i can tell you your friend is right, the courts do side with the collection agencies.

to buy more time, you can file your answer, show up at the court on the date, and take it to trial. Judge will ask you if you owe the money, you say no, i want to take it to trial.

As someone who is trying to clean their credit, and has a couple judgements, i can honestly say, knowing what i know now.. I would try to settle it before you get the judgement.

You can take it to trial, but if your going up against a lawyer, you will probably lose.

a judgment will be stuck on your credit report for 7 years, aint never coming off. its easier to deal with it before its a problem.