Can a collection agency garnish my wages and call my job?

Full question:

A collection agency called my job about a student loan I had from way back when I was 18 and lived in NJ. They called my job and told me they are going to garnish my wages. Can they do that? And can they also call my job? Are they allowed to do that? How do I stop them from calling my job? I don't want to get fired.

Answer:

You can tell the collection agency to stop contacting you at work or at all, and they must comply. However, whether they can pursue the debt or if the statute of limitations applies is not addressed here.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Yes, debt collectors can garnish wages in New Jersey, but they must first obtain a court judgment against you. Once they have a judgment, they can file for wage garnishment. The amount that can be garnished is limited to a percentage of your disposable income, typically no more than 10% of your wages. It's important to respond to any legal notices you receive to protect your rights. *Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.*