You can stop an administrative wage garnishment by proving you don't owe the debt, the amount claimed is wrong, it would constitute a financial hardship.
Book a Consultation CallHow Do I Stop An Administrative Wage Garnishment
You will receive a notice from the Bureau of the Fiscal Service stating that the Treasury intends to garnish your wages. Thereafter, you must submit a hearing request prior to the date stated in the notice. Moreover, if you fail to submit your hearing request timely, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service will issue an order to your employer to start garnishing your wages. However, an order will not issue until you have had a chance to be heard but only if you submit your hearing request on time.
You may present evidence and arguments proving that you do not owe the debt. However, you must provide evidence as to why you do not owe the debt. For instance, you may have been released from the debt by government agency that claims you owe the debt. Likewise, you may have paid the debt in full. You may have a myriad of legal defenses that prove you are not liable for the debt.
Furthermore, you may owe some or part of the debt, but not the amount the Bureau of the Fiscal Service alleges. As such, you may have records of payments you made towards the debt that show a lesser amount. Or you may have evidence that the government sold certain collateral, which paid down the amount of the debt. In any case, you will need to present evidence as to why Bureau of the Fiscal Service's claim is inaccurate.
In addition, you may claim that the proposed administrative wage garnishment would create a financial hardship. However, you must submit a personal financial statement and supporting documentation. The financial documentation must show that an administrative wage garnishment would not allow you to meet your basic living needs. These needs include food, housing, utilities, transportation, medical care, and other living essentials. It does not include such expenses as funding your 401k, your child's private school or college tuition, excessive housing costs, credit card debt and other expenses.
Protect Law Group's assertive attorneys are experienced in defending clients in administrative wage garnishment hearings. Our attorneys provide you with the best possible chance at winning by marshaling favorable evidence and presenting well-researched legal defenses. Contact us today for a free initial 20-minute consultation.
Millions of Dollars in SBA Debts Resolved via Offer in Compromise and Negotiated Repayment Agreements without our Clients filing for Bankruptcy or Facing Home Foreclosure
Millions of Dollars in Treasury Debts Defended Against via AWG Hearings, Treasury Offset Program Resolution, Cross-servicing Disputes, Private Collection Agency Representation, Compromise Offers and Negotiated Repayment Agreements
Our Attorneys are Authorized by the Agency Practice Act to Represent Federal Debtors Nationwide before the SBA, The SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Treasury Department, and the Bureau of Fiscal Service.
Client’s small business obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $150,000. He and his wife signed personal guarantees and pledged their home as collateral. The SBA loan went into default, the term or maturity date was accelerated and demand for payment of the entire amount claimed was made. The SBA lender’s note gave it the right to adjust the default interest rate from 7.25% to 18% per annum. The business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but was dismissed after 3 years due to its inability to continue with payments under the plan. Clients wanted to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which would have been a mistake as their home had significant equity to repay the SBA loan balance in full as the Trustee would likely seize and sell the home to repay the secured and unsecured creditors. However, the SBA lender opted to pursue the SBA 7(a) Guaranty and subsequently assigned the loan and the right to enforce collection to the SBA. Clients then received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice and hired the Firm to respond to it and negotiate on their behalf. Clients disputed the SBA’s alleged balance of $148,000, as several payments made to the SBA lender during the Chapter 11 reorganization were not accounted for. To challenge the SBA’s claimed debt balance, the Firm Attorneys initiated expedited discovery to obtain government records. SBA records disclosed the true amount owed was about $97,000. Moreover, because the Clients’ home had significant equity, they were not eligible for an Offer in Compromise or an immediate Release of Lien for Consideration, despite being incorrectly advised by non-attorney consulting companies that they were. Instead, our Firm Attorneys recommended a Workout of $97,000 spread over a lengthy term and a waiver of the applicable interest rate making the monthly payment affordable. After back and forth negotiations, SBA approved the Workout proposal, thereby saving the home from imminent foreclosure and reducing the Clients' liability by nearly $81,000 in incorrect principal balance, accrued interest, and statutory collection fees.
Client personally guaranteed SBA 7(a) loan balance of $58,000. The client received a notice of Intent to initiate Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG) Proceedings. We represented the client at the hearing and successfully defeated the AWG Order based on several legal and equitable grounds.
Small business and guarantors obtained an SBA COVID-EIDL loan for $1,000,000. Clients defaulted causing SBA to charge-off the loan, accelerate the balance and refer the debt to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for collection. Treasury added nearly $500,000 in collection fees totaling $1,500,000. Clients were served with the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice and exercised the Repayment option by applying for the SBA’s Hardship Accommodation Plan. However, their application was summarily rejected by the SBA without providing any meaningful reasons. Clients hired the Firm to represent them against the SBA, Treasury and a Private Collection Agency. After securing government records through discovery, we filed an Appeals Petition with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals (OHA) court challenging the SBA's referral of the debt to Treasury. During litigation and before the OHA court issued a final Decision and Order, the Firm successfully negotiated a reinstatement and recall of the loan back to the SBA, a modification of the original repayment terms, termination of Treasury's enforced collection and removal of the statutory collection fees.
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