Winning a judgment against a debtor does not always mean that a creditor or business will immediately receive what the debtor owes. In fact, in many cases, a creditor in California may have to take legal steps for judgment enforcement. If the debtor is a retail business, there are some unique ways a creditor may collect on a judgment, including using a keeper levy.
A keeper is a deputy sheriff whom a creditor may hire to remain in a debtor’s business for a certain period of time to collect money from customers. A keeper may stay for a four-hour shift or an eight-hour shift, and instead of paying the business owner, customers pay the keeper. The keeper then turns the money over to the creditor.
Does it work?
No California business owner wants a sheriff’s deputy standing at the counter collecting payments from customers. It is bad for business and certainly embarrassing. However, it is often an effective way to enforce a judgment against a business that deals in many cash transactions throughout the day. Additionally, the creditor may include the fee for the keeper in the amount of money collected during the keeper’s shift.
The keeper may return at various times during the week. It is helpful if the creditor knows when the business has the highest amount of cash-paying customers. In some cases, a business owner will do whatever is necessary to comply with judgment enforcement to avoid having to deal with a keeper levy.