[header] How to answer a credit card lawsuit [title] Find out how much time you have to file your answer. [step] In most states you only have 20 days to file your answer. [substeps] You may have longer than 20 days if you were served by mail or some other way rather than in person. 
There should be a summons or other document with the complaint that tells you exactly how long you have to respond. Debt collection law firms may file hundreds of lawsuits a day, assuming most of the defendants won't answer and they'll win a judgment by default.