I generally understand the process, though I have never done debt collection.
Still don’t like the scenario here, but think the guy needlessly escalated the situation.
If someone won’t respond to a lawsuit, get a default judgment, garnish tax returns and/or income, levy, seize assets. Some people are judgment proof - that’s one reason why interest rates factor in risk.
I have dealt with family members who have debt collectors tell them they are going to jail if they don’t pay (with no judgment). That is just shady and wrong. Unsophisticated people become very afraid of the legal system.
And I do consider commercial/personal loans to be different from child support. Even with child support I don’t believe in imprisonment unless the person has the money and literally won’t pay.
The original figure still amazes me - $2600. I had someone owe me $5K and I knew I’d never get it.
Yet another (albeit unlikely) reason why we are adamant that our son have no debt for undergrad.
ETA: Just posted on the other thread on this topic - could the lender not have grabbed some of the guy’s social security when he retired (?). Even a small percentage?