Getting the Debtor to Pay You Voluntarily

Write a letter to show the debtor it is in his or her best interest to pay the judgment as soon as possible.

In your letter, you can say that if the debtor does not pay:

• The amount the debtor owes will increase daily, since the judgment accumulates interest at the rate of 10% per year.
• You will seek reimbursement from the debtor of any reasonable and necessary costs of collection.
• Credit reporting agencies will know the debtor has not paid the judgment because the debtor’s name will appear on the court’s “Judgment Roll.”
• If the debtor does not pay, you can ask for:
• a wage garnishment against the debtor, and maybe the debtor’s spouse or domestic partner,
• a levy on the debtor’s bank account, and
• liens on real property (like a house or land) or personal property.

Sometimes debtors honestly believe they do not have any way to pay this debt.

Encourage your debtor to consider sources of assets like:

• using an income tax refund,
• taking a personal loan,
• having a garage sale,
• auctioning personal items on the Internet.
• borrowing against a retirement account (401(k)), or
• getting a credit card cash advance (but, if you are the debtor, realize that this can result in high credit card fees).

Sometimes, being flexible will pay off.

Here are some ideas:

• Accept (weekly or monthly) payments.
• Accept less than what the court ordered.
• Let the debtor pay you with property or work instead of money.
• If the debtor is out of work, help the debtor find work.

If you decide to accept installment payments, write a letter to the debtor. Explain how you want the judgment to be paid. Include payment of interest and costs, if any. See a sample letter.