I was flat out lied to by the attorney for a credit card company who brought a small claims suit against me. I disputed the debt (and still do even after they garnished my wages) but they intimidated me into a payment arrangement then lied to me and said there was no court date anymore since I "settled". I was skeptical and called the clerk of court's office only to find out they lied and I did need to show up. I showed up for the court date, even as I argued that this court had no jurisdiction over me because I never lived in that county but no-one even the clerk's office would listen to me and I was denied the right to go before a judge. I was only given an opportunity to talk to the attorney for the credit card company and sign papers saying we had a payment arrangement. Long story short, I made 1 of 2 payments then lost my job.I called them immediately to tell them I would make the 2nd and final payment 2-3 weeks late because I had to wait for a final check. They told me okay, but unbeknownst to me,they went back to court without me and got a default judgement for $1600 on what would have been a $709 payment. iI never got notice of the court hearing nor did I ever get a copy of the judgement. I didn't find out about it until I got a wage garnishment notice from my new employer 2 1/2 years later....VERY humiliating! I also might add 2 things. My employer got the wage garnishment notice a week before I did so I couldn't even dispute it before my employer was involved. Second, I called the clerk of court's office in that county (3 hours from my home) and argued that you can't go to court without giving me a chance to defend myself and I shouldn't be forced to drive 3 hours each way to a county I never lived in. I was told by the clerk's office that they can file it wherever they want and I have to show up. I asked "So if they wanted to file this in California to be jerks you're telling me I'd have to get on a plane and fly to California to defend a $709 lawsuit???" She said "Yes." THAT HAS TO CHANGE.
Dazed and Abused
1
I was flat out lied to by the attorney for a credit card company who brought a small claims suit against me. I disputed the debt (and still do even after they garnished my wages) but they intimidated me into a payment arrangement then lied to me and said there was no court date anymore since I "settled". I was skeptical and called the clerk of court's office only to find out they lied and I did need to show up. I showed up for the court date, even as I argued that this court had no jurisdiction over me because I never lived in that county but no-one even the clerk's office would listen to me and I was denied the right to go before a judge. I was only given an opportunity to talk to the attorney for the credit card company and sign papers saying we had a payment arrangement. Long story short, I made 1 of 2 payments then lost my job.I called them immediately to tell them I would make the 2nd and final payment 2-3 weeks late because I had to wait for a final check. They told me okay, but unbeknownst to me,they went back to court without me and got a default judgement for $1600 on what would have been a $709 payment. iI never got notice of the court hearing nor did I ever get a copy of the judgement. I didn't find out about it until I got a wage garnishment notice from my new employer 2 1/2 years later....VERY humiliating! I also might add 2 things. My employer got the wage garnishment notice a week before I did so I couldn't even dispute it before my employer was involved. Second, I called the clerk of court's office in that county (3 hours from my home) and argued that you can't go to court without giving me a chance to defend myself and I shouldn't be forced to drive 3 hours each way to a county I never lived in. I was told by the clerk's office that they can file it wherever they want and I have to show up. I asked "So if they wanted to file this in California to be jerks you're telling me I'd have to get on a plane and fly to California to defend a $709 lawsuit???" She said "Yes." THAT HAS TO CHANGE.
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