Comments on: Backdoor Debtors’ Prisons?

By: Skeptic

Skeptic — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:07:24 +0000

According to the debtor's own admission, he had income (albeit a meager one from disability.) He was paying for things which he had not yet incurred a debt. It wasn't that he "couldn't" pay — it's that he WOULDN'T. He was placing future consumption above repaying a (presumably) lawfully incurred debt.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:40:58 +0000

I would like to know if the debt was medical or not. Many on SSI and SSD wind up with a ton of debt from copays and ambulance bills. Many hospitals have forgiveness policies, but often these are so hidden or ignored that a debt is sent to a collection agency before an application can be made. Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital (run by the state of Oregon) is one of these. Often those suffering from severe PTSD or depression are often unable to even apply for such since their own conditions prevent such. The same applies to those in chronic pain. But then again, we are talking about a system which is set up to make the rich richer and keep the poor in their place . . .

By: Joy

Joy — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:21:47 +0000

and who pays for the jails and the people who operate them? THE TAXPAYERS!!!!!!!!! Why don't we just let the REAL criminals out on the streets to make room in the jails for the poor people who had some bad luck or made a few bad choices. Being poor is not a crime!

By: DMT

DMT — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:05:17 +0000

I am not an attorney, but I have been through bill collectors. I know that SSD can be garnished. However should it be? Some of you make it sound like five bucks a month is nothing. I have seen many people who had nothing and five bucks would have meant a meal. I am shocked at just how many people listen to people like Rush, and the savage nation. It is the lower class who will suffer the most, and the ones who are in middle class will pay the most. The wealthy will not suffer, not like we do anyway.

By: DMT

DMT — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:58:42 +0000

Sam's, Wal-Mart and places like that will bring up the price on their goods to recover for lost or stolen goods. Same with the creditor, through interest rates, doctors bills, and other, they will raise their prices to the insured to compensate for the uninsured or otherwise people who can not pay. While the general population does not pay a tax on un-paid bills, the prices will be raised on the consumer so in fact, you are wrong on that. I am with you 100% on everything else.; I am on SSD myself..

By: DMT

DMT — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:52:44 +0000

I know that the court is owed, but if the man can't pay, the court should have to take five bucks a month.; I am sitting here wondering what will be next, well your poor, can't live within your means, so were going to put you in jail and do it for you? Rather it is a court or a creditor, if you do not have it, you do not have it!

By: DMT

DMT — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:46:41 +0000

What if they can't fish, hunt, or work a garden! Your a complete moron. That is why back then the average age to live was thirty-five, back then if you was not married by age thirteen, you was considered too old. People like you have read too many right wing propaganda blogs or maby your just that kind of person?

By: DMT

DMT — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:37:55 +0000

It is people like you that causes this problem. "so why is it that people go to the emergency room or just the doctor, get their life saved and not think they have to pay for it and think that saying , I can't pay, I'm on a fixed income will magically make their bills go away. Most of the agencies in Indiana.." I hear right wing people say, we do not need universal health care, they can go to the emergency room. The people that come here from other countries can go to our emergency room and get service and not pay. I am on SSD, and have full Medicaid, I am one of the lucky ones. I wish a judge would say that to me! You are so wrong, Is a person suppose to die because they can not go to the bank and draw out the money and pay their bills? I watched my mom go without medicines because she could not afford them and THE FAMILY EITHER DID NOT HAVE IT OR WOULD NOT HELP HER!!!! I did not have it to give to her or I would have. She waited till she turned sixty-five to get the help she needed, and then died two months after she finally got help. She was more worried about the bill collectors then her own health. I really do not like your statement, you must be one of those right wing extremist!!!! Furthermore, if you have to go to the emergency room more then one time, each visit is a new bill, therefore a new payment.
I hope the universal health insurance will pass, that would be one problem fixed. Don't hollor long lines, and the government messes up everything, one, for the people like me and my mom, there is no line to get in. No insurance, no preventative health care. "ALL THE EMERGENCY ROOM HAS TO DO IS STABILIZE YOU, THAT'S IT!" if THE PRIVITE SECTOR COULD FIX THIS PROBLEM, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IT YEARS AGO.

By: baboy

baboy — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:47:13 +0000

AIG, GMAC, etc. were driven into the ground by 1) Democrats and their policies, and 2) Unions.

By: Derek

Derek — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:37:43 +0000

Everyone needs to become more familiar with the laws of this nation before you start spewing things you've heard from ohh lets say former President Bush. You don't pay for someone else's debt as a tax payer. For the most part you're paying for unscrupulous business practices on behalf of finance companies. You live in a world where banks and finance companies charge up to 30% interest on accounts with a single "late payment" Did you know that Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Capitol One, Discover, etc. have been fined for holding their customers payments until the due date passes to collect additional interest and late fees totaling 100s of Billions? Did you know that they do this every year? They're fined just once, maybe twice. It's so lucrative that the practice well pays for the fine. Do you know that we purposely make the fine print on contracts and so that's illegible to the average consumer, and then send our very crafty sales people out there to give you a brief description as we oh so solicitously have you sign here and initial there? Just because you have been fortunate enough to escape our snares, or not have a major hiccup we can exploit doesn't mean you're necessarily smarter. It just means we haven't gotten to you yet. Here are people that have driven major companies into the ground AIG, GMAC etc. how would you like to find out today or tomorrow that your job is gone? Worse still that your job and pension are gone? This is happening to hundreds of thousands of people across America. How would you like to work for an employer who tells you everyday your environment is safe, only to find out the asbestos, or melted plastics were not "well within tolerable levels" or your equipment wasn't the correct equipment, and now you find yourself sick and on disability at a fraction of what you used to make? How about being a member of the military that finds themselves disabled? Or finding that being on disability your medicine cost are so high $6,000.00 a month for which your co-pay is nearly $1,000.00 a month. In other words Shirley, Bob, guest, you're dumb. Fortunate ones since you haven't been impacted but still dumb none the less.

By: Derek your banker

Derek your banker — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:55:10 +0000

First of all Shirley, you need to become more familiar with the laws of this nation before you start spewing things you've heard from ohh lets say former President Bush. You don't pay for a damn thing as a tax payer. You live in a world where banks and finance companies charge up to 30% interest on accounts with a single "late payment" Did you know that Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Capitol One, Discover, etc. have been fined for holding their customers payments until the due date passes to collect additional interest and late fees totaling 100s of Billions? Did you know that they do this every year? Do you know that we purposely make the fine print so that's illegible to the average consumer, and then send our very crafty sales people out there to give you a brief description as we oh so solicitously have you sign here and initial there? Just because you have been fortunate enough to escape our snares, or not have a major hiccup we can exploit doesn't mean you're necessarily smarter. It just means we haven't gotten to you yet. Here are people that have driven major companies into the ground AIG, GMAC etc. how would you like to find out today or tomorrow that your job is gone? Worse still that your job and pension are gone? This is happening to hundreds of thousands of people across America. How would you like to work for an employer who tells you everyday your environment is safe, only to find out the asbestos, or melted plastics were not "well within tolerable levels" or your equipment wasn't the correct equipment, and now you find yourself sick and on disability at a fraction of what you used to make? How about being a member of the military that finds themselves disabled? Or finding that being on disability your medicine cost are so high $6,000.00 a month for which your co-pay is nearly $1,000.00 a month. In other words Shirley, Bob, guest, you're dumb asses at best. Fortunate ones since you haven't been impacted but still dumb asses none the less.

By: Eimaj

Eimaj — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:10:25 +0000

Herself…..

By: Damian

Damian — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:12:35 +0000

I dont have any sympathy for the corupt Attorneys and Judges! Our own government gets away with not paying debts everyday! Guess what, Most of the people in America are cattle anyway and are lead by example! So if our leadership doesn't set the example then this is what you get. How bout we stop spending money to this war and focus on taking care of our own right here.

By: Damian

Damian — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:58:41 +0000

Ok here is a situation you should know about since you wanna pass judgement. I spent 2 1/2 years fighting in court over a custody battle. I spent 80,000 dollars in legal fees, lost my house, my cars, my savings, and my job all because of a judges orders and attorneys who are only intrested in getting paid. The end result was I lost custody of my son to a woman who tested positive for meth twice during litigation and was arrested twice for domestic voilence. plus I was ordered to pay support to her and was stuck with all the marital debt that totaled 175,000 dollars. WHY? Turns out the judge was taking payoffs from my xwifes attorney. So where is my justice? I'm forced to pay everything and she pays nothing and I dont get custodial rights to my son. So this is your true America! Corupt and full of liers who are only in it for financial gain. So I dont blame people with a limited income not to pay debts off. If our government can spend Billions on useless crap, Then our legal system covers it up. Then why should I have to pay. I'm gonna act just like our leadership and do what it takes to get by.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:24:59 +0000

So what does he do all day? Sit around? He has no possible way of earning money? I think he should at least explain what he has tried to do or what he is going to try to do instead of just insisting that he can't pay.

Essentially, he just said "I get disability checks and that's the only chance for money that I have." I don't think that's good enough.

By: sharon

sharon — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:06:57 +0000

well i can assure you if someday it is your mother who cant pay her bills because she is eat up with cancer and some idiot like you is calling daily most times 5 or 6 times a day you would feel different i mother could barely get up yet they wont leave her alone and let her die in peace not sure where at 84 they thought she could get a job to pay her bills all i heard from her dreditors was she had perfect credit until well duh then she got sick and had to make a choice treatment medicine and food she had no luxuries didnt buy new clothes wore hers year after year didnt have a new car and family did help her but what idiot credit card company would let a woman that age borrow 30,000 dollars on a card anyway so they have their self to blame so til you walk in their shoes dont judge them

By: The 300 lb. Gorilla

The 300 lb. Gorilla — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:45:19 +0000

Tiffany,
I completely agree with and many others who have posted here. I am so sick of dead beat people who refuse to take responsibility for their bills. I can relate to not having a job and not having money but that doesn't negate the responsibility to the bill and if you cant afford to pay your bills then maybe you are living outside your means and need to change your lifestyle. Lets face it we are all on a fixed income and you now how much money you make each month and you know how much your bills are going to be (within reason) so if you see you cant make your bills maybe you need to stop smoking so much, quit drinking, get a roommate. There are plenty of people out here who do what they have to do to make ends meet, it may inconvenient but it has to be done. The excuse of being on SSD is so tired, that's no excuse they should have their checks garnished for their debts, if your going to be on a government program then you should have no delinquent bills. Its the absolute lack of responsibility people take for their actions that has put this country in the state it is. Yeah i know what its like to make 3k a week and go to literally living on a park bench but i did WHATEVER needed to be done to get back on my feet and with no help from anybody not even the shelters, they told me because i was a male with no children i couldn't stay and we wont talk about the red cross. The 5.00 a month that deadbeat was trying to give, yeah that would have been good if he would have done that from the beginning years prior to going to court but no all the way to the end it was the poor me crap , i cant pay. Unfortunately its the deadbeats like him who think that companies should write off the debt, this is the very reason why things are over priced and companies are going out of business, try calling the electric company and tell them F-you i didn't get a bill and im on SSI/SSD and im not paying but if i choose to ill give you 5.00 a month because that's all i think its worth, but you wont get that for another 2 years from now, i think somebody might be sitting in the dark. One last rant for those who wine about not being able to buy food. Do what my grandparents did for food before walmart GROW,HUNT,and FISH it. Seemed to work for millions of years before Sam Walton it just might still work.

Thanks,

The 300lb Gorilla

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:36:15 +0000

Obviously you are either all attorneys, or none of you have ever spent any time with one. This whole blog is B.S.
In the first place these “respectable attorneys” want you to believe this is over some poor slob who owes on a consumer purchase or similar debt, again B.S.
The man evidently owes “THE COURT” money…and yes she CAN put his butt in jail for not paying.
Even if the man were being sued by unsecured creditors all the court can do is find in favor of the creditor and issue a judgment for the same. They can put leans on real property…. PERIOD!!!
No judge, not even the stupid ones would make that comment in civil litigation…. An attorney on the other hand has no morals and will “lead you to believe” anything that will put money in their pocket.

By: S Geist

S Geist — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:45:32 +0000

In the law of you reap what you sow, I would hate to be this judge. Maybe the judge should read the parable about the rich man and the poor man who died. Who was asking who for a drink of water?

By: connie nichole

connie nichole — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:03:59 +0000

some one kindly pass this same ruling on all the banks that received a bail out