I had a car repossesed in 2008 in the state of Virginia. I live in Louisiana now and its 2011. The collection agency took it to a local court in virginia in August of 2010. I did not receive ANY notice of this and the amount they want is a little over 5k. What will happen to me if I do nothing. I just received this letter feb 12 of 2011. Can they garnish from me even though I live all they way out here. And my jobs headquarters is all the way in Minnesota.

If you didn't receive any notice of it, how do you know about it?

If you do nothing, they can get a default judgment. Louisiana is required, by the U.S. constitution, to give full faith and credit to such a judgment.

You received a "letter" on Feb. 12th? Was this a letter or a court summons?

As I said, the full faith and credit clause allows them to enforce the judgment in any state. How exactly they will do it is a matter of state law, but it can be done.

Assuming they got a default judgment because you didn't show, you may be able to get the judgment vacated on the grounds of improper service. But even if you do that's only a delaying tactic. They will refile and get a judgment anyway. So you are better off trying to reach a settlement with them.

They gave me the letter stating that the court date was last August and that I owe them the money