Bill Allows Unlimited Wage Garnishments For Unpaid Debts

A new Wisconsin bill would make it easier to collect wage garnishments from debtors without having to file notices four times a year. Those garnishments now have unlimited lengths for criminal cases — and a bill that had a public hearing Wednesday could leave civil garnishments in place until the debts are paid back. The measure’s author, Assembly Republican Rob Hutton of Brookfield, says the refiling process has too much paperwork that wastes time for bill collectors — and he wants to add an amendment to let more than one collector garnish wages simultaneously, so creditors do not to wait for their payments. But consumer advocates say they would no longer be told when their garnishments could legally be exempt if the debtors fall below certain income limits. The Assembly Financial Institutions Committee is considering the proposal.