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What to do if credit card company garnish your wages?

Author

Isabella Turner

Updated on February 08, 2026

get a court order directing your employer to deduct funds. If you’re delinquent in your credit card payments, you can take steps to avoid a garnishment. Learn when a credit card company or debt collectors can garnish your wages to collect on delinquent credit card debt, and what you can do to protect your paycheck.

Can a creditor get a wage garnishment order?

the creditor can use the money judgment to get a wage garnishment order. Of course, if you owe the debt, it will be difficult to defend the case. Instead, if you don’t answer the complaint, the court will issue a money judgment by default. You’ll lose automatically, and the creditor will be able to collect sooner.

How long does it take for a wage garnishment to start?

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. How much of your wages can be garnished?

How long does a wage garnishment stay on your credit report?

A garnishment judgment will stay on your credit reports for up to seven years, affecting your credit score. But there a few easy ways to bolster your credit, both during and after wage garnishment …

How long does it take for creditor to garnish your bank account?

There’s no set time on how long it will take before your bank account becomes frozen. Even if you’re able to move money out of your account, try to reach a settlement with your creditor because a court judgment stays in effect for several years. Nolo: What’s the Difference Between a Garnishment and a Levy? Law Offices of Stephen B. Kass, P.C.:

Can a credit card company sue you after 10 years?

That agency now has as few as three years and as many as 10 years to take you to court and sue you for that debt. Why the big range of years? Because it depends on which state you live in. Each sets its own rules, and those rules can vary in the details. Thus, it’s impossible for me, in this limited space, to list all the variables.

Can a credit card company garnish a stimulus check?

However, some states are passing laws to prevent credit card companies and debt collectors from garnishing stimulus checks. Likewise, some banks and credit card issuers have stated that they will not garnish stimulus money. The National Consumer Law Center gives guidance on how to protect your stimulus check from garnishment:

Is there a maximum amount you can garnish your wages?

Or your maximum wage garnishment amount might be either so low or your income might be so high that having your wages garnished won’t impact your lifestyle. It is also possible that a court could rule that the creditor may levy your bank account rather than garnish your wages, which will absolutely impact your lifestyle.

What happens if I owe money to a credit card company?

You’ll still owe the account—but you’ll owe it to the debt collector, not the original credit card company. Debt collectors buy the debt for a fraction of what you owe, then try to get you to make voluntary payments. The debt collector can also sue you in court.

Can a credit card company sue if you don’t pay?

Credit card companies consider the debt’s amount, its recoverability, and legal expenses before suing. However, this consideration doesn’t give you a get out of jail free card regarding credit card debt. If it was, many more people may choose not to pay. So if credit card companies don’t immediately sue, what will they do about unpaid debt?