What recourse do creditors/collectors have for someone who does not work and owns nothing?

You should have sued the collectors that harrassed you!
As far as the n'er do well, he is going down a path that will eventually lead to panhandling on the street and probably a criminal record! He will have to seek professional help to get his life straightened out if he stays out of jail! They say you can't get blood from a turnip and it sounds like his life is only one level above that! The creditors will write him off and so will society!

I think he'd do better trying to work with the creditors. Not having anything for years at a stretch seems like a far worse option than setting up payment plans with creditors.

I had one collector ask said that he could arrange a tour of a federal prison for me! He said "after you have seen that, I promise you will pay up!". Unbelievable, the things collectors will say.

He wont walk away from his student loans. Student loans have no SOL and they will pursue him until he dies, including garnishing social security income. The credit card may just take out a judgement now in hopes that they may be able to collect further down the line.

Eventually he will wake up and smell the coffee....he will meet a woman, want to get married and buy a home. People will eventually get tired of support this bum....probably the best thing that can happen to him.

He honestly thinks that he has gotten over on everything. It's sad hearing him run his mouth and talk his delusional crap. He even says that worse comes to worse, he will change his name! Take on a new identity of someone with no credit history. Yeah, that should work!

good for you for having the gumption to work and pay off debt. Your other issue though is really upsetting. Since the bumb doesn't take responsibility then what in the world makes him think it will go away? If the judgement is given the debt will remain and remain and remain. His taking a new identity will be more difficult then just paying the debt. Good luck with that bum

Wow, this guy sounds delusional, any mental illness? If he has school loans, I assume he has a degree? Very sad that he chooses to be a bum vs. being a contributor. Someday this lifestyle will get old and hopefully he canl begin to rebuild his life. Depending on how much time has passed, his student loans could be double with defers and interest rates. I pray he wakes up soon.

He does actually have a degree, he just refuses to use it because he "doesn't like the fact that he has to pay back the stident loans". An exact quote from him! His brother (my friend) didn't even finish high school (eventually got a GED at age 30) and makes WAY more than anyone I know, has never gone into debt for anything, owns a house free and clear, and seems to have it all. While I went to college, never used my degree (was told a masters degree would make me the salary I desired), make minimum wage and am constantly depressed. Ain't life great that way?

His brother is not helping him by helping......he is just enabling his negative behavior.