“I could go to jail for this.”

Illinois has no debtor's prison. Not for owing money, not for losing a debt case. The only exception involves disobeying a court order.

“I can’t repay my debt, so I’m going to ignore it.”

A lot of people ignore their debt because they don’t have the money to pay it. But people often have more options than they think. Debt Help Illinois helps you see your options and the resources that may be available, so you can decide what’s best for you.

“Creditors will take everything I have.”

Most wages are protected automatically. So are Social Security and other benefits and up to $4,000 in a bank account, though you may need to claim those protections in court.

“I can’t go to the emergency room because I owe medical debt.”

You have a legal right to emergency medical care. This right comes from a federal law called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). It protects everyone, even people without insurance or with past medical debt.

“Loans from the internet are as safe and easy as regular bank loans.”

Illinois has special laws to protect borrowers, like setting limits on interest rates they can charge. Some internet lenders will try to get around these laws by forcing arbitration, saying another state’s law applies, or saying they are based on tribal law.

“Buy now pay later is perfectly safe.”

Buy now pay later is a loan. Even though it says it's interest free, if you fall behind on payments, you can get charged fees that add up quickly and it can hurt your credit.