Legal Advice from Lawyer Letter: What to Do?

Questioner

I recently received a letter from an attorney representing 'someone else'. It's not an official thing yet or anything, it's the first writing. Now the letter says that I have to respond within 14 days after the date. But the date is different from the date that I received the letter, which is 5 days after the date on the letter. - What date should I assume now? - How and how often can I request a postponement of my response? - Can I, for example, reply (by registered mail) that I will respond within 3 weeks or id? Thank you very much for your answer!

Lawyer

You can decide for yourself whether or not you want to respond and within what time frame. Lawyers often have the annoying habit of trying to put pressure on the opposing party. In short, think carefully about whether or not you want to answer and in what time frame. There are no legal rules for correspondence with a lawyer. For the time being, you can suffice with a short letter stating that you have received the letter in good order and that you are considering a response.

Questioner

Thank you for your quick response! Indeed, the lawyer tries to put me under pressure in the letter with largely accepted and 'neatly' formulated threats. With the final note that if I do not respond or do not respond satisfactorily to their letter, they will summon me... The letter also gave me the impression that they don't really have much 'in hand' against me, but that they hope to get me to sign something through their letter. I think I would like to avoid a summons, or am I taking that too seriously? And does that mean, for example, that a solution will first be sought through correspondence or that it will immediately go to court or become a case? (read: will cost money..) Should they first send a reminder or something if I decide not to respond at all? Or can they then immediately proceed to summoning? Thanks in advance for your response!