US Marshals arresting people for not paying their federal student loans - Story | KRIV

[w0nderer]

Last edited Tue Feb 16, 2016, 03:49 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: Fox26 Houston

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Believe it or not, the US Marshals Service in Houston is arresting people for not paying their outstanding federal student loans.

Paul Aker says he was arrested at his home last week for a $1500 federal student loan he received in 1987.

He says seven deputy US Marshals showed up at his home with guns and took him to federal court where he had to sign a payment plan for the 29-year-old school loan.




Read more: From: http://www.fox26houston.com/news/local-news/92232732-story

---

article was Updated:Feb 15 2016 07:02PM CST

How far behind are debtor prisons?


--edit 1:07 PM CST to add links below--
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/u-s-marshals-arresting-people-not-paying-student-loans-article-1.2533153
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/16/us-marshals-arresting-people-outstanding-federal-s/
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/feb/16/student-debt-protest-armed-marshals-arrest-man-loans
--end edit--
--edit 14:51 PM CST to add link below--
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/02/us-marshals-just-arrested-this-guy-for-a-1500-student-loan-from-29-years-ago/
--end edit--

[PoliticAverse]

1. We have "debtor prison" for people that don't pay their mandated child support.

(even if they are unemployed)

[Dont call me Shirley]

2. Who ordered the US Marshalls to start arresting student debtors? Bernie would never let this fly.

[handmade34]

11. private contractors hired the US Marshalls

[Dont call me Shirley]

13. Sweet, US Marshall service up for sale. What a travesty the dismantling of public entities has been!

[Igel]

97. The article says "federal government."

It is a debt. Marshals can be called in to help if the plaintiffs' lawyers request it.

Esp. if it's the government.

[hack89]

33. Federal judges

debt collectors are going to court to get judgements against people that haven't paid their debts. The Marshals job is to serve those judgements.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

49. Wanna bet those judges are on the take?

[hack89]

50. Once you provide some evidence I would consider it. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

55. Remember PA Child Care?

[hack89]

58. We are talking about federal judges

the standard is a lot higher than PA state judges - for one thing they are not elected positions.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

62. The point is the Judiciary isn't sacrosanct.

[hack89]

63. But neither are they all corrupt like you seem to believe. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

66. Who said, "all"?

You don't believe the collection agencies go judge shopping for a rubber stamp?

Hell, some appointed by Republicans would do it based on ideology. (But a little money is nice too)

[hack89]

68. I eagerly await your evidence. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

70. I eagerly await an investigation.

[hack89]

72. ok. nt

[Unknown Beatle]

114. If Supreme Court justices can be bought,

so can any judge at any level.

[CrispyQ]

3. How much does it cost to send US Marshals? More than $1500?

We give billions to the banksters, yet none of them are in jail.

[ananda]

10. I know. The perspective is amazing!

Criminal banksters steal billions.

Students who default on old loans arrested for debt.

Sheesh!

[handmade34]

12. bill collectors paid the US Marshalls

to get this guy...

[Spitfire of ATJ]

51. More like they paid the judge who issued the warrant....

The Marshals were doing the classic, "I was just following orders" bit.

[jwirr]

30. A reservation in Montana wanted to start their own grocery

store and asked the BIA for permission. The BIA sent a team to analyze the need. It cost $21,000 for the team to decide that they did not need a store.

You are looking at a money making scheme on the part of someone in Texas.

[Xithras]

39. The cost is added to the loan. He now owes $7000 per another article.

The original $1500 had climbed to $5700 with interest, and they tacked on another $1300 in court to cover the cost of the marshals.

[Maedhros]

87. I had a student loan in default in the 90s

The original loan amount was $17,000.00. In 1998 Congress passed, and Bill Clinton signed into law ( ), a bill that tacked a 25% penalty onto all student loans in default. When payments were received on the loans, the penalty was paid before interest and before principal. And, of course, the loans were sold to a private collector so that 25% penalty was pure profit for those bastards.

U.S. Marshals are being used as enforcers to force students to pay loan sharks.

[valerief]

46. Yep. It's aaaaaall theater. nt

[certainot]

60. even more absurd is that 90 universities support this

through their support of 260 limbaugh radio stations. by broadcasting sports on those rw stations in exchange for a little licensing money, the school lets the station use their cred and logos/mascots to sell corporate republican bullshit.

so while student activists and bernie and others work to reduce student debt and increase education funding these 90 universities support 260 limbaugh stations- which is more than 25% of the national and locally coordinated republican propaganda machine that has been electing republicans and defunding education around the country.

if students want to reduce debt and fight this shit they might want to check to see if their own schools will be helping republicans oppose student debt relief, attack bernie, and elect trump/cruz.

it makes these schools great places to protest in support of bernie and all education related issues because local GOP/ALEC/think tanks rely HEAVILY on those stations and just getting attention to it so the school is just thinking about looking for apolitical alts to broadcast sports will scare off advertisers and scare the crap out of the GOP. many of those stations would have to change programming to survive.

here's the list by state - 260 or so stations that help ALEC destroy public ed and attack teachers in their states. and they will be attacking bernie nonstop if he gets the nom.

texas unis support at least 16 limbaugh stations, which are often the loudest around.

ALABAMA 8 Auburn 3, Alabama 2, Southern Alabama 2, Troy 1
ARIZONA 2 Arizona St. 1, Arizona 1
ARKANSAS 3 Arkansas 3
CALIFORNIA 5 San Jose State 2, USC 2, Fresno St. 1
COLORADO 4 Air Force 2, Colorado 1, Colorado State 1
CONNECTICUT 1 Connecticut 1
FLORIDA 20 Florida 10, Florida St. 4 Miami 2, South Florida 2, Central Florida 2
GEORGIA 14 Georgia 7, Georgia Tech 5, Georgia Southern 2
IDAHO 7 Boise St. 4, Idaho 3
ILLINOIS 7 Illinois 7
INDIANA 11 Notre Dame 6, Purdue 4, Indiana 1
IOWA 5 Iowa 4, Iowa St. 1
KANSAS 4 Kansas St. 2, Kansas 1, Wichita St. 1
KENTUCKY 3 Louisville 2, Kentucky 1
LOUSIANA 3 LSU 2, La.-Monroe 1
MARYLAND 2 Maryland 2
MASSACHUSETTS 1 Boston College 1
MICHIGAN 19 Michigan St. 11, Michigan 7, Western Michigan 1
MINNESOTA 4 Minnesota 4
MISSISSIPPI 6 Mississippi St. 3, Mississippi 2, Southern Miss 1
MISSOURI 6 Missouri 6
NEBRASKA 6 Nebraska 6
NEVADA 1 Nevada 1
NEW JERSEY 2 Rutgers 1, Seton Hall 1
NEW MEXICO 3 New Mexico 2, New Mexico St. 1
NEW YORK 7 Syracuse 6, Army 1
NORTH CAROLINA 16 North Carolina 8, North Carolina State 3, Duke 3, East Carolina 2
OHIO 10 Ohio St. 6, Toledo 1, Dayton 1, Bowling Green 1, Xavier 1
OKLAHOMA 5 Oklahoma St. 3, Oklahoma 1, Oral Roberts 1
OREGON 12 Oregon St. 7, Oregon 5
PENNSYLVANIA 14 Penn St. 11, Pittsburgh 2, Temple 1
SOUTH CAROLINA 4 South Carolina 2, Clemson 2
TENNESSEE 7 Tennessee 4, Memphis 3
TEXAS 16 Texas A&M 9, Texas Tech 4, Texas 1, Texas Christian 1, Baylor 1

[redruddyred]

99. oh yeah higher education isn't a $$ making scam at all

i may be attending one of these soon enough, what can i do.

[certainot]

113. well, if it supports the rw radio stations tell them to

reread their mission statements or fuck off!

easy for me to say

[ladjf]

4. That's terrible. nt

[eppur_se_muova]

5. It's a Fox affiliate -- are we sure this is all there is to the story ?? nt

[harun]

88. Agree, doubt they would go after 1500 when there is a long list of 100K+ defaults.

[rladdi]

6. Folks this is Texas, ruled by Greg Abbott who hates the people, but loves them for votes. This is

the most radical, extreme state next to Arizona.

[kentauros]

54. Then don't ever visit here.

With all of your preconceived ideas about us, you can only hate any such experience.

[Trajan]

102. Is there a reality to his statement?

If he is speaking truth, then why would that anger you?

[rhett o rick]

7. This is what the Oligarchy has brought us. This is what will continue of we continue electing

Conservatives like H. Clinton. We need change we need to elect progressives.

[Arazi]

8. This wouldn't happen under a President Sanders

[hack89]

36. Bernie has no control over Federal judges

it is that entire separation of powers thing.

[Fearless]

56. Students wouldn't be saddled with crippling debt.

[hack89]

59. No shit

still doesn't mean Bernie will be able to micromanage the federal court system.

[Fearless]

61. No one said that.

[hack89]

64. The OP is about marshals enforcing court orders

Bernie is not going to be able to wipe away all outstanding student debt. I don't think his plan is retroactive.

[Fearless]

69. Actually he's stated looking into alleviating current debit... likely through making it a NO PROFIT

system... ie. removing interest rates.

And technically the federal government insures all loans so they technically COULD absolve them, as they do after 20-30 years under some repayment plans. I am not however saying anyone has suggested this will be done.

And the OP was not what you responded to. It was a statement saying that US Marshalls will not create a 21st century of debtors prisons under a Sanders administration. I for one agree, through the aforementioned relief suggestions.

[hack89]

71. The US marshals will do what the judges direct them to do

it is their job. Sanders cannot interfere with the court system. Basic civics.

[Fearless]

76. And the point is that the court system will not have to send people to hunt down Americans

To jail them for the inability to pay predatory loans.

[hack89]

78. Not until Bernie has eliminated all student debt from America

which is highly unlikely. Free college is going to be hard enough. Getting Congress to eliminate all that debt will be a very long process if it is possible at all.

[Fearless]

81. I'm sorry if the battle will be too hard for you.

I'll work twice as hard to ensure that you or your children or the people you know and care about are treated correctly by the US education system.

[hack89]

82. The US education system has done well for my family

there is debt but all concerned knew what we were getting into.

I have no problem with what Bernie wants to do and would certainly not get in his way. That still doesn't mean it is within the realm of possible given America's cultural and political divisions.

[Fearless]

83. It has NOT done well by millions of Americans

Your "I've got mine, I don't care about yours" attitude is very disappointing.

I will fight for anyone who is treated poorly regardless of if I will personally benefit and even if I personally detriment if it's the fair thing to do.

[hack89]

84. That's nice. nt

[Fearless]

85. It's not about nice. It's about what's RIGHT and what's JUST.

In case you've forgotten....

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.

[hack89]

86. That's nicer. nt

[redruddyred]

101. i thought the prez nominated higher judges

anyhow, texas legal system is hella corrupt; it's sickening.

[Akicita]

67. I doubt if $1,500 is crppling debt to someone who got their college degree

29 years ago.

[Fearless]

77. The outstanding total is actually $7000 in that case

And guess what.

For some people it IS.

How about my case.... although I am and can pay myself... there are others like me...

Who have 67000 in loans and work minimum wage jobs and can't find work in their chosen fields.

You do realize that the AVERAGE that a person leaves college owing today is $34000... nearly $60,000 if you include graduate school.

You do realize that the AVERAGE person does NOT find a job in their chosen field immediately, the AVERAGE taking six months to TWO YEARS to find that job and many NEVER finding that job?

You do realize that a BA in ANY science field will lead to minimum wage lab jobs and a masters degree or higher is required for ANYTHING that makes a decent living?

You do realize that this isn't the 1960's anymore and the deck is decidedly stacked AGAINST college graduates.

[Akicita]

93. I do realize everything you are saying. I was referring to this case where the guy

had 29 years to pay back $1,500. People who CAN pay back their debts should.

I feel for recent college grads who can't find a job in their fields. My son is one of them. I'm helping him with his student loans, which is not easy on my income. Colleges today are ridiculously expensive, although many of them have deemed rock climbing walls and water parks and other expensive amenities as absolutely necessary for a quality education. And the economy sucks. Makes you wonder why the government is issuing a flood of H-1B visas to educated foreign workers to come take entry level positions that could be going to our recent grads. Ya think corporate donations to our glorious politicians may have anything to do with it?

[Reter]

112. It wouldn't happen under the far-right or far-left

The militia lovers like the Pauls don't like this either. Hillary and the establishment Republicans on the other hand...

[Scalded Nun]

9. I so desperately wish that Texas

would get the smarts and the balls to elect leaders who actually want to govern for the benefit of the people and the state.

The GOP in Texas is a nasty, evil piece of work.

[LanternWaste]

18. TX is gerrymandered to such an extent as to be GOP for the next three to four general election cycle

TX is gerrymandered to such an extent as to be GOP for the next three to four general election cycles. In 2013, as part of the hearing regarding TX and preclearance, Greg Abbott wrote in a court brief that, "In 2011, both houses of the Texas Legislature were controlled by large Republican majorities, and their redistricting decisions were designed to increase the Republican Party's electoral prospects at the expense of the Democrats."

Partisan gerrymanders still exist in TX because the Supreme Court’s (until this weekend) five conservatives (now four) have consistently refused to consider their constitutionality — deeming partisan gerrymandering suits to fail under what is known as the “political question” doctrine.

Another reason I hope to see Pres. Obama successfully appoint a jurist both keen and just.

[bobalew]

44. Just take a look at how Austin has been pie-sliced with 6 congressional districts, to get a clue on

on just how bad this is...

[Arugula Latte]

14. And Wall Street bankers who stole billions roam free.

What a country.

[Peace Patriot]

15. That'll keep those terrorists out of our airplanes!

[houston16revival]

16. IRS payments

might be more cost effective, and less disruptive for all involved

Tack a 10% penalty until it's paid, or garnish withholding taxes

This is just Financial-Legal Drama to boost the costs of collection
and enrich the legal and court system

[PersonNumber503602]

19. I think they already take any tax refunds if you owe on your student loans.

[jwirr]

27. Exactly. Is it just something they are doing in Texas?

[PersonNumber503602]

31. No idea. I wouldn't be surprised if this is limited to Texas though.

Either way, I'm hoping someone with common sense comes out and puts an end to it. This is just ridiculous on many levels.

[7wo7rees]

89. Common sense, Texas? Never! Is it possible he just forgot

about it, thought maybe it had been disposed of in some form or fashion? Maybe?

Regardless, this is over kill!

I am looking at Wall Street!

[grasswire]

32. hell, they even take part of social security for student loans..

...they will take everything above $750, leaving that older woman or man only $750 a month to live on.

[Skwmom]

17. Seven people in combat gear and automatic weapons. He was shackled. This is insanity!

Have we lost our minds. If they had his address, why didn't they send him notice.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

21. Yeah, for a $1500 loan

With planning, salaries and overtime, etc, this operation probably cost more than $1500. Not to mention the cost for coffee and doughnuts needed to fuel the combatants.

I hope there were reporters and camera men to record this. An example must be made.

[Skwmom]

24. The cost is not the issue. The man should NEVER have been subjected to that. n/t

[w0nderer]

73. +1 this..so much this

this is what i reacted to too (did i get those in the right order?..sound like a choo choo heh)

I've been on the receiving end of US marshals 2 times
both times i was 'innocent'

both times were actually about my land lord (he also owned dogs....'bull mastif')

he was on parole, i 2nd hand rented a room a house he rented

i was in the yard..i got a m4/m16/ar15 aimed at me and they told me to 'control the dogs or i'll shoot' (look 1 pitbull, 1 mastiff, 7 puppies under 1 year...if anyone knows dogs...? that ain't happening) i could enter and leave, so could my roommates and the land lord, anyone else...iffy, it'd take a 'polite' introduction at the gate and even so any move on a 'tenant' would result in pack attack

then i got a 40 minute who are you, why are you here interrogation thing
---
next time they kicked in the doors i barely manage to stop the dogs from attacking (2) that were indoors
get butt stroked by a pistol whilst holding a mastiff choke collar in one hand and pit one in the other... then yelled at and threatened (once they find out i was (LPR)greencard) to have it revoked also they claimed right to search a locked premise only accessible to me (my room (even landlord didn't have key to my room)) i asked for lawyer/judge on that

the reply to that request is called 5 finger sandwich where i come from

i wouldn't give them the keys and they actually gave up (meaning...they were wrong and i was right)

Marshals may be nice to some and i know some decent ones, i also have met enough leo's and Marshals, unless you want to do mafia collections..not the debt collectors you want


those guys are not polite when they go in

[w0nderer]

26. posted new links with more info

"Aker told The News that he was ordered to pay $5,700 for the loan, including interest. However, Aker was also ordered to pay for the cost of the morning arrest — nearly $1,300. If he didn't pay that amount by March 1, he said, he was told he would be arrested again."

wonder what the court fees were of they are included above?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

29. I bet the baloney sandwich in jail wasn't cheap, either. nt

[w0nderer]

38. wait..what? they get baloney sandwiches in jail?

probably priced approximately as 'correctly' as an aspirin in hospital

[PersonNumber503602]

34. And they are billing him for the raid/arrest.

[w0nderer]

41. when i saw that i started thinking old Soviet

shoot the guy, then send a bill for:
trial +
imprisonment (lodging and meals as well as recreational facilities (aka punishment drill))
and
12 rounds 7.64mm FMJ
12 person time (private) 30 minutes
1 person(officer) 30 minutes
1 pine box
3 grave diggers (2 hours)
1 repair and cleaning of 'target cloth'

to family
it was an old joke (early cold war) in Europe

[turbinetree]

20. Well folks here is a list of "contractors" that have been hired to do this and....................

Please note---------------- how much some of these "firms" have collected and which state.

And has to why the Republicans want to dismantle the Department of Education-------------------is there a correlation-----------------my answer -------------yes-------------debtor prison on steroids

https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/fpdsportal?desc=Y&sortBy=OBLIGATED_AMOUNT&s=FPDSNG.COM&q=Default+Collection++DEPARTMENT_FULL_NAME%3A%22EDUCATION%2C+DEPARTMENT+OF%22+CONTRACTING_OFFICE_NAME%3A%22FEDERAL+STUDENT+AID+PROCUREMENT+ACTIVITY%22+CONTRACTING_OFFICE_NAME%3A%22FEDERAL+STUDENT+AID+PROCUREMENT+ACTIVITY%22&indexName=awardfull&y=0&x=0&templateName=1.4.4&&start=270



http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/default-student-loan-29859.html

"You Get Sued"

"The government and private lenders can sue you to collect defaulted student loans. Unlike other debts, there is no time limit on suing to collect student loans -- you can be sued indefinitely."


http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/ripping-off-young-america-the-college-loan-scandal-20130815


Honk-------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

It is about getting a Progressive President, U.S. Supreme Court, Congress, State and Local Legislatures

Democracy begins with you------------------tag your it--------------Sanders / hartmann

Democracy is not a spectator sport----------------get involved------------Hartmann

[lovuian]

22. this why we are having a

revolution over student loans

[drm604]

23. More votes for Bernie.

Stories like this wake people up.

[jwirr]

25. Apparently he does not have a job. The rest of us have these

loans taken out of our tax returns. What did he do differently to get treated this way?

[w0nderer]

35. i posted new links in main post

he supposedly does have a job
the ny article ( http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/u-s-marshals-arresting-people-not-paying-student-loans-article-1.2533153 )

he mentions going to work the day after
could be he's low wage income (or working poor) for instance

[PersonNumber503602]

45. When searching for more about the story I saw his linkedin profile

and it says he's a project manager at the company whose shirt he is wearing in his interview. I'm wondering if it's opposite in this case. That he has a well paying job, but he hasn't paid anything at all. Still not cool either way, because there's something really wrong about private entities hiring federal agents to arrest and raid citizens homes over debts. Not to mention the extreme waste of money and resources for such overkill.

I suppose we can only hope there's waaaaay more to this story, but the quote from the Marshals saying that more are on the way is a bit disconcerting.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

52. You must be pretty damn poor not to be able to pay off $1500 in 29 years.

[Travis_0004]

103. He may not get a refund

If he knew it was going to be garnished, then he could easily adjust his withholding to avoid a refund.

Even so, sending the marshals is just stupid.

Send him a court summons. If he doesn't show, issue a default judgement, and garnish his wages. Even if he has other garnishments, the Feds always gets the second highest priority (highest being child support).

[blackspade]

28. Debtor prisons are already here.....

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

37. If you can't pay $4.31 a month on your student loan - you shouldn't take one out!!

This guy's complaining that he hasn't paid a dime in 29 years? If he's have paid $4.31/month he's be paid off by now.

Hard to feel sorry for this guy. This sounds like an example put forth by the bankers.

[duplex]

40. Disgusting

So this is what "Civil Service" is about now, being a bag man for loan shark student loan organizations. These people are equal parts brazen and shameless.

[Akicita]

53. I don't know if I would compare the Federal Student Loan program to loan sharks.

The purpose of this program is to provide lower than market rate loans to disadvantaged students so that they can attain a college education. That said, they are loans, not gifts. If this guy has the money he should pay it back. The vast majority of college graduates, after 29 years, have the money to off a $1,500 loan. The loan program is not sustainable if people who can do not pay back their loans.
That just hurts present and future disadvantaged students.

All this can be resolved for future students if Bernie is elected and college is paid for by taxes on hedge funds.

[thereismore]

42. Is Obama administration trying to help Bernie? nt

[Akicita]

43. If the debt abscounder is affluent, I have no problem with this action.

Those debts need to be repaid so that the money can be recycled to provide a college education for other disadvantaged students.

I am assuming several other attempts were made to collect before the Marshalls were called in. And if the debtor was poor I would be against this action.

[JDPriestly]

95. In my view, tuition to state schools should be funded from tax revenue.

That is how the money for tuition to state schools should be paid -- out of all of our taxes.

That would make it fair to everyone.

The amount of this loan is very small. Had he filed for bankruptcy on it before 2005, he could have absolved the debt in the bankruptcy court.

But since the Biden bankruptcy revision bill passed in 2005, student loans cannot be forgiven by bankruptcy courts.

The simplest thing, the least bureaucratic and fairest way to fund the tuition costs of state schools is as Bernie suggests, to tax people who earn over a certain amount to pay the cost of making state schools tuition free for those who qualify grade-wise and in terms of residency to attend the schools.

We are a foolish country to do anything less than that for our children.

After all, how many times have companies in which Donald Trump was involved written off debts and had them forgiven in bankruptcy court?

Why should students pay when Donald Trump's corporations don't have to pay?

[Akicita]

98. I agree Bernie's plan is the answer and is one of the reasons I am supporting him. Until his plan

is passed those with the ability to pay their debts should do so. Not paying them only hurts present and future disadvantaged students who depend on these loans to get an education.

[Dont call me Shirley]

47. Debt collection agencies are on par with satan.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

48. I'd refuse to sign it....

MAKE them haul it through the system and sue THEM for wrongful prosecution.

Hell, I bet the school was some trade school that no longer exists.

[TeddyR]

57. Lot of outrage here

But what is the proposed solution? Let everyone ignore their repayment obligation? He took a relatively small loan that he (apparently) refused to repay, despite agreeing to do so.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

96. Is this real life?

You have to be trolling.

[TeddyR]

109. That didn't answer my question

And in fact completely ignored it while impugning my motives. This guy took a loan and promised to repay then didn't. Should he go to jail? No. But he SHOULD be required to repay the loan, as he promised to do. So again I ask, what is the solution? Do you think he should be able to just ignore his obligations? Maybe everyone who took school loans should just say "fuck it, I'm not paying." That works for me, since I've got school debt to pay. While we're at it, maybe we'll let folks skip paying credit card debt too? Auto loans, fuck those too, cars should be free. To be clear, if you can't pay school debt because of extenuating circumstances then there needs to be a solution, but to take a loan and just ignore your obligation to repay is stealing.

[olddad56]

65. I pay my debts. If they entered into a binding agreement, they should be obligated to pay the debt.

especially on a debt they incurred in 1987. It sounds like the feds wanted was to have him sign a plan to pay the debt.

That being said, the feds could have accomplished the same goal by just bringing the plan to his home to sign.

But it was Texas, at least they didn't put him to death.

[Duckfan]

74. I sent this to Senator Warrens Office.

This is oligarchy at it's finest.

[cstanleytech]

75. Odd the story left out alot of details about Paul like what is his current occupation?

Also whats the reason he hasnt been able to pay? Has he had to file for bankruptcy within the last 10 years?
Reason I wonder these things is because I could understand an arrest being made for example if Paul is say a lawyer, doctor or something and he is clearing 100,000 or more after taxes and still hasnt made any payments.

[w0nderer]

79. an arrest possibly

7 assault armed people breaking in?

and then charging him for it?...notice he's paying $1300 for being brought to court

basically what's happening is
it's being oursourced to private collectors, who then sue, get a fed court order and use Marshals as debt collectors/enforcers


i agree 1500 (or even the 7k total out including the arrest) he should pay in 29 years
still overkill on the violence front
and i am not opposed to violence (check my sig line and figger it out)

[Akicita]

100. He was wearing a polo shirt with the PHANTOM POWER logo on it in his news interview so I

assume he works there. I thought it was curious too that the interviewer never asked him why he didn't pay the loan back.

[Travis_0004]

104. If that was the case, they could garnish his wages

Issue a court order, if he doesn't show, issue a default judgement and garnish his wages.

If he was an LLC and self employed, he is a bit more garnish proof, but it is possible to force the sale of his ownership in the LLC. Its a very difficult process for most people, but easy enough for the feds to pull off.

[cstanleytech]

105. But thats just it we, dont have that information because the article was poorly written. nt

[ExPat2Mex]

80. Expect more of this

Can anyone say, "Hilary helped do this?"

And why? Because she gave up on the people a long time ago. Disgusting. She was integrally involved in the vote to rework the student loan program to disallow them from being listed in bankruptcy. They have to collect every penny plus interest, and if it is in default, it cannot be discharged in bankruptcy court, regardless of reason. But people still complain about taxes? Look at this mess which has been created by the greediest politicians and their banker friends in both parties. More than disgusting.

Obama didn't have much worry paying off his student debt either, when he became president. And what has he done for the rest? Next to nothing. It is time for a real change, and the word is Bernie.

[davidthegnome]

90. Despicable.

I'm not sure there is a word in the English language quite foul enough to describe what is going on here. It seems like the system has designed this trap, in which you must graduate college in order to maybe find a decent job. Then, if you can't get one, you naturally end up poor or broke, unable to pay the monthly student loan payments because you're trying to pay for rent, groceries, a car, heat, etc. So the interest grows, indefinitely, maybe you end up in default - and that total debt just keeps growing, maybe some day you'll be lucky enough to keep up with the interest... it will help keep the sharks back, somewhat.

To be arrested though? Men with guns, going to your home, to arrest you, for not paying back a loan you damn well couldn't repay to begin with?

Somehow, I don't think it's just Texas where this kind of crap is happening, or going to be happening, in the near future. Wage garnishments are common enough, the seizure of federal/state returns, social security funds - I don't know about disability or unemployment, but I suspect even there, you likely have to surrender some funds.

This is why I have no intention of ever going back to school - at least, not under the current system. I would love to finish my education and maybe get a decent job some day, or at least learn more about my preferred career choice. I'm already over ten grand in student loan debt though - and that is, for me, up to my eyeballs. I'm struggling to get out of default at the moment... all for one year of school during which I couldn't find anything to pay the bills. Ended up running out of money, moving back in with my parents, losing everything.

Screw it, I'll keep my minimum wage job and stick it out in the trenches with millions of other Americans... the best way to rebuild, is from the bottom up. Increasing the minimum wage, enabling a system which provides for affordable or free necessary education, improving access to healthcare. This is why we need Sanders.

If I had the money, I'd pay off my loans, but I don't - and I certainly don't see that happening any time in the near future, not for me. Bad back, reduced to part time work, for barely minimum wage - and really, not spoiled for options here.

I guess I'm fortunate that no one has pointed a gun in my face or arrested me yet. There ought to be riots in the streets over this.

[KamaAina]

92. Got fascism?

[w0nderer]

94. oh the ways i could answer this

and the ways i'd get hidden

KamaAina much as i like ya, not taking 3 hides for answering this honestly !

but i agree

[LiberalElite]

106. Just noticed an ad for Citizens Bank here - for

Student loan refinancing.

[ncteechur]

107. I mean the loan was 29 years old. He should have paid it by now.

I can't offer sympathy for not paying the last $1500 of a 29 year old loan. And they made him sign a payment plan--he wasn't put in sing sing.

When should you have to pay off your debts? Never?


The guy gets no pass on this one.

[MichMan]

108. A lot more to this story.......

from Yahoo Finance


"Back in November 2006, Aker was sued by the federal government for nonpayment of more than $2,600 in unpaid federal student loan debt, according to documents from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (embedded below). The court record shows that Aker, listed as Winford P. Aker in the complaint, did not appear in court to answer the lawsuit and, as is common when student loan borrowers fail to appear, the presiding judge ruled against him and ordered Aker to pay the full balance on April 17, 2007.

According to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service, Aker repeatedly refused to show up in court after being contacted several times. Disobeying a court order is a criminal offense. Within a few months, the judge issued a warrant for his arrest, which the U.S. Marshals carried out. So, yes, Aker was arrested, but not just because he owed a little student loan debt. He was arrested for disobeying a court order.

The Marshals statement goes on to describe the arrest, saying Aker "resisted arrest and retreated back into his home" when agents arrived:".................


Article says he refused to leave his house for 2 hours saying he was armed, when they tried to arrest him

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/paul-aker-us-marshal-student-loan-debt-arrest-212047386.html

(edit: changed Nov. 2007 date to 2006 per embedded court document)

[Akicita]

110. Then he lied in the TV interview. He said he had never been contacted by anyone in the 29 yrs.

about the loan until he was arrested.

[24601]

111. Isn't debt is a civil matter unless there is a related offense such as forgery, theft by fraud,

lying to the police or failure to appear or noncompliance with another court order.

I can see Marshals serving a subpoena but I'm not convinced of an arrest for debt alone.