what happens if i don't pay my credit card bills, and i don't declare bankruptcy?

Question

knowing that i left the country.....
i don't care for my credit record, i just want to know if any criminal charges will be filed against me,,,,will i be put in jail if i come back?

Answer 1

They will got to collections, they will take you to court and get a judgment and at that point they can attach bank accounts, garnish wages (if your State allows it) and file liens on any property you may own like cars, boats, land and homes.

All of this will show on your credit report for 7-years making it very hard to get any other type of loan without making massive down payments, paying huge fees and State maximum interest rates.

Additional information.

So you are going to skip out and leave the rest of us to take up the slack. What a loser.

Answer 2

Not sure where you will be coming back to. If you got your credit in the US and you owe some bills they will have your social security card number on file. When you come back to the US you will have to use that same social security card (not allowed to get more than one number) so they will be able to track you down as soon as you get a job or buy anything or have a residence, etc. Anyway, so you didn't pay, then they will try calling you, writing you 3 times and finally send you a certified letter for your signature in proof that you received it. Sometimes when a letter is sent and say you're not there then the post office or friend will provide your new address and then it's forwarded to you or sent you thru the postal service. Whether you respond or not to that certified mail you are still responsible for the debt. If they reach you they will take you to court for payment, and you must respond and then appear on the date specified and either pay in full or there "might" be a way at that time that you can set up a payment plan (if they are reasonable with you). If you don't pay then they will put a judgment against anything you own (or will own in the future...and if you still don't pay they can make you sell what you own to pay the debt). So this is what you have to look forward to when you return. I know the FTC handles problems regarding situations from one country to the next but I don't know if they do collections or not that way. I know it can be reported to another country but I don't know what that other country will do with it.

Answer 3

I've had credit problems and I had at one time filed for bankruptcy. I would not recommend the latter. The smart thing to do would be to call your creiditors, explain to them about your change in income and see if they are willing to work with you. If you can afford to send them ten dollars a month, at least you are making an attempt. If you fail to pay them anything, then can and usually do take you to court, they can garnish your wages (which you will have no control over). Courts do not normally do this as they know you have to live and work and survive and if you can't do that, they won't get money anyway. The lawyer will try to work out some sort of payment deal. I was able to get my lawyer to go with $20 a month on a four thousand dollar card debt. It was all I could afford at the time. The creditor usually takes it over nothing. If you don't pay them anything, they will swarm all over you, calling your home, work all hours day and night. You can ignore them. They will send you collection letters and eventually nothing. This could be months or a year or more. Eventually, a subpoena comes in the mail for a court date. You have to go. The attorney (usually a local guy retained by the creditor) will discuss payment options with you. He will try to scare you into thinking there will be jail time, permanent credit damage, etc. to try and get you to pay them more money each month. Don't give in to that. They want 100-200 a month, more than your minimum payment now. Stick by what you can afford, keep detailed records of all your income and outgoing monies. Show what you have for bills each month, how much free money you have. If things are really that tight, you are more likely to get a decent monthly payment. Credit card companies cannot seize your house or your car, those are totally separate debts and even if you should decide to file for bankruptcy, you can keep your house and your car, providing you are able to make the monthly payments. Bankruptcy rules are stricter now so you would have to check into it for your state but I believe it only regards repayment of the debts.Not sure. Your credit will be jeopardized either way but filing for bankruptcy never looks good over all. The average bankruptcy clears your credit history in about ten years, normal credit card non payment in about six or seven. In my instance, I reestablished my credit in about five years, bought a new car and obtained credit to buy a new computer. Weigh your options but only after doing some research.

Answer 4

If you don't pay your credit card bill, the credit card company will send your account to an outside collection agency. The collection agency will then call you (if you do not respond) they will then write you a letter stating who they represent - and asking you to arrange for the payment of the amount due.

Generally, collection agencies only get paid if they get the money from you, so many of them tend to be very aggressive and even very mean. If after a few months they get no where, then they advise your creditor of the next step: reporting the debt to the credit bureau, causing your credit rating to be marked. Then if you ever want to buy a home or car or sometimes even get a credit card, you will have to pay off any open debts before you will get the loan.

So you would be better trying to pay off the debt or calling them and trying to negotiate a lower amount. Sometimes if you can not afford the open balance and you can prove it, they can reduce your portion down.

If they mark your credit rating, it will take 7 years for it to come off. However, if the amount involved is huge, the credit card company through its collection agency could take you to court. If you don't show up - and judgement is passed in favour of your creditor, you could be arrested.

I hope the above information is useful.

RICHARD

Answer 5

If you have no intention to come back to the states and fulfill your obligation, why would you care? If you decide to come back, they will find you. I don't think you'll be able to own anything if you come back. The record is still going to be there.

My question to you is that how can you live with yourself knowing that you owed people?

I hope they do have criminal charges against you because people like you that make credit card companies charge us (the one who pay) high interest to make up for what they lost.

Answer 6

Don't you feel morally obligated to pay your debts?

Why would you use a credit card to buy things from honest people and then refuse to pay?

Is that how all the proud people from your country behave, or are you 'special' in some way? Like a special deadbeat, someone who does not pay their bills.

You make a great case against allowing the illegal immigrants in this country to have unlimited amnesty. Maybe we should only allow decent hardworking honest immigration, and keep you from coming back? Maybe we should.

Thou shalt not steal.

Answer 7

You will eventually have legal action against you and judgments will be obtained against you. They then can garnish your income and they will harass you day and night. Your credit will be totally ruined for at least seven years after the last efforts are made to collect the debts, whether collection or judgment/garnishment, as all these stay on your report for seven years.

Answer 8

Probably not much. Most creditors don't seek to pursue consumer debt internationally. If you return, you won't go to jail but you may be the subject of collection proceedings. When you return, you might file bankruptcy if you are eligible to do so.

Answer 9

The U.S. does not have a debtor's prison, so therefore no criminal charges can be filed against you

Answer 10

You'll be hounded day and night by collection agencies.