Need to rant

[k9capture_16]

Well I admit I am very bad with money. I owe a credit card lots of money and they never should of given me that card. I was once able to pay it offm but now they want over $500 a month for a payment and thats half of what I get a month as I am on disability right now. A long while back they called me non stop everyday demanding money. I called them back and told them to stop calling everyday as my situation hasnt changed overnight and I am still broke. They asked why I havent paid them and I told them, I am sorry but I had some vet bills for my dog. The lady on the phone told me I should get rid of my dog because my bills are more important. I replied, listen lady, I will tell you about something. My priorities are dog, me, phone..then your at the bottom listed under debt. I told her thats how it will stay. She got snarky with me so I told her and the other one I owe money to.

"Listen, let me tell you a little bit about myself, I have zero patience for people like you. I told you, my situation hasnt changed and when it does you will get money, you do not need to call me everyday of the week including Saturday. If you call me more than 2 days of the week I will change my cell number."

They replied, well we will find your cell number..lol yeah okay

So they kept calling and I changed my number. Its been 7 months since I had any calls. But I am still paying them what I can afford. Its only about $5-$10 a month but its better than nothing. I have tried to level with them and have my interest frozen etc, lower etc..they spiked it up from 19% to 28%..like if I cannot pay it now, I cannot pay it when its highered , the one of the three I owe to was very polite and worked with me, so I am on a plan with them.

The issue is this other card keeps calling my grannies house (I live their as well), its her line and she dont want them calling it, they called my father to whom I havent spoke with in 4 years and I am afraid they will soon call others. They have already called my friend and I have NO idea how they got her information or found out I hung around her. I spoke to the manager and told him if you want to see any money from me I suggest you have that employee write me a formal apology letter as she was way out of line when she told me in a rude tone to get rid of my dog because hes not important. So Until I see that letter...I wont be giving them much money.

Why do these people call daily? Are they trying to peeve me off enough I cough up magical money and pay? Ugh, never again will I ever get credit cards.

[Viper]

No offense but having $500/mo on a credit card means you owe thousands upon thousands of dollars. Why do you think they call, to annoy you or because they want their money? Have you tried speaking with the bank directly (not the collection agency) about your situation and work with them to get a resolution? Remember, you were the one who rang up the charges on the card. Money is not free!

[RawFedDogs]

You borrowed the money with a promise to pay it back on time. You haven't done that and the bank wants it's money. Whatever the reason is that you haven't paid it back is of no concern. The banks wants its money. They are not in the charity business.

I would do what Viper said and go to the bank in person and see what you can work out. This should have been done a long time ago.

[SubMariner]

Well I admit I am very bad with money. I owe a credit card lots of money and they never should of given me that card. I was once able to pay it offm but now they want over $500 a month for a payment and thats half of what I get a month as I am on disability right now. A long while back they called me non stop everyday demanding money. I called them back and told them to stop calling everyday as my situation hasnt changed overnight and I am still broke. They asked why I havent paid them and I told them, I am sorry but I had some vet bills for my dog. The lady on the phone told me I should get rid of my dog because my bills are more important. I replied, listen lady, I will tell you about something. My priorities are dog, me, phone..then your at the bottom listed under debt. I told her thats how it will stay. She got snarky with me so I told her and the other one I owe money to.

"Listen, let me tell you a little bit about myself, I have zero patience for people like you. I told you, my situation hasnt changed and when it does you will get money, you do not need to call me everyday of the week including Saturday. If you call me more than 2 days of the week I will change my cell number."

They replied, well we will find your cell number..lol yeah okay

So they kept calling and I changed my number. Its been 7 months since I had any calls. But I am still paying them what I can afford. Its only about $5-$10 a month but its better than nothing. I have tried to level with them and have my interest frozen etc, lower etc..they spiked it up from 19% to 28%..like if I cannot pay it now, I cannot pay it when its highered , the one of the three I owe to was very polite and worked with me, so I am on a plan with them.

The issue is this other card keeps calling my grannies house (I live their as well), its her line and she dont want them calling it, they called my father to whom I havent spoke with in 4 years and I am afraid they will soon call others. They have already called my friend and I have NO idea how they got her information or found out I hung around her. I spoke to the manager and told him if you want to see any money from me I suggest you have that employee write me a formal apology letter as she was way out of line when she told me in a rude tone to get rid of my dog because hes not important. So Until I see that letter...I wont be giving them much money.

Why do these people call daily? Are they trying to peeve me off enough I cough up magical money and pay? Ugh, never again will I ever get credit cards.

First & foremost I would suggest contacting the Ministry of Consumer Services or at least checking out their website to see what your rights are in this situation: http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/pages/default.aspx

There are specific rules and regulations about how credit card companies and collection agencies can contact you. Learn about them & use them.

Secondly, you will NOT be receiving any sort of "apology" from anyone for "being rude" to you. Forget about that & work with a non-profit credit counseling organization to negotiate on having the outrageous interest rates canceled and an actual amount worked out that you can realistically pay off in a realistic period of time. FYI, you can actually negotiate a better number than what they say you owe.

You owe people money. Deal with it. Otherwise your credit history will be un salvageable.

[CorgiPaws]

The calls probably will not stop until you pay them back what YOU borrowed with the promise of giving it back, with interest, on time. Credit card debt is a very easy monster to get sucked into, that's why my husband and I never charge anything to our card before having the money in the bank to pay it off before interest even sets in.

I'm not sure what the rant is, really. They trusted you with a card. You borrowed money (thousands and thousands based on what your payment is supposed to be. Yikes!) with the promise of paying it back. You are not keeping up with your responsibilities as an adult. They are going after what is RIGHTFULLY and LAWFULLY theirs. I wouldn't expect an apology from anyone over anything, really. If someone borrowed money from me, promising to pay it back, and failed to do you, you bet your bottom dollar (no pun intended) I'd be on them about it.... which is exactly why I don't loan money out in the first place.


That being said: You do have rights to some extent. I'm not sure what extent that is, because I've never had a need to look into it. If they are calling as often as you say they are, it's harassment. I would seriously look into your rights on that, and then use them.
I'd also look for a debt counseling place, that can help you get your interest reduced, or frozen. I'd put that at the top of the priority list, especially based on what you owe at this time, if you ever want to get your head above water again.

I hope your situation changes soon. This is exactly why I have a hard time with buying anything on credit... sure, I can afford the payments NOW, but what if my situation changes. That scares me. Cash is the way to go for me.

[k9capture_16]

Understand at the time I pulled out the card I was in a position to pay it off and was for over a year. Then I was struck with a disability and now receiving payments for it from the Government as I cannot work right now. They give me basic needs and that leaves little room for debt. So at one point I was paying them off and I feel terrible I cannot at this time, but any extra money I get goes towards them. I want to file Bankruptcy as I would be discharged for that in 9 months with a clear name. But I will feel bad because I would be screwing them out of money. There are situations beyond peoples control. Its not like I am making money to pay them off and just not doing it, after I pay Bills, rent, dog food ( I refuse to feed him anything but raw), groceries etc. I literally if I am lucky have $100 to myself. I give $20 right now to each credit card. I owe under $6000 on the one that is charging me $500 a month. The others are under $1500 I owe. Right now its only in collections through the company as I am still paying them. As long as I am giving them something monthly they legally cannot send me to an actual outside collections agency.

If I am on disability there is nothing I can do. Believe me I have tried to negotiate with the bank multiple times. I did not appreciate this lady telling me to get rid of my dog because my bills come first etc. Sorry I dont go that way. They arent suppose to call and be rude, they are suppose to call and ask for money. I would never call someone who owes me money and tell them to get rid of their dog so they had an extra amount of money to work with. I know how much dogs can mean to some.

As for debt councilling, I need to actually make something in order for them to help. I bring in $1000 a month. Cannot really work with that...I am looking into filing for bankruptcy as I heard people on disability can file free and not pay any monthly amount. So I am looking into that, I will file then never own a credit card again. But I do know its against the law to call family, friends etc. They can call once but if they are asked to stop calling legally they have to. They arent doing that. So I will have to see what I can do. I am willing to work with them. Its them who tell me they arent willing to work with me.

[SubMariner]

Right now its only in collections through the company as I am still paying them. As long as I am giving them something monthly they legally cannot send me to an actual outside collections agency.

If I am on disability there is nothing I can do. Believe me I have tried to negotiate with the bank multiple times. I did not appreciate this lady telling me to get rid of my dog because my bills come first etc. Sorry I dont go that way. They arent suppose to call and be rude, they are suppose to call and ask for money. I would never call someone who owes me money and tell them to get rid of their dog so they had an extra amount of money to work with. I know how much dogs can mean to some.

As for debt councilling, I need to actually make something in order for them to help. I bring in $1000 a month. Cannot really work with that...I am looking into filing for bankruptcy as I heard people on disability can file free and not pay any monthly amount. So I am looking into that, I will file then never own a credit card again. But I do know its against the law to call family, friends etc. They can call once but if they are asked to stop calling legally they have to. They arent doing that. So I will have to see what I can do. I am willing to work with them. Its them who tell me they arent willing to work with me.

I think you missed the salient points in my post.

Once a debt goes to collections, it's already a major issue, regardless of whether or not it's an "outside agency" or "in-house". You need to negotiate with the credit card company to stop them from harassing you. If you use an intermediary like a debt counseling agency they do the following:

1) mediate on your behalf with the credit card company to establish a reasonable amount to pay them back. This stops the crazy spiral of exorbitant interest rates on top of exorbitant interest rates on top of original amounts. In the end, the credit card company would rather get a commitment from you that you will pay back ALL of $3,000 rather than never see anything on $8,000. What you are doing now is NOT reducing your debt because it's NOT going towards your principle and NOT stopping the crazy interest from piling up. THIS WILL NEVER GET YOU OUT OF DEBT!

2) take a look at your financial situation & help you get out of debt and still be able to live.

3) help you get out of debt with the least amount of damage to your credit rating. You may think that bankruptcy is the answer, but believe me in Canada it is not as easy to do as you think nor is it as easy to get off your credit history as it is in the US. A bankruptcy on your credit history in Canada is very damaging. You won't be able to get credit or a loan on ANYTHING if a bankruptcy is on your credit history. You may also not be able to rent a place to live or get a job if your credit history shows a bankruptcy.

It's important to make sure that the debt counseling agency is a non-profit or nearly so. If you have to pay them, then they are rip-offs. You CAN get debt counseling no matter WHAT your economic situation; you don't need to be employed to be able to get the credit card collection people off your back.

What is the prognosis on you being able to go back to work? If you can show that you will be able to get a job in the near future, that also goes a long way towards mediating your case.

[k9capture_16]

I am unsure when I will be able to work as my disability is permanent. I have tried lots of times to mediate and they refuse unless I catch my payments up. Sorry I dont have that kind of money nor can I borrow it.

As for bankrupcy, I find that odd because my one friend just filed back in February, he cleared his debts and lost his house but wanted to keep his car. His lawyer told him he could buy another house again in 2-3 years because he is still paying off his car so that will build some credit for him. I told him I think his lawyer was lying to him...in the end they all want money. So this guy thinks he will be able to buy again in 2 years. Well I think hes got something coming his way.

Anyway, The most payment I could make monthly is $40. Thats all I will allow as thats taking money away from other stuff to make up that $40. Disability doesnt give you much to live on.

[CorgiPaws]

Anyway, The most payment I could make monthly is $40. Thats all I will allow as thats taking money away from other stuff to make up that $40. Disability doesnt give you much to live on.

When you get yourself into debt, you will have no choice but to sacrifice everything you can to get back out of it.
You may need to do a serious re-evaluation of the things you can and cant live without. Internet, perhaps. Cable Tv? Cell phone? They're all LUXURIES, not necessities.

[k9capture_16]

I need my cell phone. I dont have internet, cable, Home phone etc. Thats all free where I live now. I will not sacrafice my dogs, my food, their food, rent etc etc.