prison

GLANDEUR

Hello,

Question can they send you to prison for being in debts? if you cant pay?

immoral_angeluk

Only if it's an 'official' debt, like you owe the inland revenue or your council tax.

angchris

csa were also talking of jailing my ex for non payment of child support :eek:

lauren_1

angchris wrote:

csa were also talking of jailing my ex for non payment of child support :eek:

And what money would that get you??
they took away the ex's lisence, so he gave up work in protest:mad:
Just got to get a silly law lifted that prohibits the bailiffs visiting any NRP on benefits, or so they say

angchris

lauren_1 wrote:

And what money would that get you??
they took away the ex's lisence, so he gave up work in protest:mad:
Just got to get a silly law lifted that prohibits the bailiffs visiting any NRP on benefits, or so they say

it wouldnt acheive anything as ex oh would never let me forget it! and i still wouldnt see any money :rolleyes:

mystery07

GLANDEUR wrote:

Hello,

Question can they send you to prison for being in debts? if you cant pay?

If you owe private companies money but are unable to pay, the worst they can do is attempt to make you bankrupt, but before they do that the courts would give you an opportunity to make a payment arrangement.

As with, council tax, inland revenue etc, they dont just send you to prison immediately, there will be several options to pay before they considered that...my advise would be, if you owe anyone like this, try to make at least a small payment arrangement, to show that even though you are suffering hardship, you are willing to pay "something"!

If your in trouble, perhaps you could post a "statement of affairs" so that everyone could offer you some advise....see southernscousers sticky at the top of this page...

Hope this helps x

Mozette

HM Revenue & Customs are very very unlikely to send you to prison, unless you have been defrauding them, rather than you just can't pay an above board debt. For example one of the most high profile cases where a certain jockey was sent to prison, it was after he'd been given the chance to 'own up' but still concealed details... also if a 'high profile' person is imprisoned it makes the news and acts as a deterrent. Just an ordinary person who cannot pay his/her tax - totally unlikely. Look at it pragmatically, are you likely owe more than it would cost to go through the trial process and be kept in prison? Not something to worry about really.

Donedoingdebt

I agree with the above. HMRC allowed me to pay overdue income tax for 12 years after self employment finished in 1994. I think the nasty ones are Council tax, non payment of court fines, child maintenance

Sooty0404

Debtors prisons were abolished in about 1876, when at that time you could be jailed for debts of £50 or more. I can't begin to work out how much time I would be doing if that were in force today

BEING IN DEBT IS NOT A CRIME

The Inland Revenue cannot jail you for simply owing them money as it is a civil debt not a criminal one. You can be imprisoned for tax evasion if it can be proved that you have acted illegally to avoid paying tax - ie falsefying accounts etc.

With Coucil Tax, owing money is again a civil debt but once a CCJ has been obtained the court could order a custodial sentence if you still do not pay. It is the non-payment of the Court Order that is the criminal offence, not the owing of the money.

In the current climate where you only just get sent to jail for murder I don't think you need to hide under the bed just yet.

The_Boss

I owe the Inland Revenue about £2k Then again, they are taking it straight out of my salary for the next tax year so I guess thats ok.

Sooty0404

That's a good way of paying it. Afer the first couple of months you will acclimatise to the reduction and when the debt is paid and the money is once again yours it will be a 'bonus'.