[blackbelt2000]

Here is my situation.

Live in the state of Georgia.I owe about 2k for an air conditioner that wa sinstalled due to being hit by lightning.Contractor said file insurance claim but didn't tell us after putting in with high deductible it wouldn't cover the whole bill.We have been in bankruptcy but this debt was incurred after that.My mom has a heart condition so we had to have air for her.The contractor sued us for the rest of the payment we had already paid 500 and were fixing to make more payments.The date is in January 2008 for the hearing.He will get the judgement against us so we are not going as inablity to pay won't help us.I don't want to air our dirty laundry in front of hundreds of strangers and divulge personal inof if it won't help.We have been behind on mortgage payments and are just now catching up.

I understand that the court does not collect the judgement that the plaintiff has to against us. I am not concerned about garnishment as there is nothing to garnish we make under the federal law 25 percent rule in wages so by law they can't garnish us.I am concerned about this FI FA thing and levies of property but most of our stuff is not paid off and the other stuff I can claim is my mothers.We do want to pay him but the mortgage comes first.Any help appreciated.

[N0help4u]

The fact that you do not go will be held against you and it will be harder in the long run even if you can't afford to pay. You need to go with the hopes that something will work in your favor.

[Fr_Chuck]

First not sure about any 25 percent rule because in GA, people on min wage has their pay check garnished. So you may want to talk to an attorney before you are not scared about being Garnished in GA. GA is not a borrower friendly state.

I will say first you never been to a hearing have you? That several hundred people will be about 10 to 20 and all but a few attorneys and none that could care less about you. And what you do is show what has been the trouble and show what type of payment plan you could do, and ask that a lot of excess charges not be added. Just by showing up you normally get a lot better deal than not showing up.

[bushg]

Yeah, as fr said those 10 or 20 people will be there for the same thing you are... most likely the judge will have you sit down and work an agreement out. It is better than being garnished... you will have to pay extra fees for that.