Repossesed car/Wages garnished

[Ross]

I lost my job and the car I bought two years earlier was repossessed when I could no longer make the entire car payment. This happened in 1999-2000. I made an attempt to renegotiate the loan with Ford Motor Credit when I realized I couldn't pay the note in its entirety every month. They allowed me to pay the interest on the loan and defer the payment toward the end of the loan. They eventually would not accept that arrangement and repossess the car. They have a judgement against me for $13,688 and have asked my employer to send part of my wages each month. Do I have any legal options?

 

[Michael Wechsler]

You may not have the options that you hope -- read your contract. If Ford had the right to do so then your best bet would be to formally negotiate a settlement. Get it in writing and make sure that a certain amount is a full and complete settlement of the entire debt. Oral agreements are difficult if not impossible to enforce since you will need proof of the details of the agreement....