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Fubbalicious t1_ja9ziyx wrote

Sorry to say this to you, but once they get a legal judgement against you they can use that judgement to lien your bank accounts and other real property (eg. house, car, etc). I would suggest working out a payment program with them so they don't start garnishing your wages or lien your bank account (especially at inopportune times like when rent is due), that way you can at least keep excess money in the bank without risk versus trying to live as a cash only nomad with nothing in your name.

As a general warning to others, once creditor gets a judgement against you, it's too late to even file bankruptcy since that debt will stay with you so long as they keep renewing the debt--which they can do indefinitely. Also depending on the laws of your state, you may also owe compound interest on this debt if it's not being regularly paid off.

If you ever get into a situation where you're unable to pay your creditors and they are threatening legal action, SEEK legal help immediately. If you were eligible for bankruptcy, you could have filed bankruptcy before the judgement and depending on that debt, it would have been discharged.

In any case, it doesn't hurt to reach out and try to get an offer in compromise. They may settle for a lower amount than what is owed or will be owed with interest/penalties, but with the judgement they really don't need to. Since you have nothing to lose for asking I would at least try.

Edit: I also should mention that judgement proof generally means that the person who has a judgement against them will not have any assets worth the plaintiff's time to go after. Depending on your age and your future earning potential and whether you want to go through the rest of your life with no bank account or assets in your name and how aggressive the plantiff is in going after you, you may or may not be judgement proof. So in other words, if you make barely any reportable money, live only on physical cash and avoid putting anything in your name (eg. home, cars, etc), then yeah I guess you're judgement proof. If you have any aspirations to move beyond that, then that judgement will hover over your head until it's paid.

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dotHack_Effect OP t1_jab4crp wrote

Thank you for your response, I'll definitely get in touch with the creditor as soon as possible. It's definitely a HUGE lesson learned; hopefully it won't get any worse than it already has... Talk about learning lessons the hard way.

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