovering the money through non-legal means. Her coworker made promises to pay but never followed through.
“I paid $35,000 to keep my credit in line. For the second $35,000, I thought I can’t afford this. This is $70,000 of money that is not my debt.”
The charges originated in Texas while she lived in North Carolina. American Express had her North Carolina address and sent monthly bills there.
The location difference made the fraud obvious.
American Express Refused to Listen
No amount of communication convinced American Express about the fraud.
“After 18 months, I decided I’m not talking to these people anymore. I had been an American Express card holder for 30 years.”
She couldn’t get American Express to understand what happened. They couldn’t even help her block Apple Pay from her account.
“You couldn’t go to the American Express website and block Apple Pay. Support people said there’s no way to block Apple Pay.”
When Apple Pay processes transactions, nobody checks them. The card gets charged automatically unless you’re over your limit.
American Express had her phone number from years of calls. The Apple Pay account used a different phone number. They sued her anyway.
The Lawsuit Arrived at Her Door
American Express can sue you in any state. North Carolina requires a response within 30 days.
“By the time I received the notice, time had already passed. Someone came out and handed me the court documents. They never asked me to sign for them.”
The delivery person just handed over the papers and walked away. No signature required.
“I opened it up, and it says we’re being sued. I thought, how do you ever prove that I got them?”
Zwicker & Associates represented American Express in the lawsuit. Our partner Solo helps people respond to lawsuits from firms like Zwicker & Associates.
She Used Solo to Respond to the Lawsuit
After five years of collection attempts, the lawsuit didn’t surprise her.
She reached out to an attorney friend for guidance. Her friend wasn’t licensed in North Carolina and couldn’t represent her directly.
“My friend said there must be something out there to help us respond. We found Solo and used it to start my response.”
The process proved straightforward. She gathered all information from court documents and American Express communications.
“Solo’s software prompts you to include the kinds of things you need in a response. We went through it, then I went through it again to make sure I hadn’t misspoken.”
She sent the response to American Express and waited.
American Express Demanded Proof
American Express escalated her response to their next level team. Back-and-forth communication lasted ten months.
“They sent me all the credit card statements in a box. Literally a box of documents.”
They wanted her to circle every fraudulent charge on the billing statements. With $35,000 in debt, that meant hundreds of pages.
“I sat there for days with my blue pen and circled each fraudulent transaction. I sent it back with a note saying I hope you can figure it out.”
American Express Dismissed the Case
American Express couldn’t connect her phone number to the Apple Pay account.
“They knew my phone number because they’d been calling me for years. I’ve had the same phone number for 15-20 years.”
The Apple Pay account used her coworker’s phone number. She doesn’t know if American Express pursued him.
“I filed right before the deadline. The thing that finally pushed it over the edge was when they realized my phone number never showed up on any charge.”
After the dismissal, the debt collection mark fell off her credit report.
Canceling the Card Didn’t Stop the Charges
She canceled her card multiple times over the years. Apple Pay rematched to each new card automatically.
“I have all my American Express cards that I canceled in case they call me back. I’m sitting here with two or three different canceled American Express cards.”
She kept receiving bills even after canceling the cards repeatedly.
Zwicker & Associates Acts as Debt Collectors
Zwicker & Associates represented American Express as their debt collection law firm. They’re one of the nation’s biggest debt collectors.
“The lack of understanding was stunning. The attorneys don’t have any understanding. They’re basically debt collectors.”
The system makes it difficult for defendants to refute claims. Zwicker & Associates banks on people not responding.
Many debts they pursue are fraudulent or past the statute of limitations. If you fail to respond, you’ll likely lose automatically.
Solo Made the Difference
Finding Solo changed everything for this case.
“Without Solo, I would have had to hire an attorney. I wasn’t going to pay American Express $35,000 for something that wasn’t my expense. We were able to prevail using Solo’s software.”
Her friend couldn’t represent her in North Carolina. Responding as an individual worked perfectly.
“The software and questions you answer take you through the process excellently. It took about ten minutes. I was able to provide an immediate response.”
The entire response took one afternoon to prepare. She saved legal time, expense, and hassle.
“Not only would an attorney have been more expensive, but it would have taken more time. Solo helped me avoid jumping through all the legal hoops.”
She reviewed everything twice to ensure accuracy. After confirming her truthful answers, she sent the response.
“It was a very positive way to deal with something that had been unpleasant for years.”
You Can Beat Zwicker & Associates in Court
Zwicker & Associates collects debts for major banks and credit card companies. Their streamlined process targets easy wins.
If Zwicker & Associates contacted you, your bank or credit card company likely hired them. You may not owe the debt at all. The statute of limitations may have expired.
Responding to the lawsuit is your first critical step. Zwicker & Associates expects you won’t respond. Prove them wrong.
Our partner Solo helps you generate a personalized response in minutes. You can file your case in court quickly and affordably.
How Solo Helps You Fight Back
Solo makes resolving debt with collectors easier. You can respond to lawsuits, send letters to collectors, and settle debts.
The Answer service guides you through necessary questions step-by-step. An attorney reviews your document before filing.
Solo helps you negotiate settlements for less than you owe. The process happens entirely online.
No matter where you are in the debt collection process, Solo helps you resolve your debt.