What happens if you can't pay back an unsecured loan?

Asked by: Antonette Berge V  |  Last update: July 26, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (61 votes)

If you default on unsecured debts, the lender can send your account to a collection agency, which can lead to stressful phone calls and notices, a lowered credit score, and more difficulty getting new credit in the future.

What happens if unsecured debt is not paid?

Defaulting on an Unsecured Loan

As mentioned previously, however, a collection agency may try to sue you for the unpaid amounts you owe, attempt to garnish your wages, or place a lien on your home through a court order. 5 And, as with a secured loan, you can expect a serious impact on your credit score.

Can unsecured loans be written off?

The simple answer to this question is 'yes', because some debt solutions involve getting some or all of your unsecured debt written off. These solutions are most often used by people who are unlikely to be able to afford to repay their debts in full within a reasonable time.

Can an unsecured loan be enforced?

Credit cards, student loans, and personal loans are examples of unsecured loans. If a borrower defaults on an unsecured loan, the lender may commission a collection agency to collect the debt or take the borrower to court.

What happens if you take out a loan and never pay it back?

The loan goes into default and the lending institution will foreclose on any collatarel if you had any. If you had none then they would more that likely after trying to get you make the payments and or get you to pay the loan back they could turn your account over to a collection agency for their collecting the debt.

What Happens If I Don't Pay An Unsecured Debt?

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Can unsecured loans take you to court?

If you don't pay an unsecured loan, you might face late fees and higher interest rates, and your credit score could drop. Debt collectors might call you and send letters. If you still don't pay, the debt could go to a law firm, and they might sue you.

Is it illegal to borrow money and not pay it back?

You may be taken to court

On that note, you can be sued for not paying back a payday loan, even if the loan amount is small.

Can unsecured loans be forgiven?

If you meet the eligibility requirements, your lender may forgive either a portion or the entirety of the outstanding balances on your unsecured debt, potentially including credit cards, personal loans or medical bills. Debt forgiveness programs and their conditions vary by the type of forgiveness you're looking for.

Can you sue for unsecured debt?

For this reason, when someone fails to repay their unsecured debt in full or on time, creditors may decide to take legal action against them by suing for repayment.

Can an unsecured loan take your house?

If you fail to pay unsecured debt, the creditor can't take any of your property without first suing you and getting a court judgment, subject to a few exceptions.

Can you settle an unsecured loan?

Debt settlement can be an effective strategy for reducing certain types of unsecured debts, particularly credit card balances, personal loans, medical bills and some private student loans.

How long before unsecured debt is written off?

Debts you're not responsible for

You might not have to pay a debt if: it's been six years or more since you made a payment or were in contact with the creditor.

How do you wipe out unsecured debt?

Which debt solutions write off debts?
  1. Bankruptcy: Writes off unsecured debts if you cannot repay them. Any assets like a house or car may be sold.
  2. Debt relief order (DRO): Writes off debts if you have a relatively low level of debt. Must also have few assets.
  3. Individual voluntary arrangement (IVA): A formal agreement.

Can you go to jail for unsecured debt?

You cannot be arrested or sentenced to prison for not paying off debt such as student loans, credit cards, personal loans, car loans, home loans or medical bills. A debt collector can, however, file a lawsuit against you in state civil court to collect money that you owe.

How to clear an unsecured loan?

What to do:
  1. Visit bank with the complete set of documents (as mentioned above).
  2. You may be required to fill a form or write a letter requesting pre-closure of the Personal Loan account.
  3. Pay the pre-closure amount.
  4. Sign the required documents, if any.
  5. Take acknowledgement of the balance amount you have paid.

How much unsecured debt is too much?

Key takeaways. Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.

What happens if I stop paying an unsecured loan?

If unexpected circumstances arise and you can't repay an unsecured loan, it's important to be proactive. If you fail to take action and continue to miss loan payments, the ramifications include the loan being called due, assets being seized and your credit score taking a nosedive.

Can you be forced to pay unsecured debt?

In the case of unsecured debt the creditor cannot take anything from you without going to court first. Credit card debt, medical bills, and other loans without collateral are all examples of unsecured debt. The only way a creditor can collect this type of debt is by taking you to court.

What happens when you go to court for not paying a loan?

You may get hit with a debt collection lawsuit if you have old, unpaid medical, credit card or other consumer debt. If you don't respond in time or attend the court hearing, the creditor is likely to win — and may get the right to take part of your wages or bank account.

What can happen if you default on an unsecured loan?

Defaulting on an unsecured loan

Then, once your account goes to collections, the collections agency has the right to sue you for the money you owe. If necessary, they can also get a court order to garnish your wages or put a lien on any assets you own, such as your home.

How do I close an unsecured loan?

There are primarily two ways to close a personal loan: full repayment and prepayment. Full repayment is the complete payment of the loan amount within the agreed-upon loan tenure. Prepayment is the payment of the loan amount before the end of the loan tenure.

How do you deal with unsecured debt?

Settling Unsecured Debt

It often is done with the help of a debt settlement specialist, who can speak to your creditors on your behalf and often negotiate reduced balances. If you are saddled with more debt than you can handle, a debt consolidation plan might be the way out.

What happens if you never pay a loan back?

Failing to pay could result in your account going into default, the balance being sent to collections, your lender taking legal action against you and your credit score dropping significantly.

Can you go to the police if someone owes you money?

Can I call the police if someone owes me money? You can, but they won't do anything about it. Debt collection is a civil matter. You'd need to sue in small claims court.

What to do when someone refuses to pay back your money?

Send a Demand Letter

A demand letter often signals to the debtor that you are serious about pursuing the matter legally. "Discover your rights and legal steps for recovering unpaid debts. Explore further in our detailed blog: Money Not Returned Take charge of your financial situation now!"