PITTSBURGH -- Americans are defaulting on billions of dollars in credit card debt and that means more work for the Allegheny County Sheriffs.

Sergeant Richard Fersch says he’s seeing more and more credit card companies going after people who haven’t paid their bills and he says more companies owed money are turning the cases over to collection agencies.

Those agencies in turn pay deputy sheriffs to serve legal complaints to the people who owe the money, notifying them they are being sued.

Fersch said getting a formal complain is a real wake up call because many people are not aware of just what they have to lose for not paying up.

Jeff Meislin of Brentwood knows all what it's like to be in debt, he owes about $12,000 dollars on credit cards.

Meislin said, “My income severely dropped and a couple of them went after my bank account which I had never seen before. I never heard of that before."

Fersch said most people are not aware of what credit card companies can take which includes checking and savings accounts, stocks, even personal property.

"We come into your home, we list an inventory whatever personal property of yours we see. Television sets, stereos, couch anything tangible, moveable can be listed for sale and sold to satisfy that debt," Fersch said.

Meislin said, “It took about a year and a couple of them filed suit and they can go after and take your last bit of money."

That’s what happened to Meislin. He ended up filing for bankruptcy.

Fersch said he’s seen credit cards in the name of a child or family pet.

Citing one example, Fersch said, "This case originated in ‘06, so now its two years later and the bank want their money from a four year old. We went out on one case and the individual listed as the defendant was the family dog."

In that case the “family dog” owed $1,500 in credit card bills.

The experts say if a person gets sued the worst thing to do is nothing.

Try to get an attorney and show up for court hearings and try to get on a payment plan.

Credit card debit is adding up for Allegheny County.

Fees for serving complaints generate up to $3 million a year.