Sued by Bank of America in Illinois? Here's What to Do Next

2014 · consent order

$772M total ($727M consumer relief to ~2.9M consumers + $20M CFPB penalty + $25M OCC penalty)

CFPB consent order finding Bank of America deceptively marketed credit card payment-protection and identity-protection add-on products ("Credit Protection Plus," "Credit Protection Deluxe," "Privacy Guard," "Privacy Source," "Privacy Assist") and illegally charged approximately 1.9M consumer accounts for credit monitoring services they were not receiving.

CFPB source

2022 · consent order

$100M consumer relief + $10M CFPB civil money penalty (garnishment portion)

CFPB consent order finding Bank of America engaged in unfair garnishment practices, including responding to and processing garnishment notices against out-of-state deposit accounts in violation of state law and failing to apply state exemptions to consumers' deposit accounts after receiving garnishment notices.

CFPB source

Statute of Limitations Defense

In Illinois, the statute of limitations for credit card debt is 5 years. If your last payment was more than 5 years ago, the debt is time-barred. Verify when your last payment or account activity occurred and raise the SOL defense in your Answer if applicable.

Challenge the Amount

Demand a complete accounting from the original creditor's last statement through the current claimed balance. Any unauthorized fees, post-charge-off interest, or collection costs not in the original agreement should be disputed line by line.

Illinois Wage Garnishment Exemptions

Only 15% of gross wages or amount exceeding 45x federal minimum wage. Illinois is more protective than federal law.

Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act

In addition to the federal FDCPA, Illinois's Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act may provide additional protections and remedies against Bank of America's collection practices.

Illinois Court System

Small claims limit $10,000. Circuit court handles most civil cases. Filing fees in Illinois typically range $50-$350.

Does Bank of America sue for credit card debt?

Yes. Bank of America files lawsuits for unpaid credit card balances through its network of collection attorneys across the country.

What if I already paid Bank of America?

If you have proof of payment, this is a complete defense. Gather all payment records, settlement letters, and confirmation numbers to present in your Answer.

Can Bank of America freeze my bank account?

Only after obtaining a court judgment. If you bank at Bank of America and they obtain a judgment, they may have enhanced ability to levy your account through the right of offset.

Should I close my Bank of America account if they sue me?

Consider moving funds to a different bank to protect against potential right-of-offset if Bank of America obtains a judgment. Consult with an attorney about asset protection strategies.

How long do I have to respond in Illinois?

30 days from service to file your Appearance and Answer.

What is the statute of limitations in Illinois?

5 years for credit cards and oral contracts. 10 years for written contracts.

How much can they garnish in Illinois?

Only 15% of gross wages or the amount exceeding 45 times the federal minimum wage — Illinois is more protective than federal law.

What is the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act?

It prohibits deceptive and unfair business practices, including abusive debt collection tactics.

What is the statute of limitations on credit-card debt in Illinois?

Illinois courts have for years applied the five-year statute of limitations under 735 ILCS 5/13-205 for unwritten contracts to credit-card debt, holding that cardholder agreements are not fully integrated written contracts. The Illinois Supreme Court in Portfolio Acquisitions, LLC v. Feltman addressed this in 2009. The 10-year written-contract limit under 735 ILCS 5/13-206 generally does not apply. The clock starts on the date of the last payment or charge-off. If you are sued more than five years after last activity, statute of limitations is an affirmative defense you must plead in your answer or you waive it. Filing a time-barred collection lawsuit can support a counterclaim under the FDCPA at 15 U.S.C. § 1692e and the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act at 815 ILCS 505/2. Partial payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock under 735 ILCS 5/13-216.

How much can be garnished from my paycheck in Illinois?

Illinois wage-garnishment law at 735 ILCS 5/12-803 is more protective than federal law. The creditor can take the lesser of 15 percent of gross weekly earnings or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 45 times the federal or Illinois minimum wage, whichever is higher. The Illinois minimum wage as of 2026 is $15.00 per hour, so the floor protection is 45 times $15 equals $675 per week of fully exempt earnings. Social Security, SSI, VA benefits, unemployment, workers compensation, and most retirement income are exempt under federal law and 735 ILCS 5/12-1001. You preserve exemptions by filing a claim with the clerk and serving the creditor; the court must hold a hearing within seven days under 735 ILCS 5/12-811.

Can a debt collector freeze my Illinois bank account?

Yes, a judgment creditor in Illinois can serve a citation to discover assets under 735 ILCS 5/2-1402 on your bank, which freezes the account up to the judgment amount. Once frozen, you have a limited window to file a claim of exemption to preserve protected funds. Social Security, SSI, VA benefits, unemployment, workers compensation, and child support are fully exempt under federal law and 735 ILCS 5/12-1001. The wildcard exemption under 735 ILCS 5/12-1001(b) protects up to $4,000 of any personal property. Most retirement accounts are exempt under 735 ILCS 5/12-1006. File the exemption claim form, available from the circuit clerk, with the court and serve the creditor's attorney as soon as possible after the bank notifies you of the freeze, and request an expedited hearing.

Does Illinois require my debt collector to be licensed?

Yes. The Illinois Collection Agency Act at 225 ILCS 425/4 requires that any person collecting consumer debts in Illinois be licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Unlicensed collection activity is a Class A misdemeanor under 225 ILCS 425/14 and can be raised as a defense in any collection action. You can search for a collector by name at https://idfpr.illinois.gov to confirm licensing. If the collector is not licensed, you can move to dismiss the suit and file a counterclaim. Combining the unlicensed-activity defense with a federal FDCPA claim under 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(5) for threatening action that the collector cannot legally take and an Illinois Consumer Fraud Act claim under 815 ILCS 505/2 maximizes leverage.

What happens at a debt-collection arbitration in Illinois?

Cook County and several collar counties operate mandatory arbitration programs under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 86, requiring claims between $10,000 and $50,000 to be arbitrated by three-attorney panels before trial. The arbitrators issue an award and the parties have 30 days to reject it under Rule 93. If you do not show up, the arbitrator will award debarment under Rule 91, meaning you cannot reject the award. Treat the arbitration like a trial: bring all your evidence, prepare to cross-examine the collector's witness on chain of assignment under 225 ILCS 425/8b, and bring the original creditor's billing statements. After arbitration, if the panel finds for the collector, you can reject the award and proceed to trial in the circuit court, but you must pay rejection costs.

How do I answer a debt-collection lawsuit in Illinois?

If you are sued for an amount over $10,000, you must file a written appearance and answer with the circuit clerk within 30 days of service under 735 ILCS 5/2-201. For cases under $10,000, the small-claims rules under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 281 apply and the answer date is on the summons. In your answer, deny the allegations you do not know to be true, demand strict proof of the assignment chain from the original creditor under 225 ILCS 425/8b, and assert affirmative defenses including statute of limitations under 735 ILCS 5/13-205, lack of standing, unlicensed collection under 225 ILCS 425/4, and a Consumer Fraud Act counterclaim. Cook County provides a fillable answer form through the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court website. Default judgment is entered automatically if you do not appear or answer.