How to Sue Truist in Small Claims Court

So you’re looking to sue Truist?

At FairShake we’ve helped thousands of people ripped off by big companies like Truist. And we’ve helped get millions of dollars in settlement offers…

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Tired of hitting dead ends when trying to get a refund from Truist? Feeling like there’s nowhere to turn?

You’re not alone. It seems like many people have tried all the Truist customer service options, but still feel unheard.

There are different ways to file a complaint against Truist, but none have the same power and leverage as taking legal action.

So, if you’re thinking of suing Truist, where do you even start? You might expect there to be tons of class action lawsuits against them, but it’s often more complicated than that.

What many people don’t know is that hidden clauses buried deep within their contracts frequently allow companies like Truist to push legal claims into the private realm of consumer arbitration, away from conventional courts.

But here’s the thing: your Truist contract doesn’t have the power to take away your right to pursue legal action by suing them.

Here’s what you can do…

Two options to Sue Truist:

Consumer Arbitration: This involves accessing an official and independent dispute resolution process that is not a court. It provides an opportunity to seek compensation for your complaint without the need to appear in person. For many, this can be a preferable option.To find out if you can take Truist to arbitration, you can check your contract or user agreement with them. Many companies’ standard contract are available on their websites. You can do a search for “arbitration” arbitration within the contract text — it is usually mentioned near the very top of a contract.
Learn more about the consumer arbitration process here.
Small Claims Court: If you prefer to avoid the arbitration system, you can opt for Small Claims Court. You should know that the procedures for Small Claims Court may vary depending on your jurisdiction.Taking Truist to Small Claims Court will typically involve appearing in person and completing necessary forms.

If you’re ready to sue Truist in Small Claims Court, read on below:

Taking Truist to Small Claims Court Step-by-Step

Does your case qualify to sue SunTrust in small claims courts?

Ready to sue SunTrust in small claims court? First you need to make sure your case qualifies. Small claims courts are reserved for certain types of claims. There are two things you need to pay attention to:

The amount of money: Every small claims court has a limit on how much you can sue for. For some states it is as low as $2,5000 and others it is $5,000. You can find a list of all 50 states’ monetary limits here.
The type of relief: There are two types of compensation that are normally acceptable, monetary or equitable. Given that you are trying to sue SunTrust, chances are you are looking for a monetary compensation award, which works well since most small claims courts can only award monetary compensation.

If your claim doesn’t fall within the limits of your state’s small claims court, you’ll have to arbitrate your claim instead.

Send SunTrust a demand letter.

Before you can sue SunTrust you have to given them the chance to fix things. Sure, you probably tried customer service, but small claims courts require you officially ask them to fix it with a demand letter, first.

This is a simple letter that outlines who you are (your name, address, phone number and account number), what the problem is, and what you want from them. The whole letter can be a few sentences, not any longer.

When you finish, mail the hard copy to the official legal address listed in your Truist banking agreement.

If you would like examples of demand letters or more information about how to write them, you can find an excellent guide here.

Fill out forms.

In order to sue SunTrust in small claims court, you’re going to need to fill out the right paperwork.

Each state has different forms they require, and your county might throw in some extra forms.

Make sure you have enough forms for the next step. Most states require 3 or 4 copies. If you don’t have the right number, they will not accept your claim.

File your forms with your small claims court.

When you’re done filling out the court forms, it’s time to give those forms to the court through a legal process called “filing”.

Many courts will require you to physically come to the courthouse and hand deliver your forms during specific hours and days. Other courts may allow you to file by mail, fax or (for a few courts) online.

All courts will require you to pay a filing fee in order to sue SunTrust in small claims (or anyone else). The amount should be posted on you court website. It can sometimes be waved if you are a low income plaintiff.

Once done, the clerk will stamp them and give you back your copies.

“Serve” SunTrust.

There are a lot of steps, each of which have to be followed perfectly and this step is no exception.

Now you take one of those copies you were given back and “serve” SunTrust, basically you tell them officially that they are being sued.

Look at your court’s website for instructions on how to properly deliver your forms to SunTrust, or search for “[your state] small claims service of process”. Courts have many strange rules about how to serve a company and if you don’t follow them your claim will be dropped.

Show up for the court hearing with SunTrust.

When the court clerk gives you a court date that is your hearing with SunTrust. That is when you go to the courthouse and present your side.

Bring any evidence you have and your filed forms.

Sometimes, SunTrust will not show up to oppose you, other times they will. Sometimes the judge will make a ruling the same day, sometimes it will take weeks.

Ready to sue SunTrust in small claims court?
If this sounds too hard and expensive, try consumer arbitration instead…

How to Sue Truist