Confession Time

Hello again every one. The rough road I have been traveling continues to improve, though there are still some balls in the air and a few major decisions to be made, I can finally see around the curve (and I'm pretty sure it not one of those paintings the road runner would paint in a curve to make the road look like it went straight causing the coyote to run off the cliff).

If you look back at many of my posts regarding PDL's, I have always been a staunch advocate of Don't get involved with them, but I have also always said "Unless your backed into a corner and there is no other option". Well folks, I must confess my sins. Back in October when things weren't turning around like they were supposed I began to panic. The mortgages were 2 payments behind each, the car payment was 2 payments behind, the revolving credit was between 30 and 70 days behind. We barely had money to buy groceries or keep gas in the car so I could get to work and my wife could go on interviews.

I felt panicked, I could not come up with any other options, we bit the bullet. Fully expecting to see a turn around in the very near future, I took a $500 PDL ( well actually a "Short term loan " so these shysters could get around the laws in Illinois). the terms were $235/month for 4 months with the principal due in addition to the interest in the forth month.

November came, I'm not really sure how we did it but we made the payment. December came with Christmas around the corner (which really sucked this year) I forgot about the payment, and get a call three days after Christmas DEMANDING payment. I told them there was NO WAY i could make a payment, to give me a few days and I would call them back and let them know what I was going to do (at this point I though about letting it go into default, but didn't.).. I called them a few weeks later and told them to go ahead and take their interest payment for December. firmly establishing me as being about 3-4 weeks behind. This cycle repeats its self for January, February, and Come march, I am a month behind, with 2 interest payments do as well as the principal due. I go on a business trip and get a call one morning as my training class is beginning that this is all due. Total almost $900 (keep in mind I have already paid them $800). So I call my wife and we decide to make a hail marry pass. the tax refund had just come in so I call the shyster back up and talk themin to forgiving that month that's missing, and take final payment for $798(+/-).

I feel such a relief not having that cloud hanging over my head any more! It's definitely something that I will Never, no matter how panicked I get, ever do again.

So as it stands now:
Dell will be paid off in a few weeks.
Capital1 and Target to follow closely behind (both paid off in 1 to 2 more months).
2nd mortgage on time (after today).
1st still running 30 days late with the lender refusing to work anything out. We are trying to refinance both to get them back on track. Car payment will be on time after today.
The only other thing to be addressed is our unsecured line of credit. Hopefully we can do something with that soon as well.

While things still aren't perfect, I hope maybe someone else in the depths of financial despair will read this and start to realize it is possible to work your way out of these times with out turning to BK. Yes you will probably make some bad decisions and mistakes along the ways, but if you learn from them, then its is a worth while effort. If others can also learn from your experiences, mistakes, and bad decisions, then it is truly a rewarding experience in the end.

That is in reality what this forums has always been about people relating their problems, experiences, mistakes, and knowledge to help eah other find their way back from a bad place, or to avoid ending up in that bad place in the first place.

There has been too much negative energy expended on these forums of late (though I don't post as much as I used to it doesn't mean I'm not here). Its time for us to take back the community and get back to a point where we are helping those in need, and celebrating the small victories of those who have overcome their obstacles!