Judgment was entered against me — wage garnishment next?

Two parallel tracks. (1) Motion to set aside the default judgment — CCP §473 in CA lets the court vacate a default within 6 months of entry on the grounds of 'mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.' If you genuinely never got the summons (sewer service is common with debt-buyer plaintiffs), file the motion + your declaration explaining what happened. (2) Defensive — if the judgment stands, in CA the creditor needs an Earnings Withholding Order to garnish wages, and you can file a Claim of Exemption to reduce or eliminate the garnishment if it would cause financial hardship. Federal law caps wage garnishment at 25% of disposable income; CA caps it lower for low earners. If the underlying debt is also dischargeable in bankruptcy, that's the nuclear option.