OK, background: 1st Resolution claims I owe them $7044 from a debt that was first delinquent 6/2003 according to Equifax. I lived in Virginia at that time (3 year SOL), moved to RI in Aug 03, moved to MA last year and currently live in MA. They apparently bought this debt in 2007. Sent a DV back in 2007, was sent a copy of a filled out credit card application with a number hand written on top, along with a letter saying my account was being transferred to a legal office. I received 8/22 a summons from the local district court directing me to send the law firm and the court my answer to the complaint. The summons did not contain any info as to what the complaint is, just has 1st Res. address v. my address, the civil action #, and says I am "hereby summoned and required" to serve the lawyer a copy of my answer to the complaint. Went to the courthouse to get a copy of complaint, which states
1- the name 1st Res, assignee of unifund..assignee of Chase..

2) my name and address - my address is slightly incorrect, I live in the REAR and it is addressed to the house in front of me.

3) defendant owes Plaintiff the sum of $7044 for unpaid balance due for money loaned to defendant by plaintiff's assignor on a credit card balance.

THEREFORE, plaintiff demands judgment against defendant in sum of $7044 plus interest thereon from 2/05/08, date of demand and the costs of this action.

So now, my questions: 1) As far as I can tell, 1st Res. isn't licensed to collect in MA.
2) Even if they can collect in MA, if Equifax says the debt was first delinquent in 6/2003, MA's 6 year SOL covers me, correct?
3) When I answer this, how do I do it?
4) Finally, if I don't send my answer in a specific format will it get thrown out? Does the district court expect a standard format?

Documents I currently have - a bill of sale from Chase to Unifund (no Unifund to 1st Res. transfer), an affadavit claiming 1st Res. accounts have been looked at and verified, and the copy of an application with the handwritten account number on the top.

PLEASE help, I'm severely freaking out! My wife and I are set to close on a house on the 31st, and I feel sick. Will this in any way affect the closing?

Also, I called 1 law firm which was referred to me by the Bristol County BAR, they handle bankruptcy mostly, and the person I talked to on the phone basically told me I didn't have a chance of using SOL as a defense and that I should just call the debt collector and try to arange a settlement.