Get out your hankies.....and PLEASE HELP!
Date: Tue, 08/08/2006 - 20:07
It all started in March 2001, when I got hurt on the job - and I mean hurt to the point where I lost my livelihood. After several visits to the doctor and then to my employer's selection of doctors, I was declared disabled. but, that disabled was not good enough. I had to hire myself a lawyer. Well, I was the breadwinner in the family. I was making about $2000 a week - and with 7 children and all of a sudden no income - you can guess what kind of trouble we got into. We lost our home to foreclosure in 2004 (because there was still no money, neither from Workman's Compensation nor Social Security Benefits which we were fighting for). So, I packed up my children and had to move away from my husband down to North Carolina to my mother's home (not so easy when there is a large family involved - as you can well imagine). I left my husband back in NJ to work at his job so we had some sort of income. He drove down every chance he could to go on job interviews, finally getting a job with 1/3 the salary 6 months later. All this time, I still had not a dime coming in and the bills were piling up. We had tried to save our home by filing for Chapter 13, but we couldn't afford the payments, so we had to file Chapter 11 and lose everything.
Well, here I am, still in NC, still waiting for Workman's Compensation. It is 5 1/2 years after my injury. I am FINALLY receivng Social Security - most of the back award went to medical bills and overdue things that we had left over after the bankruptcy (not to mention some legal fees!). The benefits are about half of what I was making a WEEK for seven children...definitely not easy to manage paying the bills - so we got behind again as my health isn't good. We needed money for groceries, so I made the huge mistake of taking out a payday loan. Well, when that came due, it took too much money out of our checking account for us to manage, then our truck broke down, so we had to take a few more because one wasn't enough to cover our expenses. You get the picture, right? That is now TEN payday loans - my husband owes MORE THAN his paycheck and we have NO IDEA what to do. This Friday he gets paid, and his entire paycheck AND AN ADDITIONAL $400 will be coming out - as you might already know - we don't have that $400! We have no food in our refrigerator, no gas in our truck, our insurance is due....HELP US! If anyone can help us get out of our hole we are in we would be eternally grateful....I can't keep waiting for money I don't have to pay off these people. I have to feed my children....I have a baby here too...he is 11 months old...I am crying as I realize how stupid it was to put myself in the position I am in - but if I didn't get denied for another payday loan because of teletrack, I might never how found this sight and sought help....
Christine... The first thing you should do,as hard as it may
Christine...
The first thing you should do,as hard as it may be,is close your account.Deny the PDL's access!
Second is to research North Carolinas Small Loan and
Usury laws. Chances are you have already paid them way
over your states limit on interest.
If you need assistance someone is always here
willing to help. We will point you in the right direction!
And keep this in mind; They can't through you in jail,have you arrested,charge you with fraud of any
kind. If they threaten you, be strong!
Mike
Thanks, Mike - I am trying to be strong - as I have been for the
Thanks, Mike - I am trying to be strong - as I have been for the last 5 1/2 years. I have made it through worse, I am afraid, and I will make it through this too. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I found a thread on pinklady's blog for the NC laws - there is no Payday lending licensure in my state and the usuary laws only allow for 8% interest - far from the 400-700% they charge! I am sitting down right now to figure out how much I have paid so far to each lender, so when I sit down with my credit counselor at 2, I am well prepared. Again, thanks for all your help!
Christine...You'll make it through this. Many of us have been in
Christine...You'll make it through this. Many of us have been in your situation with the PDLs. We're glad you're here.
As Roadwarrior said, step one is to CLOSE THAT ACCOUNT! You can reopen a new one and do not allow anyone to have that number.
Do the math, and find what you've paid for these people...If you've paid the principal and what is legal in your state, you can send letters demanding that they write off your balance. Many of us have been successful with this.
We've got your back on this one. Welcome to the forums! :) Keep us updated on your progress.
Ahhh (sigh of relief)...after having to dispute a charge to my c
Ahhh (sigh of relief)...after having to dispute a charge to my checking account this morning for one of those "services" that are connected with the payday loan sites, I am feeling better. I closed my checking account and my bank told me the money will be refunded to me. I feel a little bit better knowing they cannot get into my checking account now. I am guarding this account number with my life!
YAY Christine! :) Glad your bank closed your account. This is
YAY Christine! :) Glad your bank closed your account. This is the first step in getting control of your money again. Now to get those letters out there, right? :)
401k
Hi hope your famliy doing ok Christine . let me start by telling you if you go to the web site ripoffreport.com dont poor your hart, fight back at payday loans ok .then check with your state see if you can refile for a chapter 7 not 11 or 12 or 13 put this old debt behind you and this will stop calls and add the payday loans in your 7 then after you that you and your husband open account and put back $100 save ever pay check dont touch it all so if have four 401k or husband try to take a out hardship withdraw you can always put back in later and take care of your family first good luck to you god bless
Jessi- I am finishing up the most important letters right now.
Jessi-
I am finishing up the most important letters right now. Lawfile- thanks for the tips, very helpful, but I already am setup with a debt settlement program which will work for us. I would rather do that than to reopen that bankruptcy.
I have gotten out the wage assignment revocation and informed all that there will be no further debits to our account (that was before I had closed the account). I also referred all communication to the attorneys who back the CCCA (they gave me all that information to prepare me for the floodgates opening)! I am anticipating that today is going to be a long day with phone calls - today is the day they are to debit my account. Unfortunately for me, I can't sleep again! Is there anything I am missing to send out? Thanks again for everyone being so kind...the debt stress isn't as bad as it WAS - at least I can feed my children now. Thank God for small miracles...and everyone here.
Christine--Great job getting everything together! :) Don't let
Christine--Great job getting everything together! :) Don't let those guys stress you out anymore, you're back in control! :)
As soon as you get those letters out, things will start to look up. Have you found fax numbers for any of the companies yet? I liked to fax them, and mail the letters to them..The fax would get to them first, and then the letter was there soon after for backup. This has worked for many others as well. :)
Christine, don't stress anymore. You have already gone through m
Christine, don't stress anymore. You have already gone through much of it. Moreover, you have taken professional help from CCCA to take care of these accounts. They will further deal with your lenders since you are paying them for their services. Get updated about the latest actions leave your worries aside.
Christine, hang in there, things will get better, I promise...th
Christine, hang in there, things will get better, I promise...the adivce your getting here is strong correct.. one day at a time
Christine---doesn't it feel great to have control of YOUR money
Christine---doesn't it feel great to have control of YOUR money now? I remember the biggest feeling of relief when I first closed my account. You are on the road to recovery....keep posting, cause you will undoubtedly have many questions and everyone here is always, always, ALWAYS willing to help. Welcome!