I had a credit card with Providian Financial that I stopped being able to pay in December 2002. My husband was laid off from his job and I was pregnant and unemployed. The balance on the card at that time was $2500 (my limit). They harassed us by phone 10 or more times a day and told us that we were good for nothings that didn't pay our bills. We tried to explain our situation that we were out of work and trying to sell our home and they would get paid as soon as we could. For over 6 months the calls continued and they got meaner and meaner with every call. The only solution was to disconnect the phone.
After a year of struggle to reestablish jobs in another state we tried to work out a deal with Providian. They wanted it all or nothing. So we had no choice not to pay, we didn't have it all. They sold our account to UNIFUND CCR PARTNERS. While I was living in Illinois they took me to court in CA without my knowledge. They received a judgement against me for $9874.76 (almost 4 times the original debt) This happened 12-19-06.
I just moved back to Ca in July 2009. After 2 weeks of being here I received a garnishment of wages letter in the mail. (almost 3 years later?) I was shocked. Now my bank accounts have been frozen and I am going to court to try to prove why I can't afford to have my wages garnished. I am a mom of 3 who works part-time at minimum wages. I need anyones help out there that can! I talked to a lawyer and I can't afford one. This has to be illegal.... 4 x's the judgement....went to court when I lived in another state....and it was past the statue of limitations for CA or just at it. Is there a way to have a judge hear my case again without a lawyer? The debt is 7 years old, there has to be a way to fix this.............