the best way to handle this without the judgement going on my credit. Should I go into court with an attorney? Can you tell me how much will it cost? Will the attorney make a difference versus me going in by myself & telling them I lost my job & begging for mercy?
2007-09-19 15:11:34 · 5 answers · asked by strongchin1 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
Why didn't you pay the loan you owed in the first place? Why did you wait to let it get this bad? If you owe the money, the best thing you can do is pay it in full. If you can't do that, then make payment arrangements ASAP. Even if you lost your job and have a sad story, it's not the credit union's fault. You can't blame them!
Now, on the other hand - if for some reason you don't feel you owe them money, then you need to go to court. It sounds like there was a default judgement because you didn't show up. That means you have 1 year from that judgment to go back to court to tell your side of the story. In that case, the judge may agree with you and say you don't have to pay it...but that's only if you have a really good reason (like they never made you a loan in the first place, so you shouldn't have to pay something back you never got).
2007-09-19 15:18:53 · answer #1 · answered by mukwonago53149 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I do not know what State you live in now. A judgment will appear on your credit report. If you do not owe the money, in New York State you can go to Court and say you never got served with the summons and complaint and you do not owe the money. You can ask to vacate the Judgment, but if the Judgment was obtained in NC, you would probably have to go there. If you owe the money, you probably have to pay it. However, you could call up the creditor and try and make payment arrangements. I do not think you need an attorney for Court; you can go to the pro se Clerk or the Office of the Self -Represented, but for making the deal on payment arrangements you may be better off hiring an attorney to negotiate. Attorneys are used to negotiating with other attorneys. Begging for mercy will not do much and neither will the fact that you lost your job. An attorney charges from about $750.00 - $2,500.00 to vacate a default judgment in Court and it would probably cost about $150.00 for the attorney to negotiate and try and settle your dispute or make payment arrangements.
2007-09-19 22:36:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A judgement indicates to me that you already missed the court date or hearing in this creditor suing you. This judgement serves as notice they won and you are probably going to soon see a garnishment.
judg·ment
judg·ment [jújmÉnt]
or judge·ment [jújmÉnt]
n
1. law verdict: the decision arrived at and pronounced by a court of law
2. law obligation resulting from a verdict: an obligation such as a debt that arises as a result of a court’s verdict, or a document setting out an obligation of this kind
3. decision of a judge: the decision reached by one or more judges in a contest
The judgment of the panel must be regarded as final.
4. decision on a disputed matter: an opinion formed or decision reached in the case of a disputed, controversial, or doubtful matter
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
2007-09-19 22:18:05 · answer #3 · answered by Sheila 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is this a judgment or a summons? If it's a summons, show up in court. Save the cost of the attorney if this is your debt. The creditor is going to win.
If it's a notice of a judgment, you're too late. It's already on your credit report and will stay there for 10 years. Chances are, your bank will be attached or your wages garnished.
2007-09-20 00:26:24 · answer #4 · answered by bdancer222 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you owe the money, contact the creditor and work somethng out.
2007-09-19 22:18:22 · answer #5 · answered by Max 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋