If a wage garnishment is set for a certain time frame and is up before the amount is paid in full what are the

Question

options. I was contacted by the legal firm handling the case and they want me to sign up to extend the period to pay off in full and pay the court costs without going to court etc. What is my best form of action to cut down the amount I am paying? It's not that I don't want to give them their $ it's just that it's putting me in a financial pickle. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Normally the garnishment continues till the debt is paid.  The judgment should have been the total amount you owed, including court costs and specified interest.

I wouldn't be so quick to agree to anything.  Get out that judgment and any other legal paperwork and read thru it carefully.  You may even want to lay out some money for an attorney to look it over.

Answer 2

Yet another batch of crappy answers.  Maybe I can help.

Yes folks, it's true!  Many states put a time limit on the length of time a garnishment is "active".  In Michigan it's 91 days.  After this time the creditor must go back to court and file a new motion for garnishment.

Now my question..why are you making it so easy on these guys?  Ask them to cut out a portion of your debt in exchange for your cooperation.  

Better yet, why not go back to court and file a motion for installment payments.  Show the judge that the amount of the garnishment difficult for you to pay, and see if they will allow you smaller installment payments instead.  In most cases they will allow it, ad it puts a hold on any further garnishment or writs by the collection agent.

Answer 3

never heard of a garnishment based on time - it's usually until whatever is being garnished for is paid off including fees and interest

Answer 4

If you don't agree, they will go to court.  This will increase their court costs, which you are liable for and end up increasing what you owe.  Besides, the longer you drag this out, the more interest gets added on.

This is a case where the quickest soloution is the best.  Continuing the wage withholding may put you in a pickle, but and other answer may actually make your situation worse.  Get this behind you and get on with your life.