Debtors jailed only for not obeying court order

I HAVE to take issue with your lead story headlined ‘Courts jailed 276 people for debt default’ (January 30), which was supported by an editorial in the same issue.

The story was unbalanced and unnecessarily alarming in these difficult times. It is important that people are made aware that if they do not have the ability to repay a debt, they will not face prison.

People are not jailed for debt default. They are jailed for failing to comply with court orders. These are mainly instalment orders granted by district court judges after a careful examination of the debtor’s means and ability to repay.