My question involves collection proceedings in the State of California.
I don't dispute I owe money.
Here is my story, as brief as I can make it: 25 years ago, I was a single mother, who went to a trade school (court reporting.) I didn't finish for three reasons. 1) I have an essential tremor, which causes hand shakes when nervous. I realized wasn't going to get up to speed and finish. 2) Migraines - I was, and still am on medication. I got them at that time. 3) I was raising a child alone and decided I needed to get a job, since it appeared I wasn't going to finish school.
The school closed later.
I paid some of the debt but had to default due to my minimum wage salary. It went to collection. I offered 1/4 of my salary after bills. (Which at the time, was only $25.00 a month - I was feeding 2 people on $100.00 a month.) They refused. Then, when the collector told me I needed to be a hooker to pay them, I stopped taking their calls.
They disappeared. I thought it was over.
10 years ago, after I married, they started taking my tax returns. I figured they'd take my tax returns for the rest of my life, and I was fine with that.
I guess at some point (3 years maybe?) they calling but I don't answer my phone, I screen. They didn't leave messages.
A month ago they got me at work and I realized what was going on. I got some letters too, which I assumed were spam and threw away unopened. White envelopes, no name I recognized.....
I know it sounds unbelievable that I didn't know - but my husband's mother (lived with us) was a 90 year old lady who gave to every charity in the book and our mail and phone were filled with spam and solicitations - 8 to 9 calls a day - so I ignored anything I didn't recognize, and I've done that for years.
Yes, excuses. Perhaps stupidity.
Anyway, now they (Collect Corp) are threatening to garnish my wages. Although I'm doing better, I still can't afford that.
What do I do - what steps do I take to handle this?
I borrowed about 10k. They say I owe 14k. I don't know if that accounts for all the tax returns they've taken.
I'd like to give them 4k cash, because I can scrape that up.
Should I contact a lawyer/negotiator? My seemingly ignoring them the year won't work in my favor, I'm sure. And, I was so insulted by the harrassment I endured years ago that I still don't want to talk to them, silly as that sounds.
Any advice would be appreciated.
TIA.

