Judgment Against Me

[RD464]

My mother called today and said I received some certified mail at my childhood home in NJ. I was concerned and asked her to open it. The letter was a judgement issued against me from Portfolio Recovery Associates in the amount of $3500 from a credit card I opened back in 1998. It claims that I last made payment on the account back in 2000 ( I have no recollection of this, not saying it may not be true, I just don't recall this). A couple points: none of this shows up on my current credit report and I haven't lived at that address in 15+ years. What do I do?

[Shogun]

First step would be to do your research and find out what court issued the judgement against you, if any.  Then you would need to see what process they used to serve you and if it was proper.  (There are a lot of Sewer Services out there that didn't do what they are supposed to do in regards to process serving).

[RD464]

How does one go about researching those processes?

[Shogun]

I'm assuming you would start in the county court where you used to live.   The old address that they just sent the paperwork to.

[Countingpennies]

You can search online for NJ judgements. There is a county as well as a state website for judgements searches. The judgement I had last year was listed on the state site. If you have the docket number it's a bit easier. If you need to get a copy you do need to contact the county court clerk.

[guiness56]

Doe it say when the judgment was filed?    SOL for CC debt in NJ is 6 years.  If you did make a payment in 2000 they would have had to file sometime in 2006.

[RD464]

Thanks for the tips everyone. So far, when I access the NJ searchable index I cant find any record of any judgements against me.