Can a debt collector threaten to garnish my wages?

In North Carolina, debt collectors cannot threaten to garnish your wages if they do not have the legal power to do so. Under North Carolina law, they must have a court order or a valid wage assignment signed by you, the debtor, before they are able to garnish your wages. If a debt collector threatens to garnish your wages without a court order or a valid wage assignment, they are breaking the law and can be subject to legal penalties. All debt collectors in North Carolina are governed by the state’s Collection Agency Licensing Law, which prohibits a debt collector from “using any threat, coercion, violence, or other means to intimidate or harass a debtor for payment of a debt”. This includes threatening to take legal action if the debtor does not pay a debt, such as garnishing wages. If a debt collector is threatening to garnish your wages, it is important to contact them and ask for proof of their legal authority to do so. If the debt collector does not have the legal right to garnish your wages, contact the North Carolina Attorney General’s office and report the debt collector. You can also contact a consumer protection attorney for assistance with your case.

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Can a debt collector threaten to garnish my wages?

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