Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Washington

Collection Agency Fees

I owe money to a collection agency. The original amount of the debt was $595.00 and I was making $50.00 a month payments. Then I became unemployed and I missed 3 months of payments. Now they have sent me papers saying that they are going to garnish my wages and the fees have made this debt $1000.00. How much can they push their fees to? Also, they have my old employer on the paperwork that they say they are going to garnish, do I have to tell them who I work for?


Asked on 8/06/07, 7:02 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Elizabeth Powell ELizabeth Powell PS Inc

Re: Collection Agency Fees

I'd need to understand the basis of the debt and why the collection agency is sending you "papaers". Are these pleadings? Did they get a judgment?

It is true that if they have a judgment they can add on their costs and attorney fees (presuming they have an attorney and the fees are reasonable).

Sounds like they can push up their fees as high as you will allow. Really, the attorney fees have to be reasonable and they have to have been incurred.

It isn't your responsibility to provide them information related to your employer. However, it would be cheaper for you in the long run to tell them as it will just cost more money in the long run for them to find out.

Remember that if this is simply not within your ability to pay you can always consult with bankruptcy counsel and get the debt dealt with that way.

Hope this helps. Elizabeth Powell

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Answered on 8/06/07, 9:28 am


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