JUDGMENT COLLECTORS

INTERCEPTING THE SALE

We discovered a debtor’s property was being sold and acted immediately. Before the transaction could close, we secured the sale proceeds at the title company, protecting our client’s claim. When the debtor tried to block payment by challenging service of process in the underlying lawsuit, we didn’t back down. We successfully contested their arguments and proved proper service. The funds were released and our client received full payment.

The lesson: Debtors will use every technicality to avoid payment. We know how to counter their tactics and secure what you’re owed.

THE AUCTION THAT NEVER HAPPENED

A debtor ignored all payment demands—until we identified real estate he owned and initiated foreclosure proceedings. We scheduled the property for auction and moved forward with the sale. As the auction date approached, reality set in. Rather than lose his property, the debtor came to the table with a settlement offer. Our client received a lump sum payment that resolved the entire debt.

The lesson: Strategic pressure works. When debtors see we’re serious about liquidating their assets, they find money they claimed didn’t exist.

EVERY PAYCHECK UNTIL IT’S PAID

A debtor had been dodging child support obligations for years, leaving our client with mounting unpaid debt and broken promises. Traditional collection efforts went nowhere — until we located his employer. We initiated wage garnishment, and now the debt is being systematically paid down with every paycheck. No more excuses. No more delays. Just steady, automatic payments until the obligation is fulfilled.

The lesson: Debtors can’t hide from their paychecks. When we find their income source, collection becomes inevitable.

HANGAR DISCOVERY LEADS TO SETTLEMENT

A judgment case had gone dormant with no activity for an extended period. The debtor likely assumed the matter had been forgotten or abandoned—but we never give up. We continued monitoring and checking real estate records across multiple counties. Our persistence paid off when we discovered the debtor owned an airplane hangar in a different county close to his primary residence. Soon after, we noticed the hangar was listed for sale. We contacted the debtor with this new information, and suddenly we had his full attention. The discovery led to a favorable settlement of the matter, with the debtor motivated to resolve the debt rather than risk losing sale proceeds.

The lesson: Dormant doesn’t mean dead. Continuous monitoring and cross-county asset searches uncover opportunities that lead to settlements. Debtors who think they’ve outlasted collection efforts are in for a surprise.

REAL ESTATE

We were engaged to collect on a judgment owned by a bank. We found real estate owned by the borrower. While there was an option of putting the property into foreclosure to collect funds, we worked with the debtor to come up with a repayment plan that was workable for them while providing recovery of the debt.

COOKED BOOKS AT A MANUFACTURING COMPANY

We owned an interest in a judgment owed by a manufacturing company. For years they had told creditors that they could pay little or nothing on their debts because the company was not making any money. Once we got involved we determined that their financial statements were being kept on the accrual basis and one of the reasons for the apparent lack of net income was interest expense being accrued on debts to related parties. After the amount of interest was added back to their income we were able to come to a settlement where a substantial amount was recovered for the judgment holder.

FOUND RECENTLY SOLD ASSET

A debtor appeared to have no collectible assets, but we knew better than to take that at face value. After being hired to collect the judgment, we conducted a nationwide asset search—looking not only for currently owned assets but also for recently sold property. Our investigation revealed that the debtor had recently sold property in Alaska. Armed with this knowledge of the sale proceeds, we were able to negotiate from a position of strength. The debtor could no longer claim poverty when we had proof of recent liquidity. Our client received a successful settlement of the debt.

The lesson: Knowing what a debtor has—and what they recently had—is a key part of our collection strategy. Recent sales reveal hidden funds and eliminate excuses.

Disclaimer: These include situations worked on by Judgment Collectors principals prior to their joining Judgment Collectors.