[emmaji]

We rented our house in WI to someone who never bothered to pay the rent. Their checks for the 1st month and the deposit bounced and they never attempted to settle the situation after that.
We went to court, and they finally got evicted. Now, how can we get the 4 months of rent they owe us? I read about garnishment, frozen and attached bank accounts... can we do that ourselves? How does that work? We already spent enough money in attorney fees and junk removal from the house, so we are quite reluctant at hiring a collector or another attorney... Thanks.

[Fr_Chuck]

Well to be honest most likely you will never see that money.

You have to get a judgement from the court, next where do you live, some states allow garnishments other do not. And in many if they are working at Min wage jobs most of their wages would be exempt also.

If they do work how often do they change jobs and so on

[emmaji]

Well to be honest most likely you will never see that money.

You have to get a judgement from the court, next where do you live, some states allow garnishments other do not. And in many if they are working at Min wage jobs most of thier wages would be exempt also.

If they do work how often do they change jobs and so on

Thanks. Do we also need a judgment to attach their bank accounts? Do you know how we get around to do this instead of garnishing the wages?

[Fr_Chuck]

Yes you will need a judgement to attach his bank account. And you will have to know where he has the bank account, but remember if his rent check bounced why do you think he has money now in that bank, And if he has another bank account how do you plan on finding it.

Please understand I am not trying to say not to try, I was a landlord for years, And sometimes it is the principle, I know I have been there.
But getting a judgement is easy collecting the money is not. I don't know any real percents but my guess is less than 1/2 of any and all judgements are ever actually collected and that would include those done by lawyers and collection agencies.

But to attach the bank account you file a moton for it, with the court where you got your judgement, in it, you inclue there personal info such as social security number and the name of the bank where the account is at.

[emmaji]

Yes you will need a judgement to attach his bank account. And you will have to know where he has the bank account, but remember if his rent check bounced why do you think he has money now in that bank, And if he has another bank account how do you plan on finding it.

I know, I know... but the guy is living somehow, and he has a van, furniture... I mean there must be a way to find out if he has another bank account. Private investigator maybe? This is so infuriating, as you apparently must know... we just want to try something.

[ballengerb1]

Unless I am reading this wrong there is nothing in their bank account so you are garnishing thin air. Take this as a loss on you taxes if you haven't mailed them in yet. Dead beat tenants are deadbeats to lots of folks, not just you. I have sued the pants of a few and don't even have their pants to show for it.