When you think of money judgments in relation to debt collection cases, it is easy to imagine people with limited income getting in over their heads and then not being able to pay. Such scenarios are not all that uncommon. But judgment collection isn’t reserved exclusively for middle income Americans who cannot pay their bills. Even celebrities are in the crosshairs.
I bring this up because Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak was looking at having her wages garnished late last year. This, after her luxury home was auctioned off. It all stems back to credit card debt she racked up years ago. American Express sued, won its case, and has made serious efforts to collect what it is owed.
Runaway Credit Card Debt
Zolciak’s money problems go back at least seven years to 2018, when American Express filed suit over a six-figure credit card bill the reality TV star had failed to pay. American Express won a default judgment in 2019 for an amount in excess of $215,000.
Unfortunately for them, Kim Zolciak failed to make any payments for five years. But things took a turn for the better. American Express worked out a deal with Truist to begin providing the latter’s customers with a variety of credit card products. It turns out that Truist also held the mortgage on Zolciak’s mansion.
American Express decided to go after all the assets in her bank account as well as her wages and any other property that could be utilized to settle her debt. And unfortunately for Zolciak, her money troubles will not be over even after she settles up with American Express.
The Corporate Advantage at Work
The celebrity status of the debtor aside, how American Express is pursuing Zolciak is an example of the corporate advantage at work. American Express has the muscle and financial resources to insure that it gets paid one way or another. Garnishment and asset seizure are just part of the game.
What about small businesses and individuals also dealing with outstanding debts they cannot seem to collect? Do they have access to garnishment and property seizure? Yes, if they go through the same civil procedures.
Any small business or individual can sue someone for unpaid debts. And if the court rules in their favor, they can proceed with a variety of collection efforts. Whether or not those efforts succeed depends on how the winning parties proceed.
It’s Smart to Bring in Help
I am assuming American Express has not enlisted the services of a third-party collection agency or independent attorney to pursue Kim Zolciak. They have all the resources they need in-house. But for a small business or individual, things are a lot tougher. So it’s smart to bring in an agency like Salt Lake City’s Judgment Collectors.
As a collection agency specializing exclusively in money judgments, Judgment Collectors is very good at what they do. Likewise for their competitors. A specialized Utah collection agency is probably the most qualified entity to assist judgment creditors with their collection efforts.
A collection agency will be familiar with how garnishment works. Team members will be very comfortable with writs of execution, searching property records, and even skip tracing. They know how to get the job done.
As for Zolciak, she is living proof that celebrities can get in over their heads financially. And when they do, they are just as susceptible to legal actions including lawsuits, wage and bank account garnishment, and property seizure and sale. Being famous and wealthy does not shield a celebrity from having to make good on debts.