What can the collection agencydo, to collect if your income is very low and you have no property . are a senio

Question

7 months ago wife lost her employemnt.and had a operation.is 62 years of age .I 1 week after her operation was laid of of my main employment. I have been laid off for 7 months , Wife has perscriptions totaling close to $180 month and we pay insurance $350.00 month I now work as a security guard and hours very . . make about $900.00 to $1.000.00 month take home pay rent at seniors apart ment , utilitys . food .Lost our home to forclousure we own no property . I do have a ttruck which I use to go to work it is worth about $5.000.00 can they take the truck? We owe 5 credit cards . whish to try to pay about $15.00 month to each . wife has come down with Gerds and now needs more medicine .has high blood pressure and is on anti depressents . Thanks for any info

Answer 1

The most they could do is sue you but they wouldn't get anything anyway. They probably wouldn't do that unless your credit card debt is huge. If you aren't paying the minimum payments each month I wouldn't even pay. Anything less than the minimum payment doesn't do you any good and the banks probably won't help you out anyway...trust me, I work for a credit card company lol. If you definitely don't have the money to pay minimum payments then I'd either call consumer credit counseling service (sometimes they can help and other times they can't), file bakruptcy, or send the credit card companies a "cease and desist" letter so they have to stop all contact with you(and the annoying collection calls) and they can choose what to do from there...which is probably sell the account to a collection agency or just write it off depending on the amount. They won't take your truck. I'm sorry to hear about your situation and I hope things get better for you and your wife. Your health and happiness are MUCH more important than some credit cards. Good luck

Answer 2

The bottom line is this...

The collection agency will attempt to collect regardless of your personal situation. They cannot take your car unless you are in default on the loan. But if you own it, it's yours. And they cannot make you sell your car to pay off the loan!

Since it sounds as though you cannot afford even one more bill, the collection agency, depending on how aggressive they are, may file suit against you.

If they do (this is important)... you should appear in court and let the judge know that you cannot afford to pay the bill. He may allow you make arrangements at a later time.

But if you do not appear in court... the collection agency will win the case by default and may garnish whatever wages you have coming to you. I do not know if Social Security is safe from a judgement.

Here is a website for a non profit legal assistance. They may be able to advise you further.

Good luck.

Answer 3

They cannot take your truck, they could sue and try to garnish wages, but would not get much in court.
Mostly they will call all the time and drive you crazy.
Get an answering machine and turn the phone ringer off.
Let the answering machine take all the calls.
Return call to family, friends, doctors etc, but ignore the collectors.
You could go to a debt counselor who would consolidate and put you on a payment plan. I think then, they would stop calling.
I am sorry for your health issues, it can be tough but you do have each other.

Answer 4

Collection agency can't take your car (unless it's a car loan). Sorry to hear what you are going through. I think you guys should qualify to receive assistance from the state. Also drug companies have programs which distribute medicines free. I also know some doctors (clinics) give out free medicines (samples) to people who need them. Just ask them.