I just talked to a supervisor at Washington Mutual Bank. It seems the CA can levy the pathetic few dollars in my checking and savings account without my knowledge. Previously, I thought I'd get a summons, then go to court, and if I lost they'd get a judgement, after which they could seize my funds. However, I would be forewarned and could have taken the money out. But it seems there is more than one way for a CA to take the money from your savings and checking accounts. I though we were protected from this tactic in Texas? And if I just use cash, I'll have to go to one of those seamy check cashing places where they take 10 percent off the top. I can't afford to lose 10 percent! We're barely making it as is.
In Texas you are protected from garnishment of WAGES, not bank accounts. Why not open a bank account far away so the CA can't find it? I live in Tucson and I bank in St Paul MN by mail. No way will any CA find THAT account. With debit cards I can access my money. CA collectors armed with a judgement will look at banks near where you work and live, looking for the account. And, if they warned you they were going to take the account of course you would clean it out, so warning you is counter-productive. I posted a thread called "Frustrate a Bill Collector" or something like taht. Do a search under my screen name and find it and read it.
You can keep a ck account with $5 in it and use that to cash your pay check for free. No need to deposit it.
Most grocery stores will cash a check for free if you have ID. You can also try open a joint account with someone else as the primary on the account.
I don't know if the laws will apply the same because of the situation, but having a joint account with another primary won't always work. During a long, drug out dispute over child support, my bank account was seized because my then fiance (now husband) was listed as an authorized (read joint) user. It took almost 9 months to get the money back. Just a warning to be careful.
Brytani, You have a good point. I was thinking of when I worked for one of the major brokerage houses and there was a joint account only the primary had to give a SS#. The secondary account holder only gave their name. The brokerage house wouldn't give out any info on the secondary person. All the taxes and gains were reported under the primary holders SS#. I'm not sure if banks work the same.
Whoever told you this was incorrect. No one can take money from your account unless you: 1) Gave them your account information. Did you give them your account info? or 2) Had a judgement entered against you in court. No collector or creditor can take money fom your account without one of the above things happening.
Re: Re: CA Can Levy Your Bank Account! I had a lolng telephone conversation with the original poster. The CA does not have a judgement, has not sued and is just exerting the typical Bill Collector BS. I gave the OP lessons on how to Judgement Proof herself and she now knows how to handle the CA. With this CA I would not be surprised if there is an ITS letter in their future.
