Q: The judgment against me was for $5,125, how could the judgment enforcer use the Sherriff to take $8,233 from my bank account?

A: This judgment was more than a few years old. In California there is a state-mandated (currently) 10% a year simple interest on judgments. Other states may have different interest rates.

Besides the interest owed, any (reasonable and legal) costs a judgment enforcer incurs is added to your judgment debt. So, while you avoid paying this judgment – costs and interest continued to aadd to the total amount you owe. The judgment enforcer’s goal is to encourage you to pay, or arrange for a Sheriff to take what you owe. The sooner you pay a judgment debt, the less you will need to pay.