December Collections

please don't don't listen to a word of this b.s. from this ca rep --collector's HAVEN't won anything if you get angry ..you yourself challenged buttons they tried to push ..and didn't cave in..instead they themselves have to up the ante and try harder to get their commission on next contact-they are more agresssive at this time of year? good luck when my power bills and expenses providing presents for my family are greater than ever this month ---avert your ears consumers in debt.. to collectors at Christmas holiday time! ..heck we're too busy out there getting into more debt spending money we don't have--to stop and worry about what we spent last year!...hang up on them when you feel like it-it is a proven fact that more people commit suicide in December than any time of year! and don't let a debt collector add to these statistics and make you feel worse at this time of year please!!! and please ask them about their own morals at this most holy time of year?! Tell them to call back when you feel like dealing with it--not in December of all times -- try these words of advice from a consumer.. instead of from a debt collector and see how this helps! ask debt collector to take a vacation until holiday is over and maybe you might later be in a posistion to work things out with them if you chose to do so! tell them happy new year!!!!!!C-ya wouldn't wanna be-ya!

Grinch, FYI was just informing us to be prepared for the calls in Dec. But maybe if you wouldn't be shopping and making more debt and just pay the bills from last year you wouldn't be so upset in what she had posted.
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Sorry FYI to go off your topic there. But thank you for the information you posted :)

I totally disagree!! People have more money in their pockets in the month of December than any other month of the year...I always had great collections in December! People get christmas bonuses, cash out christmas accounts and get money as gifts! It is all a matter of attitude for the collector...if you go into the month of December worrying you are naturally going to be agressive. We just used to have fun! Nobody all our agency took vacations before christmas....a lot would go for the week inbetween christmas and New years. I used to leave on vacation on christmas morning and return after the new year.

hey puddle--only someone who doesn't believe christ has been here yet could actually put the pocket book away at this time of year and not celebrate season unless GODLIKE OR ANGELIC ( i think and if they can) I praise them for doing so!- no one went off on anyone--why shouldn't consumers be prepared for the collection call every month instead of december when they are more stressed than any other time of year? because the same calls happen every month?--december is harder for ca's instead of consumers I think because in fact people spend this month burrying themselves in more debt than any other time of year.. i am not upset about post only that it was suposed to offer help and some sort of insight and i am glad it helped you puddle and I hope one year in future everyone will get back to putting the christ in x-mas--until then-- being burried under debt trying to keep up with the joneses will continue with the best of christians who fell into the trap --we should all get out the good book i totally agree--and am I wondering because never looked into your posts--did you find this sight because you didn't pay your debts and had ca contact you ?because you certainly seem to be casting a negative opinion on anyone in debt-- or did you simply come to this site because you never had debt problems but found site to offer your expertise?

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The definiton of Christmas is not spending money, it has nothing to do with money. The definition of Christmas is Christ Mass or the mass of Christ. Where in those words do you read "take out your pocket book and spend money"? I donkt see it!

I too think FYI is not to be trusted. Get her off these boards.

FYI is a moderator and a respected member here.If a guest or member does not like it,don't let the door hit you on the way out. You are not required by any law to post or read here.

I celebrate the birth of Christ every December, Christmas is never anything grand, I get together with family and friends, go to church and it costs very little money. However it is a lot of fun and a very joyous time to be had.

BTW, I don't always agree with what FYI has to say but I still respect her. She offers sound advice and seems to have good morals. She belongs here as long as she wishes to be here. The only time I don't like seeing people on this forum is when they are flaming or bleating the usual "pay your bills deadbeats"

A collector is a lot like a meter-maid -- people love to hate them just because they're doing their job. It's not the meter maid's fault you didn't pay the meter; just like it's not a collectors fault that you didn't pay your bills.

Guest - maybe you hate all collectors just because they're asking you to pay something back that you agreed to pay in the first place? If you loaned your friend about $1000 to be paid back $100/month, and your friend stopped paying you, wouldn't you call to find out why? Or would you just say to yourself "I guess he doesn't want to pay me, oh well."

FYI has never come here and called anyone deadbeats or made any snide remarks about people not paying their bills. All her posts are informative and give insight that can help debtors out when dealing with a CA. If you don't like her just because she works for a CA, then you're the one with a problem.

Grinch, I came here because I got into the payday loan trap, and it was getting to the point that I couldn't pay my bills anymore. So yes I had a lot of debt. And the info I got from this site has me almost payday loan free. Yes I had some CA's calling me also. And some of the info that FYI has posted helped me take care of those.

I totally agree with what Luke said. Very well stated Luke :) Christmas isn't about keeping up with the jones and who got what for Christmas, it's all about what you can afford and not going further into debt. I am soooo glad I taught my kids about that. And now they too watch what they spend.

I respect FYI I could never work in collections. Because I would feel sorry for everyone who gave me a sad story about the mess they are in. And like DC said we love to hate them. So when you have been treated badly by one CA then you think they are all like that and never give the next one a chance.

Thanks FYI for your help and suggestions!!

No one broke my arm to get a credit card,pay day loans,etc., and charge them up. Yes, I did use them to pay some bills, food, etc., but also used them for things not necessary- and owe them!! I have a problem only, when someone is trying to collect on a debt that has a $780. credit limit, has paid on it for 22 years and hasn't used the card in 16 years- I think it's paid by now. Also, Last year I paid off 2 credit cards that I owed-one that had been charged off, but still owed it.

Thanks to people like FYi and others, we can get some info on how to deal with our debts, and what to do and not do..karen

Hummmmmmmm
Notice that those complaining do not have the guts to register with the site and are only guests.
FYI is here to help!!!!!!??????????????I know because she has been helping me. I want to clear my credit and take care of what I owe.I was in the wrong to let it get away from me.

I want to thank those who support me here. You have my greatest respect, even if we don't always see eye to eye or keyboard to keyboard!

No prob FYI you earned it!! :D

Absolutely!

FYI, I really appreciated the information you posted at the beginning of this topic, And even though I may not always agree with everything you post, I'm thankful for the opposing viewpoint so I see both sides of whatever issue. Please don't let the "guests" that post nasty comments get you down, or discourage you from posting here.

I think the most important piece of advice you gave, to me at least, is to keep your cool. From personal experience, I know it is not always an easy thing to do when you're out of work, drowning in debt, not sure how you're going to get by, and then you get a collection call. It's hard to remember the CA representative is a human too and doesn't really deserve you freaking out on the phone at them; believe me, I've had some practice at that over the past several months. If the collector is being respectful and professional towards you, then he doesn't deserve verbal abuse. I've always tried to live my life by treating people as I would like to be treated, I've had some difficulties with that lately, but I really appreciate you reminding me of that, and I hope some other people can take that away from your post.

I also liked your advice about telling an abusive CA representative you are going to hang up, before you do. It really takes all the guesswork out of what exactly happened; there would be no reason for the collector to call you back thinking the line was disconnected.

So, again, thank you FYI and everyone else that makes positive and helpful (and sometimes extremely humorous) contributions to this forum.

FYI is a valued member here, though many sometimes disagree with FYI's opinions. FYI offers an inside look at collections.

Grinch is wrong. Christmas is not about spending money. He must have forgotten that bit in the Bible where Christ tossed the moneychangers out of the temple.

grinch I hope you will stick around and become a member there are many people here who will help you with your debt and be glad to help you. There is no need to be angry about your debt and it is okay to disagree with others here.
My church has a support group for members in debt once a month we donate what we can to someone behind with their bills and I have heard them say many times that one big reason for their excessive credit card debt is because of overspending at Christmas and overindulging their children. I think they fully understand the true meaning of Christmas they just haven't learned how to apply that in their life yet. They are good people who made mistakes as any Christian atheist or any other denomination does. So I can see the point grinch tried to make about that.
I hope grinch that you will search the sight because for every post you find that you don't agree with you will find many other posts that you will find thoughtful and inspiring and will keep you coming back and most likely some of these posts will be from someone you previously disagreed with.
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amen hanky and god bless your opinion --no one should be judged ever on this sight and that is exactly what has happened here--hope that he who cast the stone has a reason!!!!

As an answer to collectors opinion--I would forever maintain not to listen to a debt collector telling you to pay what you owe--are they paying their bills on time? Only if you pay them what they say you owe them!

lAWSTUDENT would you consider that in these modern times the debt collector would most likely be the equivilent to so called money changers in bible times? money changers were very deceptive and lying individuals who took adavangtage of poor people yes? Hope they can be tossed much further than out of the temple!!! in these days and times!!!:lol: :lol:

Not all collection agencies are bad, just not all collection agents are bad either. The CAs in the past that have wronged you may deserve your contempt however what about the ones that you have yet to meet? Would they deserve the same contempt or do you treat them as individuals and give them the benefit of doubt or toss them all in the same lot? I would think the later of the two options would not be very fair at all do you?

In regard to the fact that some collectors are out to rip people off, yes there would be similarities to the money changers, who were basically running a scam.

I see this thread has been resurrected from about a week ago. I just have to post. First of all, I thank FYI for giving everyone a "heads up" that collection agencies will be hitting hard these next two months. Years ago, I worked at a collection agency (as the receptionist - not a collector) and I do know that the end of the year is stressful for them. They need to "meet their numbers". Okay. That's fine with me. That's what they do in their business. Now, to expect a business to basically "shut down" (not call) during the Christmas season is just crazy. Is everyone's workplace going to stop all activity because it is the holiday season? No. And, as for one of the posts by a "guest", I've never received a Christmas bonus or money from people as gifts for Christmas, so why say that people have "more money in December" because of this? I don't get a dime more in December than I do in July. And, if I owe a bill and they call me in December, well, then they're just doing their job. Just like I do every day in December. I go in and do my job. Now, some "guest" can come along and post a nasty comment to this, and that's fine with me. I just don't understand anyone saying collection agencies should be told to basically "go away" during December because of Christmas. Your work doesn't stop in December, why would anyone else's?

cannr you post has made more logic than any here since work doesn't stop in December--obviously collections should be not worse in December than any other month of th euyear if you owe someone money you haven't paid--the worst thing that happens to many in November as well as December is that you owe other people money but yet spend more on crediot cards and get further in debt--to tell a Collection company to go away in December because of christmas? nope I'd just go out and spend more money if they actually got to me and made me feel bad :D how many people go out and spend money when they are depressed??? THE ANSWER IS HUMONGEOUS!!!

Have to admit. When I feel lonely or down, where do I go? To the store........ :?

wife and I got in big fight yesterday..says I blow too much money when trying to get back on feet.junk buyer collection co called her at home 3 weeks ago from her dead husband med bills... 8 yrs ago..awful people talking to us,,,so yes afterwards I went out and spent lots of money today on my credit cards because it made me feel happy and I am helping american economy that is now in biggest crisis it has faced in long time am happy to spend after a-holes call screaming trying to make me feel bad!!!! no I will spend more and keep you collectors working and give you ca a job security for a few more years before fed gov takes over!