Jailed for $280: The return of debtors' prisons

[bhikkhu]

31. That's a good thing to remember - even regular token payments can avoid almost all problems

It costs more than $251 for the hospital (or collection agency) to sue in court for payment, and it costs the court more than $251 to even hear the case, and it costs the sheriff way more than $251 to arrest someone and put them in jail. A whole lot of things had to happen between the $251 debt and the trip to prison.

Most collectors will settle for half, and most will take a few dollars a month, if a debtor will just make payments. "The system" in general will bend over backwards to avoid expenses, but the main problem is being able to rely on a debtor to keep in contact. I suppose the main problem there is that so many people are just flat broke, and its so much easier to throw up your hands, give up and avoid all contact than it is to try to fix things when you have nothing.