Why do collectors go forth with a citation to discover assets, if the debtor does not have enough income to garnish, and has sent notarized proof of this? Are they not able to verify employment etc without a citation(for instance, income tax returns, etc)? Or do they request the citation, just to verify the above is true? In other words, just procedure? I've always thought collectors could confirm if someone is working or not, through federal systems of some sort.
Unless you flat out admit who your employer is, or they file a suit mandating you to reveal your current employer there are only two ways for a collection agency to find out where you work, follow your every step once you leave your house, and follow you inside a building - which would be pretty useless if there are more than one company in that building. The only other way would be for them to go to your state's unemployment tax division, get that state agency to run your name and SS # through their system. What I don't know if that state agency would legally have to reveal that info if the collector wants it without an actual court order.
The simplest way to tell is by a priority CRA pull, assuming the debtor's place of employment hasn't changed since he or she last applied for credit.
Not really. I've been on Social security now for two years, but applied several times for credit cards. My credit report still lists my last employer but nothing to the effect that I am disabled and on SS.
Yes, but if they contact that employer and get confirmation that you no longer work there, what have they accomplished? Also, credit cards pulling credit are most likely automated for approval/disaproval. An attorney's office pulling credit for judgment enforcement is going to be doing more legwork.
There are plenty of ways to verify employment. There are agencies that keep these kinds of records. They can hire someone to interview neighbors or relatives. They can go to the employer on your report and find out if you work there. If not, they may get friendly with some of the employees and ask around. Someone will probably talk. When I worked in the insurance industry many years ago, there were agencies like the credit bureaus who not only compiled databases of information about people, but who went out and did neighborhood checks. I don't know if they can still so this or not, but certainly a private investigator can. He'll talk to neighbors, friends, anyone he can find. And as he goes along, he asks who else would know the person, then goes and talks to them, etc.
