THE TOUGHEST DEBT TO COLLECT

Typically these are middle-income individuals who own their own small business, for example a general contractor, plumber, or beautician. These individuals tend to consider themselves judgment proof and that mentality is reinforced by the economic nature of their employment. They are well experienced in dealing with cash flow problems and pay all of their bills when they are flush with cash and pay none of their bills when they have no cash. They are typically not intimidated by having past due bills and are for the most part, are immune from typical judgment collection activities. The main reason that they are immune or consider themselves immune is that a standard garnishment on the employer, either themselves or the business that they own and run, results in no cash. They will typically answer the garnishment that the business either makes no money, if it’s a garnishment on the business itself or if it’s a garnishment on the owner, that he takes no salary from the business. However, there are several effective methods for collecting debts from a self-employed debtor.

This simply means issuing a Writ of Garnishment, which is a court order authorizing the Sheriff or Law Enforcement Official to go to the business and seize any money found at the business. The garnishment may be issued for the cash draw and/or the cash register and/or any money found on the person of the business owner. The Writ of Garnishment for the cash draw will not typically result in the collection of enough cash to satisfy the debt. However, it does not take this occurring more than once or twice before the self-employed debtor will contact you and make arrangements for satisfaction of the debt.

A second effective method of collecting from the self-employed debtor is a Writ of Execution or Attachment on the work vehicle and tools of the business or business owner. Again, this is a court order issued by the court directing the Sheriff to go to the place of business and seize certain physical assets of the business. I typically file Writs of Execution for the vehicles and for the tools of the trade of that business. For example, for a plumber, the Writ of Execution would specify the work truck and all of the plumbing tools found on the premises. Again, auction of these items on the courthouse steps, will not typically generate sufficient cash to satisfy the outstanding judgment. However, before you can proceed to auction, I guarantee you will be contacted by the self-employed debtor seeking arrangements for satisfaction of the debt and return of his vehicle and tools.

How To Beat An Old Credit Card Debt:-1

What is the best weapon to beat an old credit card debt? The answer is time or said in fancy legalese, the Statute of Limitations. The Statute of Limitations is a deadline you have to sue someone. The Statute of Limitations is different for every type of lawsuit and varies from state to state. For example, in the state of Tennessee the Statute of Limitations for an open account or contract is six years. That means that a company has six years to file a lawsuit against from the day you default on your agreement. One day beyond that six years, and their lawsuit is barred by the Statute of Limitations. So the questions are; what Statute of Limitations applies and When did default occur. The most applicable Statute of Limitations will likely either be one for contract (may be for breach of contract) or for open account. An open account is essentially a line of revolving credit. You can find your state's appropriate Statute of Limitation from a link on the right side of this blog entitled "Debt Law for All 50 States". Once you know how long the right Statute of Limitations is for your state, then you need to determine when did default occur. If you are being sued for an old credit card debt that has been sold several times, then it is likely that the current owner has no idea or more importantly, no proof, of when you defaulted. You should argue that your default occur ed the day your first payment was due that you did not pay. Hopefully, you have some written evidence of that; a past due bill, a collection letter, etc. If you do not, then file an affidavit alleging the date and then the burden will shift to the debt purchaser to prove that the suit was not brought in violation of the Statute of Limitations.

How To Beat An Old Credit Card Debt:-2

The second best weapon to defeat a suit based upon an old credit card debt is CROSS EXAMINATION. The majority of collection suits filed by second or third hand debt buyers are based upon a sworn affidavit. That is an affidavit from someone who works for the debt buyer that says they are familiar with the books and records and your account and that you owe x number of dollars. If no one shows up on the day the matter is set in court, that document is sufficient to allow the debt collector to take a judgment. However, in all courts, you as the defendant have a Constitutional right to cross examination of the party testifying against your interests. And you cannot cross examine a piece of paper. What that means is that the company suing you has to produce a real live breathing witness who can truthfully and accurately testify about your account and be subject to being cross examined by you. Most credit card debt purchasers deal in a volume business and have no interest in going to the expense of making such a witness available in your jurisdiction. Many judges, however, will gloss over your right to cross examination unless you clearly assert that right and demand the opportunity. Your ability to actually cross examine is not as important as forcing the debt collector's hand in producing a live witness.

How To Beat An Old Credit Card Debt: Part Three

Read the contract. Almost all debt collection law suits based upon aged credit card debts are breach of contract suits. What that means is that you are being sued for breaking your written promise to repay the debt. Therefore, the key to the suit is the actual written contract. In this case, that means the long, very fine printed, agreement you signed way back when you were first issued the credit card. You need to get a copy of this and read it, every word of it. Getting it may be difficult. If you are being sued in small claims type of court, you may not have the benefit of formal discovery. Formal discovery is used by lawyers to learn about the other sides case. One tool of formal discovery is the Request for Production of Documents. If the court you are being sued in is governed by Rules of Civil Procedure, then you may file a formal Request for Production of Documents before your trial date and obtain a copy of the contract. If the court is an informal or non-rule court, then you need to request a copy of the contract from the collection attorney. You need to make that request politely, in writing and by certified mail. That way if you aren't provided a copy and you see it for the first time at trial, the judge will be sympathetic with you and grant you either a break to review the document or a continuance. So now you have the contract, what are you looking for? You need to examine the maximum amount of interest you are allowed to be charged under the agreement. Has the debt buyer exceeded that amount? Has the debt buyer exceeded that amount by adding on collection fees and costs? Does the amount now sued for exceed your state's usury statute? Next, does the agreement require the suit to be brought in a particular jurisdiction or state? If so, you may be able to have the suit dismissed in your jurisdiction. Does the agreement require either arbitration or mediation? Again, if so you may be able to have the suit dismissed. In the last two examples, particularly with aged debt, the delay in having to either refile in the proper jurisdiction or in the proper forum may run the creditor past the statute of limitations we discussed in part one. So, the bottom line is get a copy of the contract and read it. Read every word of it.