Can a collector use a judgment to garnish your wages if you were not served a lawsuit summons and given a chance to defend yourself in court?

It is possible for a creditor to receive a judgment by default when the debtor does not appear on the date of the trial (hearing). In most instances all that is needed is for the creditor plaintiff to make a reasonable attempt to serve the person named on the civil summons and not necessary for the summons to be physically placed in the defendant's hands.