Lawyee  +  460036 Thu, 03 Jan 08 08:05 PM I have a problem with the exact English legal expression of the situation when the debtor is obliged to pay a certain sum of money at the stipulated time and he fails to do so (he does not pay duly and on time). I usually translate it as "the debtor is in default" but recently I have found the expression "the debtor is in delay with payment". Which one is right... I have a strange feeling that none of them Lawyee Joined on Wed, Oct 3 2007 Full Member 211 Let justice be done though heavens may fall

	Grammar Geek  +  460116 Thu, 03 Jan 08 09:27 PM You may be looking for the word "delinquent." Your account is delinquent. You are ten days past due on your payment. In the strictest sense, as soon as the debtor violates the agreement (which includes paying on time) you can say he is in default. Often, however, you reserve "default" to be a very serious delinquency and the account will be closed or other significant action is pending. In the U.S., government student loan terms are a little different. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,683 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Student Loan