Vets: What's the fastest way to collect on small claims judgments?

[David Breitzmann]

Hello All,

I am not a landlord but filed against the owner of a unit in which I was tenant. [If you don't need my humble observation on not showing for small claims cases, ignore that part. It's titled, well....observation]

[MAIN]
The easy breakdown of what was supposed to happen:

1. I paid monthly rent
2. Owner buys beautiful and shiny new electronics uses funds towards mortgage

We had a problem getting from Step 1 to Step 2.

I came home one day to find an eviction notice a week after paying for the month. In order to avoid being locked out I moved and drew up an agreement stating he would refund my rent. [Always written contracts, 100% of the time]

I won a $250 judgment in small claims because he was a no show in court.

That was the easy part. Collecting, however, is a pain in my INSERT WORD OF CHOICE. Have you been through this process? If so, what's the turnaround on attaching the claim to bank accounts or etc?

[OBSERVATION]

All future or current property owners, if you receive a summons, APPEAR. Sure, you may be busy but any potential funding may be screwed due to a long sheet of lost cases. Also, most judgments are valid for 10 years, and mine is good for 20 years (varies by county). Imagine a string of garnishments on any income, including tax refunds, and your bank account because folks are calling the Marshal to enforce court orders for payment.