Debt evasion

Debt evasion is the intentional act of trying to avoid attempts by creditors to collect or pursue one's debt. At an elementary level, this includes the refusal to answer one's phone by screening one's calls or by ignoring mailed notices informing the debtor of the debt. In more advanced cases, this includes misleading the creditor to believe the debtor does not reside at the location where the creditor is attempting to reach the debtor.

Evasion does not make the debt disappear, and does not make the debtor any less liable toward the creditor.

In some cases, debt evasion is not a criminal act. Some countries limit the use of imprisonment of people who are in debt as a method of forcing their repayment.