Location: Washington.
Let’s try to keep a long story kind of short basically I sued my two ex roommates for rent since I was paying for 2/3 of it. I won my small claims court case but now he is trying to send me partial payments without asking me how much I want for a lump sum. He is trying to pay me $31.50 when they both owe me almost 2 grand. I don’t feel like that is a partial payment at all. It’s a slap in the face. My fiancé and I did the math and he is trying to set up a payment plan just under three years then he would fully pay me back, but that’s not right if someone could please help me out and give me some advice that would be greatly appreciated. Am I able to decline or what is my next step? I am confused and would really love some help. I’m trying to move with my lovely fiancé and I just want them to pay me back and this situation to be over with.
Comments
You can decline an unofficial payment plan that the debtor tries to impose. Since you won in small claims court, you now have a judgment. That means they legally owe you the amount the court ordered, not whatever amount or timeline they decide.
If they won’t pay on your terms voluntarily, you could enforce the judgment via wage or bank account garnishment or property liens if necessary. You aren’t required to accept small payments over years if that’s not what was ordered by the court. You’re entitled to collect what you’re owed, and the law gives you tools to do that.