There are strict federal and state rules that limit how much creditors are allowed to garnish from your paycheck. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Falling behind on your credit card payments can set off a chain reaction that's hard to stop. What starts as a missed card payment caused by temporary financial challenges can quickly turn into mounting interest charges , relentless collection calls and, eventually, legal action. And, for some borrowers, that legal action ends with part of their paycheck being taken before it even reaches their bank account.

This process, called wage garnishment , is one of the most serious consequences that can come with having unpaid credit card debt . Once a creditor wins a court judgment for that type of debt, they may legally have the option to

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