A few months ago I received a summons to appear in court due to an unpaid debt for a Capital One credit card. I made the appearance, admitted to the debt and set up a payment plan with the law firm suing me. I was never asked to sign anything. Those who admitted to their debts were simply given a few minutes to set up payment plans with the firms suing them. The lawyer I spoke with was extremely unprofessional, in my opinion. He just jotted down their phone number and address, gave me the account number to reference, and told me that the payments were due by the 15th of every month. For 2 months, I've been paying our agreed amount, which was $100. I've been sending money orders and keeping the receipts for everything. In turn, they have been sending me confirmation letters stating that they have received my payment and that my next payment is due on the 15th. Then on Saturday I received a Final Judgement Notice Form 7.343 in the mail. I admit that I don't fully understand this form. It doesn't even look like it came from the courthouse. It's not notarized, there is no seal on it. It references my case number and states that I have been ordered to pay the full sum of the debt together with the cost of the suit at the rate of 4.75% per year and thereafter pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 55.03. It is further ordered that I have to complete Florida Small Claims Rules Form 7.343 Fact Information Sheet and return to the plaintiff within 45 days from the date of the final judgement. The fact sheet asks for my bank account information, my pay stubs, my vehicle registrations and any deeds and titles I have. It also asks for my spouse's information. This is precisely what I wanted to avoid, and I thought that making an appearance in court and setting up a payment plan prevented this.
I assume this means they are going to garnish my wages after all? Or is this just in case I don't pay them on time? In the meantime, they'll have my work phone number, my husband's work phone number. Are we to expect harassment calls at work? I don't understand, and I admit that I do not want to give this information out without knowing that this is a legitimate court document, and whether or not I even have to. Does this information go to the law firm suing me or to capital one? At this point I feel like I desperately need a debt counselor or some other legal representative helping me, but I keep reading that they do more damage than good. I'm not sure bankruptcy is an option either because I don't think we would qualify.
I assume this means they are going to garnish my wages after all? Or is this just in case I don't pay them on time? In the meantime, they'll have my work phone number, my husband's work phone number. Are we to expect harassment calls at work? I don't understand, and I admit that I do not want to give this information out without knowing that this is a legitimate court document, and whether or not I even have to. Does this information go to the law firm suing me or to capital one? At this point I feel like I desperately need a debt counselor or some other legal representative helping me, but I keep reading that they do more damage than good. I'm not sure bankruptcy is an option either because I don't think we would qualify.