What are the consequences of not paying a debt?

In Texas, the consequence of not paying a debt is determined by the Collection Defense Law. This law states that creditors are allowed to collect unpaid debt through legal means, however, the creditor cannot use illegal or harassing tactics to obtain payment. If a person fails to pay a debt, the creditor is entitled to take legal action. This legal action may include filing a lawsuit against the debtor in court. If the debtor is found liable in the lawsuit, the judge may order the debtor to pay back the full balance plus interest. The judge may also require the debtor to pay court costs, attorney fees, and other expenses associated with the lawsuit. The creditor may also take other forms of legal action to collect on the debt. This may include obtaining a wage garnishment, where the creditor can take money out of the debtor’s paycheck, or obtaining a lien against the debtor’s property. In addition to taking legal action, the creditor may also report the unpaid debt to a credit reporting agency. This may affect the debtor’s credit score and ability to obtain future loans. In some cases, failure to pay a debt may result in criminal charges and fines. Generally, criminal charges are only used in cases where the debt has been outstanding for an extended period of time and the debtor has not taken steps to pay back the money. If steps are not taken to pay off the debt, the creditor may have the right to take the case to collections. The debt may then be sold to a collections agency, who can take further legal action to obtain payment.

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