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Wage garnishments and collections

Started by Douglas Morgan3 · · 👁 40 views · 2.1K replies

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Participants Douglas Morgan3Kimberly Barnes8Jesse Mendoza60redcrane22John Clark6Benjamin Taylor6crimsonsailor7frozenbison60Daniel Martinez9Scott Johnson66Keith Parker3Frank Garcia85mistylynx55Michael Gonzalez6urbanorca91John Myers48Jack Palmer4Rebecca White4Nicholas Nguyen4Arthur Smith56nimbleheroncasualcyclist18Linda Fowler2Matthew Wilson59 …
rapidskipper12 rapidskipper12 Active Member
209 messages
joined Jan 2019
#1701 ·
kiss_me, it’s not NBC, it’s AT&T. He owed AT&T. He settled that part, but Hanson is still coming after him for extra legal fees...

Let's put it this way: you owe AT&T, and they handed the file over to Hanson to collect. You pay all debts, including court costs, to AT&T because Hanson just drafts the paperwork for seizures or stays—they aren't paying a dime out of their own pocket. I actually had a situation recently where they offered me a settlement: pay the principal plus legal fees, and AT&T would write off the interest (which ended up being more than the actual debt since it's been sitting there forever). I sent the money straight to AT&T, and Hanson sent me confirmation that the settlement was accepted and my debt was cleared.
hollowmason64 hollowmason64 Regular
411 messages
joined Jan 2016
#1702 ·
My bad, I totally misread that.

But honestly, the logic on the other side doesn't really hold up either—with how these collections work here in the States, you have to cover the legal and processing fees first, then the interest kicks in, and only after all that does the principal get touched...
..so I’m just sitting here scratching my head trying to figure out how he could possibly still owe him anything at this point.
Dana Chavez4 Dana Chavez4 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Jan 2016
#1703 ·
It’s just ridiculous—dealing with the networks and big providers like AT&T, they claim I don't owe them anything personally, yet they refuse to provide any service because some agency has me flagged. Meanwhile, I can't get a straight answer out of the telecom companies either. It’s wild how the government and current laws allow them to basically freeze your paycheck without even a day in court. And if you actually end up in a legal dispute over it, you aren't even notified properly—I've been through this exact scenario before. You're stuck being forced to pay just so you can access the rest of your wages, even though I don't have the money to spare, let alone the time to file a lawsuit just to get my own cash back.
hollowmason64 hollowmason64 Regular
411 messages
joined Jan 2016
#1704 ·
Dana Chavez4 said:It’s just ridiculous—dealing with the networks and big providers like AT&T, they claim I don't owe them anything personally, yet they refuse to provide any service because some agency has me flagged. Meanwhile, I can't get a straight answer out of the telecom companies either. It’s wild how the government and current laws allow them to basically freeze your paycheck without even a day in court. And if you actually end up in a legal dispute over it, you aren't even notified properly—I've been through this exact scenario before. You're stuck being forced to pay just so you can access the rest of your wages, even though I don't have the money to spare, let alone the time to file a lawsuit just to get my own cash back.

Damn... there really isn't another word for it. 😁

I just can't seem to find any common ground with these people. Under current US laws, the government can basically freeze your paycheck without even a court hearing. And if you actually do end up in court, half the time you aren't even notified—I've been through it myself. You're stuck paying just to get the rest of your check, and honestly, I don't have the money or the energy to file a lawsuit to get it back.

That's not quite how it works, though.
First, send them a formal written request via certified mail with a return receipt requested. Ask them for a full itemized list of the debt and a complete history of all your previous payments, broken down by date. Once you have that in hand, then you'll know exactly what your next move should be.
Kenneth Brown5 Kenneth Brown5 Active Member
68 messages
joined Jan 2024
#1705 ·
I popped in here a little while back asking for some advice regarding an eviction, but I was still waiting on the official paperwork to drop.
Well, the court order finally showed up today, so now I'm wondering how this whole thing actually plays out, especially since we're talking about getting the property back into my possession.
Also, the document mentions that the creditor's costs are $550. Does anyone know what kind of fees they're actually talking about?
Jack Edwards5 Jack Edwards5 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Jan 2016
#1706 ·
What’s the move when the creditor—specifically the attorney representing a private individual—
refuses to lift the levy even after they’ve been paid in full? They just flat-out ignore my verbal requests to clear the freeze.

So, the account stays locked, interest keeps piling up, and while I get a tiny sliver of my paycheck through a protected account, the rest goes straight to them.
It isn't debt collection anymore—since the debt is settled—it's more like a monthly tribute to a broken legal system that's driving me toward financial ruin.
David Gomez6 David Gomez6 Member
10 messages
joined Jan 2016
#1707 ·
My recent experience has been quite something,
to put it briefly: the "glitchy" system at Berkshire Hathaway sent a parking ticket to my old residence. (I had already updated my address, yet the fine was mailed to the wrong place)

Since I never received it... interest just kept piling up... and then the entire collection process kicked off, which also took place via that old address. Essentially, every single notice they sent... I never even saw one.

Then, one morning, I noticed a sudden withdrawal from my account $167... and that was the first time I even heard about this!
I went down to the bank to see what on earth happened, only to find out right there that it was a parking fine from Berkshire Hathaway dating back to $33 from 2010, and I was being penalized through no fault of my own $167.

I visited the Berkshire Hathaway office, where the staff actually agreed with me that this feels like pure robbery, and they even gave me the contact info for a consumer protection judge. ..but that judge calmly told me there’s nothing more that can be done once the legal seizure process is finalized.

Good grief, is this actually normal??
This is actually the second time a legal seizure has hit my wallet, and both times I was completely innocent.
This time it was a systemic error... whereas the first time it was a targeted scam and outright theft, and the government practically helps those thieves by using a seizure to clean their hands.

Honestly, who am I supposed to complain to? What's left—suing Berkshire Hathaway or what? I suppose there is no sense in fighting and wasting my nerves and time over $133 ..but it truly is absurd.
Dennis Jackson6 Dennis Jackson6 Member
37 messages
joined Jan 2018
#1708 ·
Jack Edwards5 said:What’s the move when the creditor—specifically the attorney representing a private individual—
refuses to lift the levy even after they’ve been paid in full? They just flat-out ignore my verbal requests to clear the freeze.

So, the account stays locked, interest keeps piling up, and while I get a tiny sliver of my paycheck through a protected account, the rest goes straight to them.
It isn't debt collection anymore—since the debt is settled—it's more like a monthly tribute to a broken legal system that's driving me toward financial ruin.


Get the media involved. Reach out to newspapers, news sites, or better yet, investigative TV shows (like those consumer watchdog programs on major networks). Just make sure you have all your paperwork and a clear timeline ready to go.
Jack Edwards5 Jack Edwards5 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Jan 2016
#1709 ·
Dennis Jackson6 said:Get the media involved. Reach out to newspapers, news sites, or better yet, investigative TV shows (like those consumer watchdog programs on major networks). Just make sure you have all your paperwork and a clear timeline ready to go.

Isn't there some other way?
I’d rather not go on TV right now—I'm far too shy, and let's just say the camera doesn't exactly love me.
rowdyraven112 rowdyraven112 Active Member
248 messages
joined Jun 2024
#1710 ·
Jack Edwards5 said:Isn't there some other way?
I’d rather not go on TV right now—I'm far too shy, and let's just say the camera doesn't exactly love me.

This is exactly why I’m losing the will to comment on anything at all. First off, you claim the debt is paid off. On what basis are you making that claim? Your own math? How did you even make the payments? Based on what? A verbal agreement?

Of course there's another way. But that route requires specific investments—buying gear for an assault or self-defense—and actually using it, which pretty much runs afoul of several sections of the Penal Code.
rowdyraven112 rowdyraven112 Active Member
248 messages
joined Jun 2024
#1711 ·
Brandon Hill8 said:
I don't even know where to start with this mess. It’s one thing to deal with bureaucratic nonsense, but when you realize how much they're trying to skirt the rules, it's infuriating. Honestly, I’m just sitting here staring at my screen wondering how anyone can sleep at night knowing this kind of stuff is happening under our noses. It feels like every time you think you have a handle on the situation, some new loophole pops up. It’s exhausting. You try to follow the law—you try to do things by the book—and then you see people playing games with the system. It makes you want to throw your laptop out the window. There’s zero accountability, and frankly, that's the most insulting part of the whole ordeal. We deserve better than this constant runaround. kaže:
Look, if you’re operating in Marvel’s world and you actually have someone reliable on your side, you solemnize a loan agreement with a repayment term spanning a few years. But here's the kicker: you bake in a clause stating that the first installment has to be paid within 10 days of the solemnization. If they miss even a single payment after that? The creditor has the immediate right to trigger enforcement under the Uniform Enforcement of Judgments Act. You don't need me to walk you through it—all the details on how solemnization works are easily available online.
What's the catch?
Look, people need to get this straight: there is a massive difference between a certified document and an enforceable instrument. You can’t just lump them together. If you’re trying to go after someone using a certified document, you aren't hitting up the IRS for immediate collection. It doesn't work like that. But once you have an enforceable instrument? You're straight to the collection phase immediately, regardless of whether the judgment is final or not. Get it right.
Once you get that loan agreement notarized, it becomes an enforceable instrument. I’m pretty sure the IRS would even allow for direct collection if you file the right paperwork—though I might be slightly off on the exact technicality there. Either way, if you can't go through the IRS to settle it, your next move is hitting up the courts to file for a judgment.
Once the court hands down that ruling, your judgment goes straight to the IRS for collection. You need to move fast—immediately file through the court to switch up the payment method and get that lien recorded. If the value of what they owe you actually exceeds the value of the property itself, you can use that lien to secure ownership of the real estate. Don't just sit there waiting; take control of the process.
That’s exactly how things work in the comic book world. Here’s the catch. Let’s say someone abuses the system because a close relative doesn't have the cash to cover a loan they secured with a lien. The silver lining here? A third party can’t come along and challenge a contract made between two other people. So, if you just keep your mouth shut and don't go blabbing about it, you could actually save a piece of real estate by having that relative transfer the title into your name.
Why on earth are there three separate contracts? You’ve got one for the property, one for the IRS, and then another one just to verify where the income is coming from. It makes zero sense.
It’s a little late in the game to be reacting once the creditor is already gearing up to pull the trigger on an enforcement action. You really should have moved much faster than this.
It’s pretty obvious this whole thing is going to tank if there’s already some kind of lien on the property.
A gift contract isn't the silver bullet everyone thinks it is. Here’s why: any third party can come out of the woodwork and challenge that agreement for up to three years. After that window slams shut, they're out of luck because the statute of limitations kicks in. It’s a massive loophole you have to account for.
Sure, I’m just talking out of my ass here. But this is just a tiny glimpse into the playbook these big shots use when they borrow billions and then just walk away from the debt. This is exactly why we’re sitting on $50 billion in non-performing assets. Those bottom-feeders? They probably account for maybe a billion of that total.

And you still haven't actually answered my question.

Look, your line of reasoning opens the door to massive civil liability—we’re talking huge payouts—for at least three different reasons. Plus, you're staring down potential criminal charges. Honestly? It’s basically a dream scenario for any lawyer.

To actually dismantle your entire little scheme for dodging an enforcement action, I’d need to sit down and write a medium-length essay—but let’s just keep it brief for now.

Look, an enforcement instrument isn't the same thing as a legal basis for payment under the Uniform Enforcement of Judgments Act. Period. That means just because you have an enforcement document doesn't mean it automatically serves as the grounds for a direct seizure of funds. Take your notarized contract, for example—that’s an enforcement instrument, sure, but it isn't the specific basis that allows the IRS to go straight for your bank account. And honestly, even though you're tripping over your own feet here—one second you say they are, then you say maybe they aren't, then you act like you aren't sure—you're actually heading in the right direction.

Look, let’s get one thing straight: all the payment basics don't just need to be legally binding—they have to be enforceable. There's a massive difference. You can't jump the gun here. Finality comes first, then enforceability follows. It works like this: once a judgment becomes final, you wait out the grace period for voluntary payment. Only after that window slams shut does the order actually become enforceable. That grace period is usually spelled out right there in the legal instrument itself, but if it isn't? Then you fall back on the standard provisions under the Uniform Enforcement of Judgments Act. Simple as that.

If you’re trying to stop a foreclosure on your property, listen up. You need to act fast before things go south. If you want to protect your real estate from being seized, there are specific legal maneuvers you can pull, but you have to know the rules of the game. Look, if you're staring down the barrel of a judgment, you need to understand how the Uniform Enforcement of Judgments Act works in this country. It’s not just about waiting around for a process server to show up at your door; it’s about knowing your rights under the law before the hammer drops. Most people just sit there and let it happen because they’re paralyzed by fear, but that’s a losing strategy. I've seen people try to hide assets or shuffle paperwork at the last minute, thinking they're being clever. It rarely works, and honestly, it usually just makes the legal headache ten times worse. You need a solid plan, not a bunch of half-baked excuses. Get your ducks in a row, look into the exemptions available under our laws, and for heaven's sake, talk to someone who actually knows their way around an American courtroom before you lose everything.Look, let’s be real here—it’s physically impossible to pull that off without the debt being backed up. Period.Look, you don't go to court just to run to the IRS, only to end up back in court again. That’s a massive waste of both time and money. If you’re sitting on a fake contract that you're trying to pass off as an enforceable instrument, you can skip the runaround and head straight to the courthouse to file a fraudulent lien against their real estate. But hey, let's actually break this down for a second.

First off, you aren't recording a lien; you're filing a notice of levy, which just gives you priority in the repayment queue based on when it's recorded. Hmm. Hmm...

The question that pops out of nowhere from your little "plan" is this: Are you trying to block a foreclosure on real estate or a seizure of cash assets while the actual creditor starts collecting?

Look, if you follow your plan and use some fake contract to hit the IRS, they’ll go after your real estate. But if you target the real estate first, the creditor will go after your bank accounts (assuming they haven't already secured a lien on the property, in which case they're definitely going for the house). Now, if you don't have any liquid cash, the creditor is going to start hunting for your properties—the very ones you've already tried to "foreclose" on using your sham contract. Then, they pull that notarized agreement out of court. They see how you signed after you already owed him the money, and boom—your fake foreclosure gets frozen and you're stuck in litigation. You'll face a challenge to the validity of your contract, you'll get slapped with legal fees, and you'll end up having accomplished absolutely nothing except being liable for the entire debt plus interest, plus attorney fees that are now five times higher, plus whatever you spent on the notarization.

Furthermore, there's the bright side: a third party can contest an agreement between two other people and argue that the whole thing is void. Especially in your specific scenario involving a fraudulent contract that the law explicitly deems null and void—call it invalidity or whatever makes you feel better. If a third party could never contest a contract between two other parties, then a wife whose husband mortgaged or sold their joint furniture (or the house they built together) without her knowledge would have zero legal protection.

Also, statutes of limitations don't apply to void contracts.

And another thing: you're confusing a notice of levy with the registration of a real estate lien. It's not that surprising, honestly. Registering a lien is a completely different legal mechanism with totally different consequences. A notice of levy is an enforcement action carried out by the court automatically the moment a levy petition is filed. But here's the kicker: regardless of whether we're talking about registering a lien (which you consent to by signing a loan agreement, for example) or a notice of levy, neither can be stopped. You can't stop the first because you agreed to it, and you can't stop the second because it's a mandatory enforcement action. Even if you somehow beat the creditor to the punch with the second one, the truth comes out (that you signed the deal after you were already in debt), and we're right back to what I said before.

Get it? Or don't. That's the reality.

Bottom line: draw your own conclusion about how much nonsense you're talking. If nothing else, go back to the second and third sentences of my post and let them sink in—for you and for anyone else who thinks your "strategy" is actually a solution. But hey, I've already told you this on this forum before, so do whatever you want.

I already deleted most of it because your essay was too long... I just left this bit.

Here’s the reality. For starters, I can't even define who would use this or how, since what's $167 a fortune to one person is peanuts to someone else.
The facts justifying the process are pretty clear-cut:
- Creditor arrogance
- Lawyer arrogance and their fees
- Notary arrogance and their fees
- Court arrogance and legal costs
- Statutory arrogance
- IRS arrogance
Statutory arrogance:
An interest rate of 12% is nothing short of predatory—pure usury. I won't even go into historical rates, otherwise some pregnant woman reading this might go into premature labor. Long story short, if you had a debt from 1997 for, say, $333, applying those old rates means it's an order of magnitude higher today $67 (and yes, those kinds of judgments exist; I've seen them personally). Anyone who thinks this kind of collection is fair... Let's be clear: half of the $33 billion owed by individuals is just interest. I fully agree that people who don't pay should be penalized. However, the recent Consumer Protection Act addresses the disparity between individuals and corporations by setting corporate penalty rates at "savings account" levels. Unfortunately, the law defines what makes a contract usurious, but doesn't address usurious interest rates specifically.
Creditor arrogance:
Every creditor waits until the absolute last second to file a judgment, just so they can squeeze out extra profit through these predatory interest rates. Of course, the creditor claims they warned the debtor via notices (which, mind you, they actually charged fees for), but they never bother to check if those notices ever actually reached the debtor. The creditor's mail logs are considered "proof" that the person received everything.
Arrogance of courts, lawyers, notaries, and the IRS:
It's an open secret that the courts are in bed with lawyers and big capital. Judgment filings sit in drawers for years (though I'll admit they've gotten faster lately). And now someone is telling me that nobody is held accountable when a debtor gets hit with a judgment after ten years??? It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that there's no accountability, no agency where you can report what is essentially a crime. Collection costs??? Per the law, the debtor pays the lawyer, the notary/court, and finally the fees for the IRS to freeze the accounts. On top of all that, there's tax. The debtor is lucky they aren't also being billed for US Chamber of Commerce or American Bar Association fees.

Because of all this, it isn't just necessary—it's a duty—to force this arrogance toward a settlement. Because if a judgment hits property or a checking account, let's be real: even I would ignore any whining coming from the debtor side.

How and in what way? There are several ways, and I won't waste time explaining them all, because people are terrified of exactly the kind of posts written by people like you, and they won't dare take action. What I wrote is just one method, and I didn't even finish detailing it because I ran out of time.
The legal rights for creditors you listed are correct, but let's get one thing straight. You’re claiming the people pushing these fake foreclosures could practically sell their own organs just to pay off a lawsuit. Well, I’d say the person filing the suit is just as likely to end up in that same spot. What you missed in your argument is this: once a ruling is final, only another binding court order can overturn it. There is a massive, uphill battle between merely contesting something and actually proving it. Claiming anyone is 100% in the right is reckless. Even lawyers will tell you that if you actually bother to ask.
Jack Edwards5 Jack Edwards5 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Jan 2016
#1712 ·
rowdyraven112 said:This is exactly why I’m losing the will to comment on anything at all. First off, you claim the debt is paid off. On what basis are you making that claim? Your own math? How did you even make the payments? Based on what? A verbal agreement?

Of course there's another way. But that route requires specific investments—buying gear for an assault or self-defense—and actually using it, which pretty much runs afoul of several sections of the Penal Code.

Yes, the debt is settled. It was paid based on the collector's calculations—unfortunately, we only had a verbal agreement. I sent the payment directly to his account in one lump sum. It was my mistake not to deposit that amount into my own account first; if I had, they probably would have just seized it from there. At least, that's my assumption. After that, nothing happened. The freeze on my accounts remains in place. And every single month, I get a reminder. I’m in a pretty miserable spot—honestly, I can barely swallow. 😢 I am at a loss. And frankly, I don’t understand why everyone is losing their composure and bringing up extrajudicial methods and means.
John Clark6 John Clark6 Regular
290 messages
joined Jun 2011
#1713 ·
Counterclaims... lawsuits... unjust enrichment... those are all terms that probably apply to what you're dealing with right now—and honestly, once you get moving, you can hit them back with some serious legal fees and damages... but, I guess, that’s something you’d handle through an attorney rather than just venting about it here on a forum...
crimsonbadger24 crimsonbadger24 Member
30 messages
joined Mar 2015
#1714 ·
John Clark6, you better not forget about those legal fees and court costs because they aren't exactly pocket change, plus you’re looking at years of litigation if the court system even decides to wrap things up eventually...

I mean, if you get a little bit lucky, maybe—and I say maybe here—they won't go completely bust before you actually manage to collect whatever you're owed...
John Clark6 John Clark6 Regular
290 messages
joined Jun 2011
#1715 ·
crimsonbadger24 said:John Clark6, you better not forget about those legal fees and court costs because they aren't exactly pocket change, plus you’re looking at years of litigation if the court system even decides to wrap things up eventually...

I mean, if you get a little bit lucky, maybe—and I say maybe here—they won't go completely bust before you actually manage to collect whatever you're owed...

I was just sitting here crunching the numbers on those specific costs—and honestly, I can't help but wonder if they’ll end up footing the bill for all of that too if things go south. It seems like such a headache! In my opinion, it would probably be much more cost-effective for them to simply refund the difference and unfreeze the account once the dust settles... though, of course, I wouldn't dream of jumping into anything like that without some solid proof in hand first.
Dennis Miller4 Dennis Miller4 Newcomer
1 message
joined Jan 2016
#1716 ·
What’s the play when your bank account gets frozen? My bank locked me out because of a court judgment that’s already been overturned. The debt was listed based on that initial ruling, but since the whole thing was thrown out, the debt shouldn't even be on the books anymore—yet there it is, still sitting in their records.

Who do I need to hunt down to get this wiped clean? Is it even possible to clear it once it's hit the system?
John Clark6 John Clark6 Regular
290 messages
joined Jun 2011
#1717 ·
Dennis Miller4 said:What’s the play when your bank account gets frozen? My bank locked me out because of a court judgment that’s already been overturned. The debt was listed based on that initial ruling, but since the whole thing was thrown out, the debt shouldn't even be on the books anymore—yet there it is, still sitting in their records.

Who do I need to hunt down to get this wiped clean? Is it even possible to clear it once it's hit the system?

Well, I suppose you’d have to go through the court then, if what you're saying is true... I mean, the court should have been the one to notify the IRS about the change.
restlesstrucker85 restlesstrucker85 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Feb 2016
#1718 ·
So, I totally blanked on paying my trash collection fees for March, April, and May, but after that, I was back on track and paid everything right on time. Suddenly, I get hit with a formal "notice of intent to garnish wages" $293 —$87 basically an outstanding balance owed to the sanitation department and, apparently, a discrepancy $227 that someone at the local courthouse decided to take notice of.
I didn't waste any time, though; I settled the full debt immediately and emailed the payment confirmation to both the sanitation department and the clerk's office. But then, out of nowhere, I get an email from the court stating that I still owe money because, and I quote, "Furthermore, the costs of legal enforcement and statutory interest have not been satisfied.
Consequently, please remit your remaining debt in the amount of $45.20."
Then, just as if things weren't confusing enough, the sanitation department sends me a nearly identical letter with that exact same figure. Now I’m sitting here wondering where the difference from $227 went, why on earth I'm suddenly being asked for $107, and whether I actually have to pay this court official since I never even requested their services or used them for anything
If anyone has a bit of wisdom or knows how these things usually play out, I'd really appreciate the help.
restlesstrucker85 restlesstrucker85 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Feb 2016
#1719 ·
Yeah, I haven't received any warnings or anything like that
darkmaker94 darkmaker94 Regular
417 messages
joined Aug 2011
#1720 ·
Need some advice here.

My mom just got hit with a garnishment notice at her job from Con Edison dating all the way back to 2001. After digging through the paperwork and piecing together what happened, here’s the timeline:

June 16, 2001: Con Edison files a petition with the court to seize assets and collect a monetary claim against the debtor.
July 5, 2001: The court issues an enforcement order. My mom never actually received this notice. Then, absolutely nothing happens for 14 straight years.
September 8, 2015: The court orders the enforcement to be suspended because the creditor didn't cover the costs for the marshal.
January 18, 2016: The court issues a transfer order, basically telling my mom's employer they have to pay out the debt from the original order.

First off, I don't get how this works. If the enforcement was suspended in September 2015, how can they just pick it back up in January 2016? It's the exact same case and case number, so the creditor didn't even file a new petition.
Also, shouldn't this whole thing be past the statute of limitations? Isn't the limit for final judgments ten years?

What should we do? Her company's accounting department says they have no choice but to follow the court order.

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