[redrobot5050]

Once you file suit, it's the process server's job to get ahold of you. They have less restrictions. And you can tack on court costs to the suit you bring -- and then use the grievance you win to garnish their wages.

It sounds easier than it looks, but that's how you get your money as a debt collector. The ones you can't find are probably just as like to be no shows in court. Once you have a greviance, it's easy to garnish. All that involves is contacting their employer.

[ams6110]

You can't "tack on court costs" so easily. In most civil cases in the USA, each party is responsible for his own attorney's fees and costs. As I sadly know from personal experience trying to recover money from an insurance company.

In most cases, any amount under $10,000 is not going to be worth going to court over. You will pay lawyers that much just to get the case to trial.

[redrobot5050]

Most debt collections agencies have a lawyer or lawyers on retainer for going to court. They can, and will, go to court for judgments as small as $1,000. The hearing is often the local magistrate, and unless there is something atypical complicating your case, the ruling will happen in 30 minutes or less. Having proof that you own a debt is a binary thing -- either you have it or you don't.

[zavulon]

That's why there's Small Claims court, where you can represent yourself for cases under 10K