<prompt> Human: Hi reddit!As of a little over a month ago I was living with my best friend of 10 years in a Southern Ohio apartment. My roommate who we will call Steve not his name had some trouble paying his half of rent on our 1 year lease. He managed to scrape by for a long time despite no one understanding where his money was going. He found himself down on his luck with money, cars, and bills. He and I worked together, so I gave him rides. We also both make decent money as managers at a hardware store. At one point, he allowed the electric to get shut off. We cancelled the bill in his name and restarted in my name. He promised that he filed for bankruptcy he didnt and this worries me for what happens later. I knew things were not good for him but I was deadset on finishing out the lease and moving on as friends who do not reside together.One day he decides that he is unhappy living where we live in southern Ohio and decides to move home. He did not leave cordially. This was July 29th. At this point, Im unaware that anything is going on, its now August 2nd and I just paid my half of rent. I text him about paying his half and he told me that he would continue to pay but I need to find a new roommate there are only two months left on the lease, this was laughable. I walk into my property managers office to pick up a package and she pulls me aside to tell me that I owe her 1500. I think shes pulling my leg. Turns out Steve didnt pay this month or the previous month. She mentions notices and a letter that never made it to me. Apparently the Writ of Possession had already been approved by the judge and I missed the whole thing. As the week goes by, hes promising me that he will pay it. Over and over again with promises. In the past, Steve would fuck up and get it fixed. My property manager is feeling pretty awful for me because she sees the truth. Im holding onto his promises and actually believe hes going to come through. She pushes things back for a week. Im lightly packing at this point. Ive known Steve for 10 years and I go to his family Christmas.He doesnt pay. And I wasted a weekend off hanging on his promises to pay. I even got his Dad involved.Monday rolls around and my property manager gives the call that shes submitting to the Sheriff, she doesnt have a choice.I work the remainder of my shift 12 - 10pm. Come home, pack until 4am. Then reopen my work at 6:30am. I then work until 3:30pm then move my stuff out by 11pm. I took pictures of everything he left, which was just about everything he owned. I reopen the store again the next day at 6:30am. The locks were changed by 10:30am on that Wednesday. That was fucking awful and I clearly had no time to make things perfect. As of last week, I got a copy of our final statement: 3,632.23That includes back rent, damages, and the stuff they had to remove.I feel like I have no other option than to take him to small claims court and heres what I have: Texts from him with all of the promises he made. Texts from his Dad talking about me trying to contact him and how awful his son is. Ledger showing that I paid each month on time and in full. Pictures showing the state of Steves things when I left the last time. A signed statement by the property manager blaming Steve for the eviction.Here are my questions: The collections company called me today to make threats: wage garnishment, taking property, etc. Is that anything that they can actually act on before I get this to court? If I do take this to small claims court and win, how would they handle the debtget me off of it? Is my case strong or should I be trying to get more evidence to back my claim? If all of the above works out, how can I get this all removed from my credit report?Some back story: Im a big fan of Dave Ramseys method. I had recently killed off a 1500 credit card debt and was finally getting some wiggle room in my budget. I pay about 600 a month on student loans which knocks out a lot of useful income. I cannot make payments on this new debt and my brain keeps telling me that I shouldnt have to. I also understand that I made a mistake living with Steve, but hindsight is perfect logic. I need to know how to handle things now.If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to let me know.Thank you for reading to this point.  <response>: TL:DR--OP signed a lease with a friend who skipped.Sorry to tell you this, but if you signed the lease youre liable. Not fair since you paid your half, but thats the way it goes. You can take the other guy to small claims, but you cant get blood from a turnip. Collections cant garnish until there is a judgement against you. Dont ignore any legal paperwork you get. You might have to make payments. Sucks. 