What would you do?

United States
March 2, 2009 3:55pm CST
You'll soon be moving across the country. A knowledgeable but somewhat shady acquaintance says that if you leave without paying your rent, telephone, fuel oil, or lighting bills, none of the companies involved will spend money to try to collect from you in court at long distance. Take his advice, he says, and you can save quite bundle. Would you?
16 responses
@daneg33 (1128)
• Canada
2 Mar 09
Have you ever heard the saying "don't burn your bridges"? Don't put yourself in a predicament like that. Why take a chance that you will be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life? What if you need a reference from one of your previous creditors in order to open a new account with a new place or a reference from your previous landlord? Once you make a name for yourself that you skip on bills, people will not be so trusting of you and credit may not be extended to you for even basic utilities. Don't take his advice.
• United States
2 Mar 09
You have a point there. I wouldn't want to be living in fear wondering if or worse, when they find you and what will happen.
@maezee (42003)
• United States
2 Mar 09
I've never heard of this, and considering that you've heard it from someone you describe as "shady", I wouldn't take his word at face value. I would pay for what you need to pay for, and leave on a good note.
• United States
2 Mar 09
Yeah I get what you mean. I never know if I might need to go back there for business reasons or something.
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
3 Mar 09
While tempting, especially if you've had a real bad landlord or utility company, it isn't the wisest thing to do. Things have a way of catching up with you at some time in the future.
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
3 Mar 09
You can do that if you want. Do not be surprised if your credit score take a nosedive. How do people like you get to rent apartments in the first place, do you not need references from your previous landlord? What your shady friend is doing is stealing.
@bubbletush (1332)
• Philippines
3 Mar 09
Whoever that person who brought up the idea of leaving without paying is someone not worth trusting. No matter how you put it, it is simply being irresponsible. I will never take his advice because it is not a good advice. People should pay whatever they are due to pay. It is not good to runaway from obligations. And it can never be considered as a savings. Whenever contemplating on something, always put in mind, whatever our actions may be, good or bad, will have an effect on another person. In this case, what good will it do if we ran away from our obligations?
@buggles64 (2709)
• United States
3 Mar 09
They are not going to follow you, true but they will report you to a credit collection agency. If you have the means to pay them, then pay them. If you are having financial difficulties, call them and explain your situation. You may need them as a credit reference in the future.
• Malaysia
2 Mar 09
NO, I WON'T Today's world are using computer database and absolutely, sooner or later my name will be black listed. Matter of fact, I cannot run from civil law which any country does implemented. Actually, that idea only good for anyone, whom in total loss in their life and financial outstanding. MAJOR FACTOR FOR MY DECISION MAKING Every idea, there are advantages and disadvantages. The imperative thing is I have to look for which one will obviously give me high return with low risks. If I choose for what has been described in your discussion, meaning that, I fall into high return with high risks. Similarly, if I rob one bank, it is also high return with high risks. That is my ruler or scale for my decision making, High Return Low Risks.
@SukiSmiles (1991)
• United States
2 Mar 09
I wouldn't and it's not true. Companies will try to collect. I thought I had paid my electric bill off when I had moved egons ago. And I got a collection notice for a penny about a year after I had moved. Yes - $.01, 1/100 of a dollar, one cent. It was crazy! I did pay it, with a check. Although, I really wanted to tape a penny to the statement and mail it off. Especially the way the economy is now. Companies will do what they can to get what they can.
@tea512 (687)
• United States
3 Mar 09
anybody that has your ss# will file to a credit colection agency and it will wind up on you credit report. i had the same advice and when I found a charge on my credit report for 186 from AT&T i had to pay them to buy a house. There is a risk with everything so i will say cable and electric i never heard from.
• Canada
2 Mar 09
I would not take the chance. Sometimes companys will not take action, but most will, no matter where you move to. Why take the chance in screwing up your credit which can take much longer to fix then it did to screw it up.
• Philippines
3 Mar 09
i think shady's advice isn't good. why would you run from your responsibilities? a good individual should know how to handle his responsibilities.
• United States
2 Mar 09
If you can pay the bills then by all means that would be the right thing to do. Companies will collect from you and at a minimum make your life miserable with collection calls and letters. Running away from what is due is not the answer. Don't be surprised when something shows up on your credit report later in life when you go to make a purchase, apply for a loan or otherwise. Do what's right. Your mind and body will thank you for it.
3 Mar 09
The expression is "What goes around comes around". Things like that always come back to bite you in the bottom when you least expect it. We are all responsible for our actions. If you are having financial challenges then contact the companies involved and explain your situation and make arrangements to pay etc. Good luck and listen to your intuition, it will serve you.
@kaven08 (84)
• United States
3 Mar 09
Probably. I'm very tempted to do stuff like this, but at the same time, I know it's wrong. It'd be a real toss-up, but since this is a question, and not the actual situation, I can't 100% trust my own answer, but I think I wouldn't.
@smacksman (6053)
2 Mar 09
If you can sleep at night knowing that you are a cheat and a crook then I suppose that is up to you. Personally I pay for what I have used and can look any man straight in the eye and not feel an ounce of guilt.
• Canada
2 Mar 09
I think you need to use your better judgement, you wrote that this acquaintance is at best sketchy and it certainly sounds that way to me. What you are talking about is taking a chance of ruining your credit rating and if you do not pay your bills maybe they won't come after you in court because of long distance and costs but it will make a large negative impact on your credit rating... so I suggest as much as it sucks pay the bills and keep your credit as is... that's just my advice... that and don't trust shady people LOL!