Can a person be arrested for not paying a bill?

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Can a person be arrested for not paying a bill?

I have no where to put this vehicle. So I put it in storage. Well I have been laid off a couple of times and now the storage bill is so large that I cannot pay it right now. It is outrageous. The bill should be about $300 but they have it at about over $700-$800 unjustly. They recently sent the sheriff to my apartment and told my 15 year old daughter that I can be arrested for 45 days.

Asked on December 16, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, Texas

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

A person unless under a court order to pay a bill cannot be arrested for simply not paying one. In your situation, I presume that the sheriff came by your apartment as a result of a possible complaint that the vehicle may have been abandoned.

I suggest that you contact the owner of the place where the vehicle is located to advise him or her of your current financial condition and your intent to pay for the storage of the vehicle. You need to be aware that most likely under the contract you have for the storage facility that if the vehicle's storage is not paid for in a timely manner the owner of the storage facility may have the right to sell the vehicle to pay for owed rent.


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