Day of reckoning for Philadelphia debtors

If you owe money to the court system in Philadelphia, today is your last chance to pay up without facing stiff additional penalties.  The courts are poised to crack down on over a billion dollars in outstanding debt.

Since the courts have taken over the duties of the Clerk of Quarter Sessions, they are becoming more aggressive in collecting court fines.  David Wasson is Chief Deputy Court administrator.  He says the crackdown begins tomorrow for those who haven’t made arrangements to pay.

“If defendants who now owe the court money for criminal cases do not get their balance up to date could have their case turned over to collection attorneys in which cases additional fees can be added and their property taken,” said Wasson.

With $1.5 billion owed, Wasson says the city is not waiting anymore.

“We are using the civil process to levy or garnish or attach any property debtors may own or are entitled to to satisfy their debts,” he said.

 

That includes going after estates to settle outstanding debts from people who have died.