[SparkleHorse]

My husband closed an account in Illinois three or four years ago. After switching banks, and going through two employers, the bank is now garnishing his entire wage. This info came from his current employer's HR rep, when we originally thought there was a problem with his direct deposit (since NONE of the money is in our account). Apparently, after the accnt was closed, a check was cashed to the closed accnt and the bank says he owes them for that money.

When he calls, the bank puts him on hold, gives him the runaround, doesn't return his phone calls and is being generally useless. He doesn't want to rock the boat too much at work, because he can't afford to lose this job right now.

Who can we talk to to get *something* done? He can't even get someone at the bank to give him a straight answer and help him solve the problem. We can't afford a lawyer (but I make too much for legal aid), but he's gone 7 months without a paycheck.

[Mr. Knowitall]

That must have been an enormous check that he bounced....

Are they garnishing the money after it is direct-deposited in his bank account, or is the employer paying them directly pursuant to a garnishment order?

[SparkleHorse]

That's one of the issues - nobody will tell us any information about how much the bounced check was for, etc. The money isn't showing up at all in the direct deposit account, so doesn't that mean it's being directly given by the employer?

Isn't it illegal to have your entire wage garnished? Aren't they only legally bound to take x percentage?

My husband doesn't believe he'd have ever written a check worth six months of paychecks.

[Mr. Knowitall]

That's one of the issues - nobody will tell us any information about how much the bounced check was for, etc.

A garnishment order doesn't exist in a vacuum. There's a court judgment somewhere, which can be traced by the information on the garnishment order, should you bother to do so.

The money isn't showing up at all in the direct deposit account, so doesn't that mean it's being directly given by the employer?

It would be wise to find out.

Isn't it illegal to have your entire wage garnished? Aren't they only legally bound to take x percentage?

There are limits on garnishment of wages. But once the money has been deposited in a bank account, it's no longer wages.

[SparkleHorse]

A garnishment order doesn't exist in a vacuum. There's a court judgment somewhere, which can be traced by the information on the garnishment order, should you bother to do so.

What makes you think we're not bothering to do so? My husband's repeated calls, messages, and emails are going unreturned. What would you have him do?

My husband has been trying to get in touch with his company's HR person who hasn't returned his phone calls. If she did return his phone calls or agreed to meet with him, he could then ask her for a copy of the garnishment judgement.

If the bank would return his phone calls or take at least a passing interest in the goings-on of their (albeit former) customers, he could get some information from them about where the money is going and when it is being garnished.

There is only a certain amount of research/digging I can do myself, as it is after all my husband's account and banks and employers will not give me any of this information. Which is why I posted here - in the hope of getting some actual useful information.

If someone has had a similar experience and dealt with it successfully, I would like to hear about it. If someone has some helpful advice about how to find the information we need, that would also be appreciated.