How long does it take for a credit card company to garnish wages?
Sarah Martinez
Updated on January 30, 2026
The court will send notices to you and your bank or employer, and the garnishment will begin in five to 30 business days, depending on your creditor and state. The garnishment continues until the debt, potentially including court fees and interest, is paid.
Can credit card Judgements garnish wages?
California law limits the amount that a creditor can garnish (take) from your wages for repayment of debts. For instance, if you’re behind on credit card payments or owe a doctor’s bill, those creditors can’t garnish your wages unless they sue you and get a judgment.
Can creditors garnish your whole paycheck?
For most types of debt, your creditors must have a judgment against you in order to have your wages garnished. This means that you must be sued in court (and lose) before a creditor can have your employer deduct money from your paycheck.
Can a credit card company garnish your paycheck?
Credit card companies can garnish (take) your wages just like most other creditors. However, before taking part of your paycheck, the credit card company must first: sue you in court. obtain a money judgment, and. get a court order directing your employer to deduct funds.
How does a nonwage garnishment work on a credit card?
But with nonwage garnishment, your money is seized from your bank account. Typically, with credit card debt, your creditor has to sue you in court and win before a wage garnishment can happen.
Can you stop wage garnishment on your credit card debt?
If you really do owe the money to the credit card company or debt collector, then stopping the garnishment is difficult. But even if you can’t stop it, you might be able to reduce the amount.
What to do if you get a wage garnishment?
If the credit card company decides to pursue legal action against you to obtain a wage garnishment order, ensure you prepare for that. If you have an attorney, contact the office to request services; if you don’t have a lawyer, consider hiring one right away.