You Won in Court. Now Let’s Actually Collect.
A court judgment against your contractor is only as good as the enforcement behind it. We help homeowners across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island turn paper victories into real money — using legal authority no collection agency can match.
Why Homeowners Trust Us to Collect
Mayor-Appointed Legal Authority
As a NYC Marshal appointed by the Mayor, we can levy bank accounts and garnish wages — powers no private collection agency holds.
Serving NYC Since 1988
The Guida family has enforced judgments across all five boroughs for over 35 years, with staff who’ve handled thousands of cases firsthand.
All Five Boroughs, One Call
One office handles contractor dispute collection across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island — no runaround, no wrong office.
Regulated by NYC’s Department of Investigation
We operate under direct oversight of the NYC DOI and the Mayor’s Committee on NYC Marshals, so you know exactly who you’re dealing with.
Contractor Judgment Collection NYC
The Court Won’t Collect for You — We Will
If you’ve won a judgment against a home improvement contractor in New York City, you’ve already done the hard part. But here’s what most homeowners find out too late: the court doesn’t collect the money for you. Once the judgment is entered, collection is entirely your responsibility.
That’s where we come in. NYC Marshal Edward Guida #14 is a court-appointed civil enforcement officer with the legal authority to compel payment — through bank account levies, wage garnishment, business property seizure, and more. We work across all five boroughs, and we’ve been doing this since 1988.
Enforce Judgment Against Contractor NYC
Real Enforcement, Not Just Letters
A NYC Marshal carries enforcement tools that collection agencies simply don’t have — and we use every one of them to get you paid.
- We can freeze and seize a contractor’s bank account directly — something no private collection agency is legally allowed to do.
- If the contractor is still working, we can garnish their income through a formal income execution served on their employer or clients.
- For contractors still running a business, we can conduct a “till tap” — appearing at their location to collect cash directly from operations.
- We can seize business equipment, vehicles, and personal property when other collection methods aren’t producing results.
- Your judgment accrues 9% annual interest under New York law, so moving quickly means more money recovered in total.
- You don’t need an attorney to work with us — if you won your case in small claims court yourself, you can engage us directly.
Marshal vs Collection Agency NYC
A Collection Agency Can’t Do What We Do
This is the part most homeowners don’t know until they’ve already wasted time. A collection agency can send letters. They can report a debt to a credit bureau. What they cannot do is walk into a bank and levy a contractor’s account, or show up at a job site and garnish income. That requires a court-appointed enforcement officer — specifically, a NYC Marshal.
We’re not a collection agency. We’re appointed by the Mayor of New York City, regulated by the NYC Department of Investigation, and authorized under New York civil law to compel payment in ways that private collectors simply cannot. When a contractor ignores your judgment, we have the legal tools to make ignoring it very difficult.
The difference matters especially in a city like New York, where many contractors operate as small LLCs, move between boroughs, and know exactly how to avoid a letter in the mail. A marshal changes that dynamic entirely.
Home Improvement Small Claims Enforcement
What Happens When the Contractor Says They Have Nothing
It’s the most common thing we hear: “The contractor told the court they have no assets.” Sometimes that’s true. More often, it isn’t — and experienced enforcement makes the difference.
We can pursue information subpoenas to compel a contractor to disclose their financial accounts, business income, and assets under oath. If they’re still operating — and in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan, many are — there are usually assets to find. A contractor driving a work truck, pulling permits with DCWP, and taking on new jobs has income. Our job is to find the most effective collection path and execute on it.
NYC judgments remain valid for 20 years. Even if time has passed since your judgment was entered, it may not be too late. Reach out and we’ll give you an honest assessment of your options.
NYC Marshal Judgment Collection Process
From Judgment to Payment: Here’s the Process
Contact Our Office
Call or email us with your judgment details — we’ll walk you through what enforcement options apply to your situation.
We Prepare the Execution
Our team prepares and serves the appropriate execution — income, property, or bank levy — with accuracy that ensures banks and employers can’t reject it.
We Collect and You Get Paid
Once assets are located and the execution is served, collected funds are applied to your judgment — with our poundage fee taken from what’s recovered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a NYC Marshal and a collection agency for contractor judgments?
The difference is legal authority. A collection agency operates under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act — they can send letters, make calls, and report debts to credit bureaus. That’s the extent of it. A NYC Marshal is a court-appointed civil enforcement officer with the power to levy bank accounts, garnish wages, seize personal and business property, and conduct till taps at a contractor’s place of business. These are compulsory legal actions, not requests. If a contractor is ignoring a judgment, a collection agency has no real mechanism to force payment. We do.
How much does it cost to have a NYC Marshal collect a contractor judgment?
Upfront fees to initiate an execution are modest — generally in the range of $50 to $250 depending on the type of execution being served. Beyond that, we earn a poundage fee of 5% of the amounts actually collected. That means our incentive is directly tied to yours: the more we recover, the more we earn. There’s no large retainer to pay before we start, and no fee structure that makes a small judgment not worth pursuing. If you’re wondering whether the cost makes sense for your specific judgment amount, reach out and we’ll give you a straightforward answer.
Can a NYC Marshal collect from a contractor who operates in multiple boroughs?
Yes. NYC Marshal Edward Guida #14 is authorized to enforce judgments across all five boroughs — the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Many contractors in New York City operate across borough lines, taking jobs in Brooklyn one week and Queens the next. That doesn’t create a problem for us. Our jurisdiction covers the entire city, so whether the contractor’s bank account is in the Bronx or their business operates out of Staten Island, we can pursue collection without you having to identify the right borough office or navigate multiple agencies.
What if the contractor says they have no money or assets to collect?
This is one of the most common things judgment debtors say — and it’s worth investigating before accepting it as true. A contractor who is still operating, pulling permits with the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, driving a work vehicle, or taking on new jobs has income and likely has assets. We can use information subpoenas to compel the contractor to disclose their bank accounts, income sources, and property under oath. If they’re working in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island, there are usually collection paths available. “I have nothing” is a starting position, not a final answer — and experienced enforcement knows how to test it.
Do I need a lawyer to use a NYC Marshal to collect my judgment?
No. If you won your case in small claims court — which is specifically designed for people representing themselves — you can engage us directly without hiring an attorney. The small claims courts in each borough are set up for self-represented litigants. Once you have your judgment, you can contact our office directly. We’ll guide you through what documentation we need and which type of execution makes the most sense for your situation.
How long is a NYC judgment valid, and is it too late to collect if time has passed?
A money judgment in New York is valid for 20 years, though it must be renewed within the first 10 years to maintain its effect as a lien on real property. So if you won a judgment against a contractor two or three years ago and haven’t been able to collect, it is almost certainly not too late. The judgment is still enforceable, and it has been accruing interest at 9% per year under New York law — meaning the contractor actually owes you more now than they did when the judgment was entered. Time passing doesn’t eliminate your options; in many cases it increases what you’re owed. Contact us and we’ll assess where things stand.
Call us at (718) 779-2134 or email us at guidajr@nycmarshal14.com to see how we can help you.