Wage garnishments and collections

Hello.

I'm wondering if when signing up for 4 hours of work—which is about half minimum wage, roughly $400—they also take that extra 1/3 of the paycheck due to an enforcement order...

Please move this if needed. Someone with zero income—working under the table, getting paid in cash—has no bank account, basically nothing to speak of... they live in an apartment owned by their daughter, no car, truly nothing at all... can anything actually be seized or enforced against them?

granitenomad20 said:Hello.

I'm wondering if when signing up for 4 hours of work—which is about half minimum wage, roughly $400—they also take that extra 1/3 of the paycheck due to an enforcement order...

Yep.

Mark Murphy79 said:Please move this if needed. Someone with zero income—working under the table, getting paid in cash—has no bank account, basically nothing to speak of... they live in an apartment owned by their daughter, no car, truly nothing at all... can anything actually be seized or enforced against them?

Theoretically, they can’t touch you. But—and this is a massive "but"—if we're talking about a significant amount of money and the Believer is being particularly persistent, things can get messy. They might start digging around to see if that apartment you're living in isn't actually registered under your daughter's name, even though we all know it was bought with your cash. It's one of those legal grey areas that can turn into a real headache if someone decides to go looking for trouble.

p.s.

I’m actually looking into a similar situation myself—a friend of mine... I don't even know where to start with this—it's just one of those days where everything feels like it's spiraling, isn't it? You think you have a handle on things, you think the path is clear, and then—bam—reality hits you like a freight train. I was sitting there, just thinking about how much effort we put into following the rules, only to find out the system itself is rigged against the little guy. It’s exhausting, really. Just... exhausting. They’re taking a full third of his paycheck now. I actually sat down and poured over the contract—the fine print is brutal—and it turns out he gave explicit consent for them to garnish his wages directly. It’s a mess. The person he’s co-signing for is completely broke, can't meet any of their obligations, and doesn't own a single scrap of real estate to their name. It's just one of those situations where everything hits at once.
But honestly, we’re talking about tiny garnishment amounts here—it's peanuts compared to the real issue. He's also got that loan hitting his paycheck first, which is eating up nearly a third of his take-home pay already. It's a mess.
I've been wondering about this myself—whether he can actually go after that apartment he bought with a mortgage, too. It’s one of those things that sounds simple until you start digging into the legal weeds, right?

Mark Murphy79 said:Please move this if needed. Someone with zero income—working under the table, getting paid in cash—has no bank account, basically nothing to speak of... they live in an apartment owned by their daughter, no car, truly nothing at all... can anything actually be seized or enforced against them?

What else could they do? I mean, unless they decide to just take your kidney if it’s healthy—but obviously, that isn't exactly legal around here, so you're probably safe there. 😁

Benjamin Taylor6 said:Theoretically, they can’t touch you. But—and this is a massive "but"—if we're talking about a significant amount of money and the Believer is being particularly persistent, things can get messy. They might start digging around to see if that apartment you're living in isn't actually registered under your daughter's name, even though we all know it was bought with your cash. It's one of those legal grey areas that can turn into a real headache if someone decides to go looking for trouble.

p.s.

I’m actually looking into a similar situation myself—a friend of mine... I don't even know where to start with this—it's just one of those days where everything feels like it's spiraling, isn't it? You think you have a handle on things, you think the path is clear, and then—bam—reality hits you like a freight train. I was sitting there, just thinking about how much effort we put into following the rules, only to find out the system itself is rigged against the little guy. It’s exhausting, really. Just... exhausting. They’re taking a full third of his paycheck now. I actually sat down and poured over the contract—the fine print is brutal—and it turns out he gave explicit consent for them to garnish his wages directly. It’s a mess. The person he’s co-signing for is completely broke, can't meet any of their obligations, and doesn't own a single scrap of real estate to their name. It's just one of those situations where everything hits at once.
But honestly, we’re talking about tiny garnishment amounts here—it's peanuts compared to the real issue. He's also got that loan hitting his paycheck first, which is eating up nearly a third of his take-home pay already. It's a mess.
I've been wondering about this myself—whether he can actually go after that apartment he bought with a mortgage, too. It’s one of those things that sounds simple until you start digging into the legal weeds, right?

Oh man, come on! 🤦🤣

So, the guy we're talking about is my father-in-law. He's lived with his mother his entire life—just stayed put... And once she passed away, the place went straight into his daughter's name (my wife).

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hollowmason64 said:What else could they do? I mean, unless they decide to just take your kidney if it’s healthy—but obviously, that isn't exactly legal around here, so you're probably safe there. 😁

Oh man, come on! 🤦🤣

I saw it in the papers—some claim they’re going to let Mr. Nico seize an olive grove that’s currently registered under his deceased relatives. Now, I have to wonder, how on earth does that even work? I suppose he’ll have to somehow prove to the Believers that it belongs to him, even though it isn't officially in his name.
I can't seem to find the online version of the article, but I did stumble upon something that seems to contradict what I originally read:

There's one particular sentence here that really hits the nail on the head:

He filed complaints with the local Archdiocese and the police, but they all gave him the same old line—that justice can only be served through a lawsuit. "I don't want to sue." – Because if you go up against someone with deep pockets, you're essentially signing your own death warrant.

😲 😁 😲

Mark Murphy79 said:So, the guy we're talking about is my father-in-law. He's lived with his mother his entire life—just stayed put... And once she passed away, the place went straight into his daughter's name (my wife).

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Well, in that case, he's as free as a bird!

Hello,

I’m looking for some guidance if anyone can offer it.. My brother has been living in a commune for about a year now; he's divorced and has a child around eighteen months to two years old. Recently, my mother tried to check through the IRS to see exactly how much debt he carries and whether there are any pending garnishments that might eventually land on her doorstep..
What she found was quite significant—a total debt of $13 with interest reaching roughly $20 stemming from various sources (Verizon, AT&T, traffic fines, etc.).
Can anyone suggest a way to stop this debt from spiraling? Is there any mechanism to halt the interest accrual, or perhaps a way to have some of it forgiven?..
It’s becoming incredibly difficult for Mom to cover this out of her own salary, and she’s feeling lost; she can’t take out a loan because she’s already maxed out on her existing credit..
If anyone understands the best course of action in a situation like this, please reach out with advice. I suspect my brother won't be returning anytime soon, and even when he does, paying this off will be an impossible task.. the amount is almost certainly going to balloon further..
Thanks in advance!

Laura Cox said:Hello,

I’m looking for some guidance if anyone can offer it.. My brother has been living in a commune for about a year now; he's divorced and has a child around eighteen months to two years old. Recently, my mother tried to check through the IRS to see exactly how much debt he carries and whether there are any pending garnishments that might eventually land on her doorstep..
What she found was quite significant—a total debt of $13 with interest reaching roughly $20 stemming from various sources (Verizon, AT&T, traffic fines, etc.).
Can anyone suggest a way to stop this debt from spiraling? Is there any mechanism to halt the interest accrual, or perhaps a way to have some of it forgiven?..
It’s becoming incredibly difficult for Mom to cover this out of her own salary, and she’s feeling lost; she can’t take out a loan because she’s already maxed out on her existing credit..
If anyone understands the best course of action in a situation like this, please reach out with advice. I suspect my brother won't be returning anytime soon, and even when he does, paying this off will be an impossible task.. the amount is almost certainly going to balloon further..
Thanks in advance!

The deadline for filing a request for debt forgiveness has already passed... so, that's that. Those were the available options—now, the debt is just going to keep growing and growing, and there's no statute of limitations to worry about as long as they keep renewing the collection proceedings and such...

Laura Cox said:Hello,

I’m looking for some guidance if anyone can offer it.. My brother has been living in a commune for about a year now; he's divorced and has a child around eighteen months to two years old. Recently, my mother tried to check through the IRS to see exactly how much debt he carries and whether there are any pending garnishments that might eventually land on her doorstep..
What she found was quite significant—a total debt of $13 with interest reaching roughly $20 stemming from various sources (Verizon, AT&T, traffic fines, etc.).
Can anyone suggest a way to stop this debt from spiraling? Is there any mechanism to halt the interest accrual, or perhaps a way to have some of it forgiven?..
It’s becoming incredibly difficult for Mom to cover this out of her own salary, and she’s feeling lost; she can’t take out a loan because she’s already maxed out on her existing credit..
If anyone understands the best course of action in a situation like this, please reach out with advice. I suspect my brother won't be returning anytime soon, and even when he does, paying this off will be an impossible task.. the amount is almost certainly going to balloon further..
Thanks in advance!

Maybe try waiting until the start of next year; word is that's when personal bankruptcy might actually become an option.

If your brother doesn't have any assets to his name, this might be the only way you guys can escape these debts, though it’s a process that takes a few years to play out.

He’ll basically have to pay back as much as he possibly can over the next couple of years, but if he can't clear the whole thing—or at least a big chunk of it—within that timeframe, and if he actually sticks to whatever terms they set for him, he’ll most likely get the rest of the debt wiped clean.

Honestly, it’s a brutal process and definitely isn't for everyone, but in a case like this, it might be the one (and only?) good solution left.

I had to dig into this myself because I have a debtor right now who is just sitting around waiting for personal bankruptcy so he can dodge all of us trying to collect money from him. From everything I've read so far—and man, I hate to admit it—there's a huge chance he'll pull it off this way (he has zero assets and he's either making minimum wage or working under the table).

Your other option is to try and go directly to the people he owes money to. Just explain the whole mess and ask if they'll waive at least the interest and fees, provided you agree to settle the principal as fast as possible. They often jump at deals like that if they realize they won't get a dime otherwise. If I were in your shoes, I'd honestly take an offer like that immediately.😁

Laura Cox said:Hello,

I’m looking for some guidance if anyone can offer it.. My brother has been living in a commune for about a year now; he's divorced and has a child around eighteen months to two years old. Recently, my mother tried to check through the IRS to see exactly how much debt he carries and whether there are any pending garnishments that might eventually land on her doorstep..
What she found was quite significant—a total debt of $13 with interest reaching roughly $20 stemming from various sources (Verizon, AT&T, traffic fines, etc.).
Can anyone suggest a way to stop this debt from spiraling? Is there any mechanism to halt the interest accrual, or perhaps a way to have some of it forgiven?..
It’s becoming incredibly difficult for Mom to cover this out of her own salary, and she’s feeling lost; she can’t take out a loan because she’s already maxed out on her existing credit..
If anyone understands the best course of action in a situation like this, please reach out with advice. I suspect my brother won't be returning anytime soon, and even when he does, paying this off will be an impossible task.. the amount is almost certainly going to balloon further..
Thanks in advance!

Look, if someone owes their brother money, his mother has absolutely nothing to do with the repayment. It’s a completely separate matter—period.

Since he isn't working—and given that he’s officially being treated as a recovering addict—he should definitely look into applying for some social assistance. It's about time.
And they won't be able to garnish her wages either—not if they can't pin her down. Honestly, his best bet is just to keep working under the table and wait for what everyone here keeps suggesting: that personal bankruptcy law to finally kick in.
Either I pack my bags and head abroad—praying to God that the Believers don't track me down—or I stay right here and deal with this mess.

p.s.

There's one thing that's really been weighing on my mind lately. That friend I mentioned earlier—the one we were talking about before—has been grinding away at this loan for five years already, and get this, he’s got another five years of payments left to go. It just seems like an endless cycle, doesn't it?
Now he’s gone and hit a nasty legal seizure because he acted as a guarantor—and on top of that, they’ve already frozen two-thirds of his paycheck. Just my luck, right? Typical.
But the real issue—the part that really gets under my skin—is how this Company actually managed to pull it off:
First off, they start by garnishing his paycheck directly—standard procedure—but then it gets even messier. Whatever is left over after that initial hit? A new creditor steps in and grabs a third of that remaining amount because they’re acting as a guarantor for someone else's loan. It's just one thing after another.
Personally, I’m of the mind that the Company should just send two-thirds of his entire paycheck directly into a protected account. Then—and this is the part that actually makes sense—that remaining third could be used to settle his existing loan first, since he’s been staying on top of those payments like clockwork. It’s just common sense, really.
And whatever is left over from that remaining third—well, it just gets handed off as an enforcement to some new Believer.
What specific legal steps does he actually need to take to establish whether the current loan takes priority before a new enforcement action kicks in? It’s all about the sequence—determining if that existing debt holds the line first, and only then allowing the new seizure to proceed.

Note: Still waiting on an answer from someone here—does a guarantor actually put their own assets on the line too?!

Legally speaking, there’s zero connection to his mother, but honestly, from a moral standpoint, maybe they want to step up since things are hitting the fan, you know? Like, they're probably just trying to make sure he actually has a way to survive once he gets back.

I wouldn't recommend working under the table to anyone, seriously, because the penalties are brutal and you're basically risking a criminal charge—it looks like you're straight-up defrauding your creditors on purpose. And that's not just some fine, it could actually mean jail time.😉

And as for personal bankruptcy, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if anything actually comes of it or how it plays out in the real world when the time comes.

If I were him, I’d try to be reasonable first and just sit down with the creditors, explain the whole mess, and maybe ask for some debt forgiveness... I mean, in a situation this bad, they might actually bite.

Regarding what you asked, legally, two-thirds of the paycheck is protected regardless of what they claim, so I guess your friend should probably check in with the IRS first, or look for free legal clinics, or even hit up a consumer protection group if he can't afford an attorney to walk him through his rights.

Also, you really need to find out exactly what he signed; if he gave consent for everything to be seized, which, let's face it, he probably did, then they can take whatever they want. The only way they can't is if he specifically signed off only on wage garnishment. But hey, I'm not saying this is 100% certain, so he better go verify that using the methods I mentioned above.

Thanks to everyone for the input..
It isn’t so much that Mom is afraid she'll be the one facing legal action; it's more that we are all desperately hoping this nightmare of lies, theft, and sheer stupidity is finally behind us. Once he manages to return from rehab healthy and whole, we really wouldn't want him coming home to find a mountain of debt waiting for him—though I know some people here will inevitably say she brought this on herself..
And that debt isn't just sitting there; it's growing. Unfortunately, we had no idea the scale of it, and so far, not a single enforcement notice has arrived at the house. She holds a power of attorney he gave her before he entered rehab, so when she checked the records at the IRS, seeing the full extent of this was, naturally, a massive shock.
Now, the only question left is how to handle this with the least amount of pain possible.

In any case, I think I'll suggest to her that we start reaching out to each creditor one by one to negotiate repayment plans, simply to stop those interest rates from spiraling into something truly astronomical.

Thanks again.

Laura Cox said:Thanks to everyone for the input..
It isn’t so much that Mom is afraid she'll be the one facing legal action; it's more that we are all desperately hoping this nightmare of lies, theft, and sheer stupidity is finally behind us. Once he manages to return from rehab healthy and whole, we really wouldn't want him coming home to find a mountain of debt waiting for him—though I know some people here will inevitably say she brought this on herself..
And that debt isn't just sitting there; it's growing. Unfortunately, we had no idea the scale of it, and so far, not a single enforcement notice has arrived at the house. She holds a power of attorney he gave her before he entered rehab, so when she checked the records at the IRS, seeing the full extent of this was, naturally, a massive shock.
Now, the only question left is how to handle this with the least amount of pain possible.

In any case, I think I'll suggest to her that we start reaching out to each creditor one by one to negotiate repayment plans, simply to stop those interest rates from spiraling into something truly astronomical.

Thanks again.

If you ask me, the easiest way out for him would be to find a rehab center out West and stay there while looking for steady work.
Or maybe he could just become a pastor, like my former coworker did after his time in rehab.

Greetings... is it actually possible for an enforcement to take place without ever receiving any paperwork regarding the debt or a formal notice of seizure?

If they send the notice but you don't sign for it within the deadline—they just post it on the court's bulletin board and boom, it's legally considered served...

We never actually received anything.

I'm not really sure how the process works—honestly, just based on my own experience... I didn't even want to go pick it up at the post office later, but they told me they'd just post it on the bulletin board and officially consider me notified

I'm wondering, does the whole paycheck/daily rate go straight toward the garnishment, or does a portion get diverted to a protected account?

Hello !!!

Last week, the mailman dropped off an enforcement notice from the utility company regarding some unpaid debt.
I wasn't even home, so he just ripped off the orange cardboard sleeve and handed the envelope to my daughter-in-law without anyone even signing for it.
Is that kind of delivery even legal under the Enforcement Law Jurisdiction???
Second thing: I'm looking through this mess and noticed the seizure proposal based on a credible document was drafted on July 13, 2015, and then the entire file and the enforcement decision itself were also dated July 13, 2015.
Is that actually right???
Third thing: This shipment wasn't sent out until August 7, 2015, but the enforcement was already drawn up on July 13... seems like there might be a catch there, since it's almost a month difference.
And fourth: On July 15, I paid $300 for the gas, so the total debt they're hitting me with is $552, which means the remaining balance is now $252.
Does it make any sense to hand a formal objection to a notary, arguing that the debt is lower than what they claim, while maybe mentioning that the delivery was botched—since the envelope specifically said "personal delivery only."
I'm not disputing the actual debt at all, I just want to buy a little time while I scrape the money together....