Jailed In Tennessee for Unpaid Hospital Bills
My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Tennessee
Last night my fiancee, who had just left from a visit to her son and his family in Tennessee, called me and told he she had gotten a call from the son in which he stated that "people" had shown up at his house and told him to report to the jail the next day. He was, they said, going to have to serve 30 days for unpaid medical bills going back to 1999. He has a wife and several kids and barely makes enough to keep food on the table, much less buy insurance.
Can this happen in Tennessee? Everything I know about credit and debt collections, being a former banker in Texas, says you can't put somebody in jail for unpaid debt unless child support, student loans, taxes or significant fraud was involved. He called a Public Defender, who was going to try to meet with him today; I' m just looking for background on the subject. Thanks for any information you can give.
Re: Jailed in Tenn for Unpaid Hospital Bills
There are no debtor's prisons in the United States.
However, it depends on the circumstances of the debt.
If there was fraud or the like, that would be a different animal.
Re: Jailed in Tenn for Unpaid Hospital Bills
They don't put a debtor in jail for unpaid medical bills. There must be more to the story than what is posted.
The public defender should be able to tell him more after he (public defender) gets the full facts.
Re: Jailed in Tenn for Unpaid Hospital Bills
I figured there must be more here than meets the eye. I posted what facts the mom gave me, but we are both questioning whether we have them all. The only other piece of information I have gotten since my original post was that "his creditors had gotten together and decided he was going to jail for not paying his hospital bills." ...and I know that just doesn't happen....thanks for your input!
Re: Jailed in Tenn for Unpaid Hospital Bills
I betcha a dollar that the arrest had as much to do with hospital debt as with the China/Taiwanese conflict.
None.
Re: Jailed in Tenn for Unpaid Hospital Bills
Agree, I don't believe you are still getting the full complete correct story.
Re: Jailed in Tenn for Unpaid Hospital Bills
If an arrest happens, you can often visit the sheriff's office website for the county in question and find either lists of arrests or jail inmate information which should list the exact charges.