Q: If I am not an U.S. citizen, and I fail paying my college bill, will a collecting agency find me in my country?
I am currently an international student in the U.S. I have to leave the country soon, but I am not able to pay off my college bill. I was told at the financial office in my school that a collecting agency will take over my case if I fail paying. Since I am originally from a third world country I will not be able to make enough money back home to sign a payment plan. So, will a collecting agency find me in my country? If yes, what is the worst they can do to me?
A: The worst? Sorry, but you are asking me to imagine all sorts of grisly possibilities, which I won't do. In general, collection agencies annoy you with repeated phone calls, and sometimes find a collection attorney to sue you on a contingent-fee basis. To my knowledge they seldom bother with debtors who are no longer in the U.S.
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