On a positive note, you usually cannot be thrown in prison for debt. However, there are exceptions to this in some states, including some for the non-payment of child support. As pointed out, there are garnishment laws in most places where creditors can go after a certain percentage of your take home pay. If you cannot afford to make the minimum payment on your credit card bill, it is almost always best to talk to your credit card company to try and work something out. Late fees, collection fees, and interest can pile up pretty fast.