Consumer complaint received 2017-10-30
Company: Newman, Mathis, Brady & Spedale
State: LA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Auto debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to sue you for very old debt

Complaint:
Let me preference this complaint with that I was XXXX years old when these attorneys and this company began their assault on me for a debt. I am now XXXX years old and twice widowed. And no there was no life insurance or death benefits received from either. 
In XXXX my ex-husband ( who died in XXXX of XXXX ) took out a car loan from XXXX XXXX XXXX.I realized after he bought the car home and had signed my name to documents that it was an extremely high interest rate and I could not afford the note.Within a month, after my ex husband had left me, my XXXX year old son, and my XXXX XXXX son, I returned the car to the dealership in mint condition within the first few weeks of purchase. 
Without a vehicle since he had taken the only family vehicle which was in my name when he left in the dead of night, we moved in with my parents. 
I had XXXX sons to raise. No support came as BOTH of their dads never had steady jobs so no child support could be awarded. I was their sole provider. 
In XXXX my oldest son 's dad died. I was working 3 jobs to support my boys, teaching school, delivering pizza and part time as a receptionist and heard nothing further from the dealership. I believed the car had been sold years earlier since it was brand new when returned it in XXXX. 
Ten years later in XXXX I received a notice of a judgment in the mail that was filed from NEWMAN , MATHIS , BRADY & SPEDALE but I was never given an opportunity to present myself against these attorneys and XXXX XXXX XXXX in court. I had no idea I owed anything to anyone. 
I contacted the attorneys on the letter and explained that I had NEVER been given a notice to appear in court.They totally disregarded this and told me the FIRST judgment filing was filed in XXXX and they re-filed a SECOND time in XXXX. After adding thousands of dollars to a much smaller debt ( I never received any initial amount ) it became an astronomical sum. I tried when possible to pay {$50.00} a month on it but it was truly a struggle. Why they chose to not seek monies from my ex- husband who was also on the judgment since the beginning is a question I can not get answers to. 
My ex-husband died in XXXX. 
I assumed with his death in XXXX the release of the judgment would happen. I could not have been more mistaken. These attorneys Newman , Mathis , Brady & Spedale and XXXX XXXX XXXX chose to re- filed this judgment again for a THIRD time in XXXX against me and my deceased ex, which I did not even know was possible.It was then in the amount of over {$24000.00}. 
Again I called them and explained he had died and why after 20 years were they still harasing me over this.The car was returned in mint condition with only a couple of hundred miles on it if that and I am sure sold for nearly the amount we paid. If anything was owed I was never given a receipt of the sale of the car to see exactly what it was sold for but I am sure due to the excellent condition of the returned vehicle the full value was gotten for it. 
Today I got ( ATTACHED ) a notice of garnishment from these attorneys and the amount is over {$32000.00}. How can this happen? 
I know thousands of people who give cars back AFTER SOME KEEPING THEM YEARS BEFORE GIVING THEM BACK and they never hear another word nor does it ruin their credit. 
Why these attorneys are harassing me after 24 years is horrible. 
I have finally gotten thru those horrible years and yet I still can not put this behind me.I HAD JUST mailed them another {$50.00} check on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX and I just do not understand why they keep re-filing this joint judgment 3 times and now trying to garnish 25 % of my TAKE HOME pay. Please help me in getting this debt removed from my name so they can not garnish 25 % of my TAKE HOME pay after 24 years. 
This garnishment will put me back in the position I was in nearly 25 years ago and will cause me a grave hardship. Is n't ruining my credit for the last 24 years enough along with the stress this puts me under for a debt that was my ex- husband 's? 
I want to file a formal complaint against these attorneys and XXXX XXXX XXXX for undue harassment and respectfully request this judgment be nullified and that I receive no further communication from either of these companies. The monies already paid over these 24 years they can keep.I just want to be free of these attorneys ' constant letters and phone calls. I am nearly at retirement age and this is causing medical issues for me. Please let me know what else I need to provide. The loan number is # XXXX. The filing number is # XXXX

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation