<prompt> Human: In October of 2009, I had a two bedroom apartment to myself after my roommate had been laid off and moved back in with his mother. Watching my bank account be drained, I was desperate for a new roommate to take over half the rent and utilities. A friend from college told me he was interested, and moved in. Right away I knew things were going to be trouble. He kept paying his half later and later, until he was months behind. He would steal money from me to buy cocaine. He was, in short, a piece of shit. I continued to pay my half and what I could afford of his half until we were evicted in August of 2010. All told, he owed me, and therefore, the apartment company, about 2,500.I went back to school out of state in June of 2011. In December of that year, I was summoned to appear in court. But because I was out of state, I never received the summons, I never appeared in court, and judgement was awarded to the apartment company.Flash-forward to today. Im on my way to my parents to have dinner, and on the way I deposited this weeks paycheck at the Bank of America ATM. They said they received a letter that day addressed to me. I opened it, and it was a writ of attachment on my bank account. I go back to the ATM to try to withdraw the funds I just deposited and there is a hold on my account, and all the money that was in the account before the deposit had been withdrawn, and a 100 fee tacked on to add insult to injury.I have a letter signed by my former roommate that he would pay back the 2,500 he owed me and the apartment company. To date, he has paid me 300.I will be going to the bank first thing tomorrow when they open to inquire into the attachment, as well as closing the account to prevent further garnishment.Now, what can I do to make my former roommate pay the apartment company so something like this doesnt happen again?Assistant: All told, he owed me, and therefore, the apartment company, about 2,500.Sounds to me like the roommate owes you not the apartment company. If he wasnt on the lease they cant even legally ask him for the money. If he was it is probably similar to a consigned loan and they will go after whomever can pay. Human: He was on the lease, and Im hoping a lawyer can find a way to make him solely responsible.  <response>: This will not happen. They can hold you responsible for the whole amount. 