1.   What can you do for me?
JEA specializes in the enforcement of unsatisfied judicial judgments. We locate debtors and seize their assets. As a licensed private investigation agency since 1983, we have the knowledge and resources to efficiently track down debtors and their assets. With our in-house paralegals, we have the capacity to handle the collection process legally and effectively. With our credentials, you are assured that you are dealing with a reputable, professional organization.

Once a judgment is awarded, the courts do not assist the judgment creditor with collecting, nor do they force the debtor to pay. Most people who have won judgments find themselves without any assistance to collect the money they are rightfully and legally owed.  Many do not realize that they can assign their judgment to a third party such as JEA (Judgment Enforcement Agency) who can effectively collect on it.  JEA has handled over 15,000 cases over the past 23 years and it is our job to recover the money for you. 

2.   What makes JEA different from a collection agency?
We are licensed private investigators and paralegals and we have been licensed by the CA State Dept. of Consumer Affairs since 1983, Lic. # PI24880.  JEA is not affected by the passing of the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) which allows the debtor to tell a third party collector to stop all contact and the collector must abide by law.  The debtor normally has no knowledge of our investigation.  We just locate the debtor's assets and seize them.

3.   Why shouldn't I use an attorney to enforce my judgment?
You can.  However an attorney will usually charge a retainer plus an hourly rate whether or not they recover any funds.  In fact, most attorneys use a service such as JEA to locate the debtor's assets.

4.   Do you charge anything up front?
No.  There are absolutely no fees required from you.  Once we recover money for you, the funds are split 50% to you and 50% to JEA.  Any fees advanced by JEA are reimbursed before funds are distributed.

5.   How much is my judgment worth today?
The value of your judgment has increased since being awarded to you.  In California, daily interest accrues at 10%.  You can determine the current value of your judgment easily using our Calculator or call us at (800) 537-6900 and we'll tell you.  For the interest rates of other states, check with the court clerk.
 

6.   How do I know that I'll receive all the money that I am due from your company?
All monies collected either from the debtor's bank accounts, wages or other are disbursed and documented through the county Sheriff's office.  When you receive a payment, you will also receive a copy of the disbursement check from the Sheriff's office so you will know exactly the amounts collected.
 

7.   Is there a statute of limitations on executing my judgment?
Yes.  Your state law sets a limit on how long a judgment can be enforced, called a Statute of Limitations.  This period runs between 5 and 20 years.  California is 10 years.  In most states, you can renew the judgment for an additional period of time.

8.   What if I have assigned my judgment to another party to try to collect?
In order for us to assist you, you will need to terminate your agreement with the other party first and provide a copy of the release to JEA.  Take a look at your agreement and find the expiration date.  If the other party has had the judgment for a year or more without any success, it may be time to contact them and find out about terminating the agreement.

9.   What if the debtor has moved to another state?
If the debtor has assets in a different state from where the judgment was entered, a "sister state judgment" can be filed with the court in the other state.  However, this can be costly, as much as $500.00 - $1,000.00 depending on the state so it would depend on the amount of your judgment and if you feel it is worth it.  It is easier and much less costly if the debtor's assets are in the state where judgment was entered.

10.  Is there any guarantee that you will be successful? 
No.  Sometimes there are simply no assets to seize.  However, we get paid only if we collect, so we try very hard!

11.  How long until I see results? 
Generally, once we receive the assignment, the entire process (locating then seizing the assets) can take up to one (1) year however it is normally much shorter than that..

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?  PLEASE CALL US TOLL FREE (800) 537-6900
OR EMAIL US