In jail for being in debt

Some DUers advocate simply walking away from debt. Be careful people. Remember, you're no bankster. Laws actually apply to you.

Was also posted here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8521816

nt?

What ever happened to default judgments? With all do respect, that argument is just a weasily way to defend this practice. That is a technicality. They are de facto debtors prisons when people are being hauled off like that. I think the cops have better things to do, personally.

I am unemployed, in foreclosure, had my first bankruptcy dismissed because I could no longer pay the trustee payment, and am planning a second bankruptcy filing as soon as I get a job. I know about being in debt.

To be honest, I didn't read the article, but from the OP I gather that this person was arrested for not appearing in court when summoned, not because of the debt.

Years old in many cases. They are often owned by lawyers who know how to game the sytsem. Then they hound people to get them to pay. Often times they don't have the correct address info though, and the people they hound aren't even the right people. The notices they send aren't even sufficient much of the time. So, if the cops eventually show up, you may not even know that a judgment was won against you. It may even be possible that the debt isn't yours. In fact, as I've said in another thread about this, I was hounded about an old cellphone debt that wasn't even mine. I'm certainly glad I wasn't hauled in about that. Guess I'm glad I don't live in Minnesota.

Sorry for the stridency. There were some people in the other threads about this who were pretty defensive about this practice. As you can tell, I think it's pretty awful, and I hope something is done about it. As it stands really, anyone is in danger of having the cops show up and just haul you off if you live in a state that's friendly to these types of collectors. I don't get why anyone would defend it, because as someone who's been wrongly a victim of these shady people, being paid up on your bills isn't exactly a defense. And is a cop going to believe you if they're right there at the door with the cuffs at the ready? It isn't right.

Years old in many cases. They are often owned by lawyers who know how to game the sytsem. Then they hound people to get them to pay. Often times they don't have the correct address info though, and the people they hound aren't even the right people. The notices they send aren't even sufficient much of the time. So, if the cops eventually show up, you may not even know that a judgment was won against you. It may even be possible that the debt isn't yours. In fact, as I've said in another thread about this, I was hounded about an old cellphone debt that wasn't even mine. I'm certainly glad I wasn't hauled in about that. Guess I'm glad I don't live in Minnesota.

Sorry for the stridency. There were some people in the other threads about this who were pretty defensive about this practice. As you can tell, I think it's pretty awful, and I hope something is done about it. As it stands really, anyone is in danger of having the cops show up and just haul you off if you live in a state that's friendly to these types of collectors. I don't get why anyone would defend it, because as someone who's been wrongly a victim of these shady people, being paid up on your bills isn't exactly a defense. And is a cop going to believe you if they're right there at the door with the cuffs at the ready? It isn't right.

Jail is still jail, even when it's euphemised as a "holding cell."

This isn't a problem until people in the middle class are put in jail.

*sigh*

the two counties where i live there`s a one day a week devoted to bad debt collection

and refuse to go to court to address the situation when you get a court order? How about if you owe child support and do the same (some people don't have the money up front to pay)

The reason a lender can charge varying interest rates is to adjust for risk. Lenders take a risk when they lend money and are paid in the form of interest and other fees. If you extend credit to someone and they do not pay, any resulting action on your part are (or very much should be) civil court actions. Most states allow for a process of obtaining a summary judgment if one party or the other in a civil case fails to appear for court or arbitration hearings. After a summary judgment is entered, and the non appearing party is served with notice of the judgment and allowed time to appeal the judgment, other processes are in place to assist in that collection...none being arrest of the debtor, nor should arrest be an option in a civil case, aside from possible criminal possibilities if the debtor destroys or liquidates assets which would satisfy the debt.

:shrug:

And yes, the whole damn thing is pretty sleezy.