This subject came up on another thread, and so I'm starting this one just for general info for anyone who has, or might be considering the consequences of having if they left, a "freeloader debt" with the Church of Scientology.
Your freeloader debt is NOT a legal debt in the world outside scientology.
In the world outside scientology, you are under no legal obligation to pay it, ever.
The COS cannot use any US law to collect it. Don't know about other countries, but I would guess it's the same in those -- not a legal debt.
If you choose NOT to pay the debt, it will not affect your life outside of scientology in any way at all. It will not show up on any credit report or affect your credit rating, or any aspect of your finances in any way.
Of course, the CoS will harass you about it, and make every effort to get you to pay it, but they have no legal standing in doing so.
The freeloader debt is ONLY "valid" within the world of the CoS -- that is, they use it as a way to make you conform to their rules by keeping you "disconnected" from family, friends, and unable to continue "up the Bridge" (as though you would want to...) until you've paid it.
If you DO choose to pay it, or have paid any part of it, you can stop paying any time without legal consequences or without affect on your finances outside of CoS "rules."
Through "scientology," Hubbard created a set of "rules" that are outside the law of the land, and attempted to make them supercede the real law of the land. Assigning "freeloader debt" to people who have worked for the "church" and then decide to leave before their contract is completed ...
(oh, sorry, I didnt stay the full billion years -- I only made it for a paltry one hundred thousand)
... is one aspect of "Hubbard law" -- not valid outside his construct, outside "scientology."
It's your personal choice to agree or not agree with Hubbard's rules, not a choice I'd make for anyone else; but you should have the facts at hand, and this fact about so-called "freeloader debt" is an important one.
Your freeloader debt is NOT a legal debt in the world outside scientology.
In the world outside scientology, you are under no legal obligation to pay it, ever.
The COS cannot use any US law to collect it. Don't know about other countries, but I would guess it's the same in those -- not a legal debt.
If you choose NOT to pay the debt, it will not affect your life outside of scientology in any way at all. It will not show up on any credit report or affect your credit rating, or any aspect of your finances in any way.
Of course, the CoS will harass you about it, and make every effort to get you to pay it, but they have no legal standing in doing so.
The freeloader debt is ONLY "valid" within the world of the CoS -- that is, they use it as a way to make you conform to their rules by keeping you "disconnected" from family, friends, and unable to continue "up the Bridge" (as though you would want to...) until you've paid it.
If you DO choose to pay it, or have paid any part of it, you can stop paying any time without legal consequences or without affect on your finances outside of CoS "rules."
Through "scientology," Hubbard created a set of "rules" that are outside the law of the land, and attempted to make them supercede the real law of the land. Assigning "freeloader debt" to people who have worked for the "church" and then decide to leave before their contract is completed ...
(oh, sorry, I didnt stay the full billion years -- I only made it for a paltry one hundred thousand)
... is one aspect of "Hubbard law" -- not valid outside his construct, outside "scientology."
It's your personal choice to agree or not agree with Hubbard's rules, not a choice I'd make for anyone else; but you should have the facts at hand, and this fact about so-called "freeloader debt" is an important one.