Bank Levy

A bank levy occurs when a creditor instructs a bank to take money from another's account without the consent of that person, the account holder. The creditor is seeking funds to apply toward an outstanding debt of the account holder. The levy is forcing payment to occur whether the account owner is ready for that payment to happen or not. The IRS is famous for levying accounts for back taxes owed.

The word levy, in feudal times, meant to enlist someone in military service. That's where the indebted ended up...it was either "pay your bills" or "join the military." It worked back in the day, anyway.