Question

This is an embarrassing question. Twice now my paycheck has been garnished for medical bills. My employer gave me zero notice that this would be happening, I recieved no court order or lawsuit, I don't even know what it's for or if it's a legitimate charge. What can I do? Shouldn't I be getting advanced notice that this is going to happen? I thought creditors needed a court order to garnish that would be sent to me in advance. I didn't even know I had these things in collections! (And please don't say pay your medical bills, I do, these are extremely old and not even on my credit report. ) Thanks!  

Answer 1

Maybe ask your employer to see the paperwork that required them to do this. If I receive paperwork for garnishment, I enter it and keep the paperwork on file. I assume the employee knows about the garnishment.  

Answer 2

Typically the state does that so your employer doesn't notify you. If it's not on your credit report, you need to first figure out who is garnishing and then contest it from there.  

Comments

The state does not take money out of your paycheck. As an employer myself, I have gotten wage garnishment requests several times. I have to process the garnishment and forward the payment to the appropriate agency. An employer should, as a courtesy, ask you if the garnishment is legitimate before processing any money out of your paycheck.  

Answer 3

I think for starters you should create a free account on experian. com and see what is going on with your credit you will be able to see any accounts under your name including collections. You should also be able to get their number right from you credit report.  

Answer 4

Get the Credit Karma app and see what’s going on. There you will find your info as far collections, etc.  

Answer 5

Wow, that's disturbing. Do you think you've been the victim of identity theft and someone else is racking up medical bills? I think you'll need to see the documents your employer has rec'd to confirm their accuracy. Definitely check your credit report at all 3 credit reporting companies.  

Answer 6

Well this is scary, I have a few medical bills from when I had my son on my credit report that I can’t afford. I didn’t know they could do that without telling you  

Answer 7

Your work doesn’t tell you, the collections people would or the courts.  

Answer 8

I would tell your employer to not process any further garnishments without showing you first, that you suspect identity theft. If they received a request, it will have contact information that you can call for verification. Usually when an employer receives a request, there are two copies. One for the employers records and one to give to the employee. Something sounds odd.  

Answer 9

Whenever anything is taken out of someones paycheck I was always told I had to put a record of that with their paycheck. They should be able to see that deduction, and for the record, we always made that person sign things stating they understood this was coming out of their pay. We could only take it out if their was a signed letter agreeing, or a court order.  

Answer 10

Have you searched the court database to see if there was litigation against you?  

Comments

@phototube, then that’s not right at all. I would ask to see the hospital bill that’s in collections and wage garnishment.  

Answer 11

I hope they’re not garnishing your entire paycheck, because they can’t, legally. Also, your employer should have informed you. I would start there.  

Answer 12

Get a lawyer

Answer 13

Ask to see the garnishment. Maybe the payroll department is thinking it’s something mandatory but it might not be. I handle this stuff at work and I only put through court ordered garnishments or government ordered. But they’re not all I receive, they need to read the fine print. It’s an attempt to collect but they’re not obligated to garnish on many of them. As far as notice, they might assume you’ve gotten notice as well since most garnishments send copies to both the employee and the employer.  

Answer 14

You employer will know because they set the garnisent per a letter they receive. I would start with HR. They would have the legal communication from the creditor.  

Answer 15

Not legal at all. Unless they won a judgement in court without your knowledge. You can and should fight this.  

Answer 16

It’s possible I work as a HR I always receive all kinds of garnishment notice. I email the email before it gets deducted

Answer 17

Ask your employer to see the wage garnishment order they were sent. It should be signed by a judge and have a case number on it. Use the case number to find the court record of your case and the attorneys representing the creditor.  

Answer 18

You should seek a lawyer on this. If they won a court case they could have inflated the owed amount by thousands by adding legal fees and late payments or interest.  

Answer 19

It’s supposed to be a percentage and they do need a wage garnishment order. Ask to see it. It’s your right

Answer 20

Sorry if someone else gave the same response as me but your employer can deny the wage garnishment if they dont have a court order. You would have had to go to court. So print out a refusal of garnishment and sign it (if there is no court order) and turn it into your employer then they have to stop garnishment.  

Answer 21

This is terrifying to think about! I am so sorry this is happening to you.