what happenes if you dont pay your credit card bills?

Question

does it just go to a credit place or do they take you to court or jail? my bill is 4 thousand dollars?

I am on maternity leave, my baby is very colicky so i cant work yet, and im so far behind.

Answer 1

First, the credit card company will attempt to collect the debt themselves. Mainly phone calls and letters.

Then, if you have not made an attempt to pay or work out a payment plan with them they will sell your account off to a collection agency that will use more phone calls and letters to attempt collection. They will be very persistent and call you at home, work, and may even try to reach you through family and friends (yes, they can do this and have the means to research you and find friends and family).

If that does not work they have a few other options. Garnishments of your wages can come if you live in a state that allows them. Check your state laws to see if that applies to you. If you own real property (home, land, condo) they can place a judgement/lien against your property and prevent you from selling it until you pay their bill. Finally, they will list your account as a bad debt/charge off on your credit report and make it harder for you to get future credit.

Best action for you is to contact your local non-profit consumer credit counseling agency and get them to help you negotiate and payment plan you can afford with the credit card company.

Answer 2

Once you're past 30 days late it goes on your credit report. They'll probably hassle you for a while and try to work out a payment arrangement. If you don't do that, they will file a judgement against you and you have to go to court, but it's just a mediation to try to work out a payment arrangement. The judgement goes on your credit report too though and can stay for 10 years. You won't go to jail though, your credit will just be messed up. Actually on revolving credit, there is a statute of limitations on the debt. Here in florida it's 3 years. It'll look bad on you, but holding out is an option also.

Answer 3

The answer from Vikki is absolutely correct. If you don't pay it, they will report it to all three major credit bureaus. Yor credit score will drop miserably, and you will have a hard time getting credit anywhere. At some point, you will want a car or a house and your credit will matter.
Pay the bill and pay it on time. Its better to be late once in a while rather than not pay it at all. And if you are thinking about bankruptcy, please don't. That will be on your record for 10 years. Make your life easier... pay the bill.

Answer 4

They cut off your credit card so you can't charge anything else on it, then eventually they sue you for the money you owe. If they get a judgement in court, they can garnish your wages and/or seize some of your possessions.

Answer 5

It depends how much asset you have. If you have none, you are lucky --- go talk to the credit card company and tell them you have nothing and make a deal with them. You will pay much less than 4 thousand. If you have some asset you still need to talk to them try to deal with them. I don't how much you will pay.
But do not worry too much. This is my experience not a legal advise.

Answer 6

IT stays on your credit report up to 7 to 10 years and it makes your credit report look bad..

Answer 7

your credit will be crap, and they will send you to a collection company, then they will prevent you from buying anything else on credit, like car, house, loan, cell phone etc. Even some jobs check your credit before they hire you. You might as well pay it.

Answer 8

Jail? No but they can give you hell and garnish wages.

Answer 9

they can take it to court..........

start re-possessing items......

maybe ring them and organise a payment scheme