If you listen to some debt collectors, you might be fooled
into thinking that they will seize your very next paycheck unless
you make a payment right then and there. The threat of losing
part of one's wages to a garnishment action is truly frightening
to someone already struggling financially. But this is mainly
an intimidation tactic used by collectors to scare people into
committing to a payment schedule whether or not they have the
funds available.
Actual garnishment actions are relatively rare,
and do not happen without advance warning. First, a creditor
must bring a lawsuit, obtain a judgment, and then take an additional
step to obtain authorization for the garnishment. Plus only one
creditor can garnish your wages at a time.
No one can take your
paycheck without court approval, and you must be given notice
of such court action through formal documentation. So don't be
fooled by one of the oldest collection tricks in the book.
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