You have to file a response titled ``Answer and Affirmative Defenses'' and just admit or deny the allegations of every paragraph of the complaint. File the original with the court and send a copy to the attorney for the credit card company.
Defenses you can use in a debt lawsuit Defense: Running the statute of limitations. The plaintiff must file a lawsuit within a set amount of time. Breach of contract by Plaintiff. No breach by Defendant. Discharge by bankruptcy. Statute of frauds. Satisfaction. Cancelation of contract. Lack of Consideration.
Your answer should include the court name, case name, case number, and your affirmative defenses. Print three copies of your answer. File one with the clerk's office and mail (or “serve”) one to the plaintiff or plaintiff's attorney. The plaintiff is the debt collector, creditor, or law firm suing you.
On a separate page or pages, write a short and plain statement of the answer to the allegations in the complaint. Number the paragraphs. The answer should correspond to each paragraph in the complaint, with paragraph 1 of the answer corresponding to paragraph 1 of the complaint, etc.
You must fill out an Answer, serve the other side's attorney, and file your Answer form with the court within 30 days. If you don't, the creditor can ask for a default. If there's a default, the court won't let you file an Answer and can decide the case without you.