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Can a Debt Collector Have Me Arrested?
In 19th Century England, more than half of all prisoners were there for unpaid bills. But in the United States, there’s no such thing as debtor’s prison. Not since the 1830s anyway.
Here’s how it works in this century; if you don’t pay your bills, you don’t go to prison. But you could still go to court. You can be sued for what you owe. And while you won’t be sent up the river, your credit score can sink to the bottom of the ocean.
If a debt collector threatens you with jail time, it’s a big, fat, lie. It’s also a warning sign. Don’t be bullied. Call Debt.com if debt collectors are harassing you, and we can make them stop. Because this is the 21st century and there are laws against collector harassment. We can tell you all about them, just call us.
The idea of going to prison because of debt is actually central in American history. After all, in the 18th and 19th centuries, over half all prisoners in England were there for unpaid debt and colonization of the Americas began with these prisoners.[1]Once the colonies took root, many debtors became indentured servants in order to settle what they owed, or they fled to the U.S. to escape their debts.[2]
