Who should pay the debt if a person goes to jail?
A woman in Singapore has been under constant stress and emotional turmoil due to persistent debt collectors. Her husband, who had incurred a significant credit card debt, was jailed, leaving the debt unpaid.
Wife Has to Face Debt Collectors After Her Husband Went to Jail Without Paying His Debt
Mrs Chen, a woman in her 30s and a working professional, old 8World that her husband had accumulated a debt of over $70,000 from various banks a few years ago.
However, a few months ago, he was jailed, and with no one to settle the outstanding amount, debt collectors began to frequently approach Mrs Chen instead.
“Starting from March this year, I’ve been receiving monthly letters from the banks detailing the owed amount,” she said. Additionally, she often received phone calls and even had people visiting her home inquiring about the debtor
Although the individuals inquiring were generally polite, the constant reminders made her feel uneasy and overwhelmed.
“People come knocking on my door or delivering letters, looking for the debtor. But he’s not here, so their continued ‘harassment’ is pointless. I’m not the one who owes the money, and it’s distressing,” she expressed.
Mrs Chen admitted that with elderly and young family members to care for, she is unable to repay her husband’s monthly credit card debt of 41,000. The situation has also taken a toll on her mental well-being and strained her relationships with other family members.
In search of assistance, Mr. Chen approached Adullam Life Counselling, a voluntary organization with years of experience in debt restructuring. The organization is currently representing her in negotiations with the creditors.
The founder of Adullam Life Counselling stated that family members are not legally obligated to repay the debts of the debtor.
“Taking this case as an example, since her husband is in jail, legally, if the debtor is not present, all creditors, if they are legitimate, should cease all debt collection activities,” he advised.
He also recommended that families facing similar situations seek help from Adullam Life Counselling or other local non-profit organizations. Following the organisation’s advice, Mrs Chen plans to wait for her husband’s release and then allow him to continue repaying the credit card debt.