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Questions tagged [debt]

Liability or obligation to pay or render something to another

Canonical answers:

150 questions
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What if a restaurant suddenly cannot accept credit cards, and the customer has no cash?

If a restaurant normally accepts credit cards, and a customer eats a meal there, then tries to pay with his valid credit card, and the cashier says the credit card system is down and they can only accept cash today, and the customer has no cash, and…
FlanMan
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What happens to a country’s debt if the country ends?

Suppose a country either just calls it quits or is destroyed by war (for example, Yugoslavia or Czechoslovakia). If that country has a national debt, including both domestic and foreign lenders, what happens to the debt? I have read about countries…
SegNerd
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1 answer

How do you collect unpaid debt from the federal government?

There are currently concerns that the federal government might just not make some payments it owes to people, either because it doesn't feel like it or due to some kind of massive computer failure. I might be owed money from the federal government…
interfect
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In a state with the common law definition of theft, can you force a store to take cash by "pretending" to steal?

If I understand correctly, (a) under common law, theft requires an intent to permanently deprive the owner, and (b) legal tender only applies to debts, not purchases. B is the reason why stores do not have to accept cash. However, if I take goods…
Someone
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What if you and a restaurant can't agree on who is at fault for a credit card issue?

This question established that, if a restaurant is suddenly unable to take all credit cards, and you don't have cash, then it is not a criminal matter and the debt would just be resolved through civil methods. On the other hand, if you went to a…
SegNerd
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4 answers

Is a debt canceled if the creditor refuses a settlement offer?

I've been told by several people on several occasions -- in several jurisdictions within the US -- that if you owe someone money, you can offer some stupidly low amount of cash (most versions include numbers from $1 to 25%) to settle the debt. If…
cHao
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Can an estate be forced to sell real estate to cover debt if the home was bequeathed to an adult child?

My mother died in West Virginia. I am her son and the executor of her will, in which the home was bequeathed to me. The estate has insufficient funds to pay medical and other debts. Can WV probate court force me to sell the home to pay the medical…
peinal
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Legality of "stealing" assets from Debtors

Yesterday, I watched an episode of a TV show where debt collectors stole valuable assets because their owners didn't pay the monthly rates or when they entered bankruptcy. The show was recorded in the US, and I wonder how this could be legal, as the…
PMF
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Is there an inherent legal obligation to repay a guarantor?

So as I understand a guarantor is liable to pay rent arrears if the tenant is unable, unwilling, or just doesn't pay. I am wondering if such an occasion arose and the landlord contacted the guarantor to pay, and they did, would the tenant, without a…
Ethan
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Can my UK debt be collected because I have to return to US?

I am a US citizen residing on a UK work visa and due to a horrible work environment I have decided to resign. Due to the limitations of my visa I am only allowed to work for this specific company in the United Kingdom which means I'll have to return…
Kevin
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Is it legal for energy companies to break into a house?

There are a couple of stories in the news about energy firms breaking into houses because of unpaid erroneous bills. The common features of relevance are: There was debate about the validity of energy bills at a premises The errors are so obvious…
User65535
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Student Loan from years ago pops up and is taking my salary

Summary: For decades I had my student loans paid by automated payment from my bank without a problem; just take it out of my bank and there's a small benefit in interest for it. Recently, my current employer showed me that there was a collections…
Mikey
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What happens to debts when someone dies?

How are debts and loans recovered by the lenders after a borrower passes away? A debt can be as small as 100 bucks for the credit card bill. It can be as big as millions of bucks for mortgage (or other fat) loans. Are the relatives or heirs of the…
Ravindra S
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Does the USA actually have debtors prison or jail after a court order?

Okay, I know officially the answer is "no, there is no such thing as debtors jail for civil debts in the USA", however let's explore this. Suppose a person is sued by a creditor for a debt. Normally what happens of course is there is a court date…
Boshy 1984
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Do legal tender laws prevent "no cash" restaurants?

This story about restaurants that only accept electronic payment set me wondering. I know that under legal tender laws a business can set a policy on what forms of payment it will accept, but that only applies if no debt exists prior to the time of…
Paul Johnson
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