Can you go to jail if you never pay your collections...???

Im talking like if all of your bills go to collections and you never pay them... Can you go to jail for that? Or what happens, just curious??? Thanks!

No u wont go go jail. But if you develop a habit of not paying stuff off "predatory" debt collectors buy the debt for pennies on the dollar & then harass you. Like if u have a $300 phone bill they'll buy 10 peoples accounts for the same $300 & if 2 or 3 of them people finally pay up the company has made money. Debt is supposed to fall off you're credit report after 7 yrs but most predatory collections companies know how to ILLEGALLY "re-date" debt. They do it by calling you, asking you're name, b-day, etc. Once they confirm its u & you really owe the debt they can open a new file on you're credit report. So a debt thats a year or 2 from going away is now good for 7 more years. So if you dont recognize a number calling u & you owe if they ask "is this Marie Smith" deny it like hell and yell at them for calling you. It dont always work but NEVER confirm you're identity with anyone you dont know.

The answer in NO. At one time in American history, there were "debtor prisons"...but that changed. Now, the only thing that can happen is that you can have your credit ruined, you can have a lien placed on your property, bank accts. etc. They can even garnish your paycheck (up to 25%) if they know where you are working. Non-payment of bills is a civil matter...not criminal.

For not paying your bills, no. The US does not have debtors prisons (except for unpaid child support)

Richard

They Are Not Sending You To Jail Baby

Yes, eventually. But not for paying your bills.

Bills go to collection. Maybe they get written off. Maybe someone sees you're able to pay because you actually have a good job. So they take you to court for non-payment

The judge orders you to pay.

You refuse.

The judge has you thrown in the slammer for contempt of court: failing to pay your bills when ordered to do so by his court.

Not for not paying. However, if they sue you and get a judgment, the court can order you to pay the judgment in regular installments. If you don't, you're in contempt of court...and for that you can go to jail.

** Note: This is a general discussion of the subject matter of your question and not legal advice. Local laws or your particular situation may change the general rules. For a specific answer to your question you should consult legal counsel with whom you can discuss all the facts of your case. Answering this question does not indicate an attorney-client relationship. **

Centuries ago in England they used to put debtors in prison. In fact they had special prisons called 'debtors prisons' where these poor people would be taken and forced to work off their debts. But because of the corruption of the system--having to pay the prison itself for their upkeep and having to take any work the prison found for the, at whatever pay was offered, most people in debtors prisons stayed there the rest of their lives.

So in the 19th century both Britain and the US basically abolished debtors prisons. In the US you can go to prison for fraud, non-payment of alimony or child support, or cheating on your taxes. But not for debt itself.